Friday 26 January 2018

Psalm 78

Here's a psalm that will keep you reading for a while. This is the longest poem in the Bible. (Psalm 119 is 22 short poems all linked by the 8 synonyms for Torah - not that this should lead us to a careless use of language - or maybe it should).

The stated purpose of the psalm is the rehearsal of the story for the children: "so they might set up their folly in God." Recall the limits of knowledge that we noted on Facebook Is God a Figment of Our Imagination? On Certainty, Skepticism and the Limits of Proof.

The 4 year old got to first base today by distinguishing good from bad. Now the important step, to choose the good.

Posting may be sporadic over the next week. I am on a short holiday and I have to finish the carnival. Lots of links in it already. It could go out today but I would miss a week.

Psalms 78 Fn Min Max Syll
מַשְׂכִּ֗יל לְאָ֫סָ֥ף
הַאֲזִ֣ינָה עַ֭מִּי תּוֹרָתִ֑י
הַטּ֥וּ אָ֝זְנְכֶ֗ם לְאִמְרֵי־פִֽי
1 An insight of Asaph.
Listen my people to my instruction.
Bend your ears to the sayings of my mouth.
3e 4B 5
9
9
אֶפְתְּחָ֣ה בְמָשָׁ֣ל פִּ֑י
אַבִּ֥יעָה חִ֝יד֗וֹת מִנִּי־קֶֽדֶם
2 I will open my mouth in a parable.
I will ferment riddles from of old,
3e 4B 7
8
אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׁ֭מַעְנוּ וַנֵּדָעֵ֑ם
וַ֝אֲבוֹתֵ֗ינוּ סִפְּרוּ־לָֽנוּ
3 which we have heard and known,
and our ancestors recounted to us.
3e 4B 9
8
לֹ֤א נְכַחֵ֨ד ׀ מִבְּנֵיהֶ֗ם לְד֥וֹר אַחֲר֗וֹן מְֽ֭סַפְּרִים תְּהִלּ֣וֹת יְהוָ֑ה
וֶעֱזוּז֥וֹ וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָֽׂה
4 C We will not conceal from their children in the generation to follow, recounting the praises of Yahweh,
and his strength and his wonders which he did.
3e 4C 20
13
וַיָּ֤קֶם עֵד֨וּת ׀ בְּֽיַעֲקֹ֗ב וְתוֹרָה֮ שָׂ֤ם בְּיִשְׂרָ֫אֵ֥ל
אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִ֭וָּה אֶת־אֲבוֹתֵ֑ינוּ
לְ֝הוֹדִיעָ֗ם לִבְנֵיהֶֽם
5 He raised a testimony in Jacob and he set up instruction in Israel,
which he commanded our ancestors,
to make known to their children,
3e 4C 17
9
7
לְמַ֤עַן יֵדְע֨וּ ׀ דּ֣וֹר אַ֭חֲרוֹן בָּנִ֣ים יִוָּלֵ֑דוּ
יָ֝קֻ֗מוּ וִֽיסַפְּר֥וּ לִבְנֵיהֶֽם
6 so that the generation to follow will know. The children to be born,
will arise and recount to their children,
3e 4C 15
9
וְיָשִׂ֥ימוּ בֵֽאלֹהִ֗ים כִּ֫סְלָ֥ם
וְלֹ֣א יִ֭שְׁכְּחוּ מַֽעַלְלֵי־אֵ֑ל
וּמִצְוֺתָ֥יו יִנְצֹֽרוּ
7 so they might set up their folly in God,
and not forget the prodigality of God,
and observe his commandments,
3e 4B 9
9
7
וְלֹ֤א יִהְי֨וּ ׀ כַּאֲבוֹתָ֗ם דּוֹר֮ סוֹרֵ֪ר וּמֹ֫רֶ֥ה
דּ֭וֹר לֹא־הֵכִ֣ין לִבּ֑וֹ
וְלֹא־נֶאֶמְנָ֖ה אֶת־אֵ֣ל רוּחֽוֹ
8 and not become like their ancestors, a rebellious and provocative generation,
a generation not preparing its heart,
and whose spirit did not believe God.

3d 4C 14
5
8
בְּֽנֵי־אֶפְרַ֗יִם נוֹשְׁקֵ֥י רוֹמֵי־קָ֑שֶׁת
הָ֝פְכ֗וּ בְּי֣וֹם קְרָֽב
9 The children of Ephraim, equipped and ready with bow,
changed in the day of close combat.
3e 4B 9
6
לֹ֣א שָׁ֭מְרוּ בְּרִ֣ית אֱלֹהִ֑ים
וּ֝בְתוֹרָת֗וֹ מֵאֲנ֥וּ לָלֶֽכֶת
10 B They did not keep the covenant of God,
and in his instruction they would not walk.
3e 4B 8
10
וַיִּשְׁכְּח֥וּ עֲלִילוֹתָ֑יו
וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֶרְאָֽם
11 And they forgot his prodigality,
and his wonders that he had showed them.
3e 4B 8
9
נֶ֣גֶד אֲ֭בוֹתָם עָ֣שָׂה פֶ֑לֶא
בְּאֶ֖רֶץ מִצְרַ֣יִם שְׂדֵה־צֹֽעַן
12 B In front of their ancestors he did a wonder,
in the land of Egypt, the field of Zoan.
3e 4B 9
9
בָּ֣קַע יָ֭ם וַיַּֽעֲבִירֵ֑ם
וַֽיַּצֶּב־מַ֥יִם כְּמוֹ־נֵֽד
13 B He split sea and made them cross over,
and he made waters stand firm in a heap.
3e 4B 8
7
וַיַּנְחֵ֣ם בֶּעָנָ֣ן יוֹמָ֑ם
וְכָל־הַ֝לַּ֗יְלָה בְּא֣וֹר אֵֽשׁ
14 And he guided them in a cloud by day,
and all the night long in the light of fire.
3e 4B 8
8
יְבַקַּ֣ע צֻ֭רִים בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר
וַ֝יַּ֗שְׁקְ כִּתְהֹמ֥וֹת רַבָּֽה
15 He split rocks in the wilderness,
and gave drink as abundant abysses.
3e 4B 8
8
וַיּוֹצִ֣א נוֹזְלִ֣ים מִסָּ֑לַע
וַיּ֖וֹרֶד כַּנְּהָר֣וֹת מָֽיִם
16 He brought forth flows from a cliff,
and made waters descend as rivers.

3e 4B 8
8
וַיּוֹסִ֣יפוּ ע֭וֹד לַחֲטֹא־ל֑וֹ
לַֽמְר֥וֹת עֶ֝לְי֗וֹן בַּצִּיָּֽה
17 But they added still sin against him,
to provoke the Most High in the arid places.
3e 4B 8
7
וַיְנַסּוּ־אֵ֥ל בִּלְבָבָ֑ם
לִֽשְׁאָל־אֹ֥כֶל לְנַפְשָֽׁם
18 And they tempted God in their heart,
by asking food for themselves.
3e 4A 7
7
וַֽיְדַבְּר֗וּ בֵּֽאלֹ֫הִ֥ים
אָ֭מְרוּ הֲי֣וּכַל אֵ֑ל
לַעֲרֹ֥ךְ שֻׁ֝לְחָ֗ן בַּמִּדְבָּֽר
19 They spoke against God.
They said, Is God able,
to arrange a table in the wilderness?
3e 4B 6
6
8
הֵ֤ן הִכָּה־צ֨וּר ׀ וַיָּז֣וּבוּ מַיִם֮ וּנְחָלִ֪ים יִ֫שְׁטֹ֥פוּ
הֲגַם־לֶ֭חֶם י֣וּכַל תֵּ֑ת
אִם־יָכִ֖ין שְׁאֵ֣ר לְעַמּֽוֹ
20 C Hey! he struck a rock and out gushed water and the torrents overflowed.
Is he even able to give bread?
Or will he prepare meat for his people?
3d 4C 15
7
8
לָכֵ֤ן ׀ שָׁמַ֥ע יְהוָ֗ה וַֽיִּתְעַבָּ֥ר וְ֭אֵשׁ נִשְּׂקָ֣ה בְיַעֲקֹ֑ב
וְגַם־אַ֝֗ף עָלָ֥ה בְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל
21 So Yahweh heard and he was furious, and fire was ignited in Jacob,
and even anger ascended against Israel.
3e 4C 18
9
כִּ֤י לֹ֣א הֶ֭אֱמִינוּ בֵּאלֹהִ֑ים
וְלֹ֥א בָ֝טְח֗וּ בִּֽישׁוּעָתֽוֹ
22 C For they did not believe in God,
and they did not trust in his salvation.
3e 4C 9
8
וַיְצַ֣ו שְׁחָקִ֣ים מִמָּ֑עַל
וְדַלְתֵ֖י שָׁמַ֣יִם פָּתָֽח
23 For he had commanded the skies from above,
and the gateways of heaven he opened.
3e 4B 8
7
וַיַּמְטֵ֬ר עֲלֵיהֶ֣ם מָ֣ן לֶאֱכֹ֑ל
וּדְגַן־שָׁ֝מַ֗יִם נָ֣תַן לָֽמוֹ
24 And he rained on them manna to eat,
and the grain of heaven he gave to them.

3e 4B 10
8
לֶ֣חֶם אַ֭בִּירִים אָ֣כַל אִ֑ישׁ
צֵידָ֬ה שָׁלַ֖ח לָהֶ֣ם לָשֹֽׂבַע
25 B The bread of the mighty each ate.
Victuals he sent among them to satiation.
3e 4B 8
9
יַסַּ֣ע קָ֭דִים בַּשָּׁמָ֑יִם
וַיְנַהֵ֖ג בְּעֻזּ֣וֹ תֵימָֽן
26 He sprung an east wind in the heavens,
and drove a south wind in his strength.
3e 4B 8
8
וַיַּמְטֵ֬ר עֲלֵיהֶ֣ם כֶּעָפָ֣ר שְׁאֵ֑ר
וּֽכְח֥וֹל יַ֝מִּ֗ים ע֣וֹף כָּנָֽף
27 And he rained meat on them as dust,
and winged fowl as the sand of the seas.
3e 4B 11
7
וַ֭יַּפֵּל בְּקֶ֣רֶב מַחֲנֵ֑הוּ
סָ֝בִ֗יב לְמִשְׁכְּנֹתָֽיו
28 g And he made it fall within their camp,
surrounding their dwellings.
3e 4B 10
7
וַיֹּאכְל֣וּ וַיִּשְׂבְּע֣וּ מְאֹ֑ד
וְ֝תַֽאֲוָתָ֗ם יָבִ֥א לָהֶֽם
29 And they ate and were sated utterly,
and he let their desires come to them.
3e 4B 9
9
לֹא־זָר֥וּ מִתַּאֲוָתָ֑ם
ע֝֗וֹד אָכְלָ֥ם בְּפִיהֶֽם
30 And they were not a stranger to their desires.
While their food was in their mouths,
3e 4A 7
6
וְאַ֤ף אֱלֹהִ֨ים ׀ עָ֘לָ֤ה בָהֶ֗ם וַֽ֭יַּהֲרֹג בְּמִשְׁמַנֵּיהֶ֑ם
וּבַחוּרֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל הִכְרִֽיעַ
31 and the anger of God ascended in them, and slew among their stoutest,
and the chosen of Israel were bowed down.
3e 4C 18
10
בְּכָל־זֹ֭את חָֽטְאוּ־ע֑וֹד
וְלֹֽא־הֶ֝אֱמִ֗ינוּ בְּנִפְלְאוֹתָֽיו
32 In all this they sinned,
and still did not believe in his wonders.
3e 4A 6
10
וַיְכַל־בַּהֶ֥בֶל יְמֵיהֶ֑ם
וּ֝שְׁנוֹתָ֗ם בַּבֶּהָלָֽה
33 And he finished their days in futility,
and their years in vexation.
3e 4A 8
7
אִם־הֲרָגָ֥ם וּדְרָשׁ֑וּהוּ
וְ֝שָׁ֗בוּ וְשִֽׁחֲרוּ־אֵֽל
34 When he slew them then they searched him out,
and they turned and sought early for God.
3e 4A 8
8
וַֽ֭יִּזְכְּרוּ כִּֽי־אֱלֹהִ֣ים צוּרָ֑ם
וְאֵ֥ל עֶ֝לְיוֹן גֹּאֲלָֽם
35 g And they remembered for God is their rock,
and God the Most High their redeemer.
3e 4B 9
6
וַיְפַתּ֥וּהוּ בְּפִיהֶ֑ם
וּ֝בִלְשׁוֹנָ֗ם יְכַזְּבוּ־לֽוֹ
36 But they seduced him with their mouth,
and with their tongue they lied to him.
3e 4A 7
7
וְ֭לִבָּם לֹא־נָכ֣וֹן עִמּ֑וֹ
וְלֹ֥א נֶ֝אֶמְנ֗וּ בִּבְרִיתֽוֹ
37 g And their heart was not prepared from him,
and they did not believe in his covenant.
3e 4B 7
8
וְה֤וּא רַח֨וּם ׀ יְכַפֵּ֥ר עָוֺן֮ וְֽלֹא־יַ֫שְׁחִ֥ית
וְ֭הִרְבָּה לְהָשִׁ֣יב אַפּ֑וֹ
וְלֹֽא־יָ֝עִיר כָּל־חֲמָתֽוֹ
38 But he compassionate, he covered over iniquity and did not destroy,
but many times his anger turned,
and did not arouse all his heat,
3e 4C 13
8
7
וַ֭יִּזְכֹּר כִּי־בָשָׂ֣ר הֵ֑מָּה
ר֥וּחַ ה֝וֹלֵ֗ךְ וְלֹ֣א יָשֽׁוּב
39 g for he remembered that they are flesh,
a walking wind which does not return.
3e 4B 7
8
כַּ֭מָּה יַמְר֣וּהוּ בַמִּדְבָּ֑ר
יַ֝עֲצִיב֗וּהוּ בִּֽישִׁימֽוֹן
40 g How much they provoked him in the wilderness,
and caused him pain in the wasteland.

3e 4B 8
8
וַיָּשׁ֣וּבוּ וַיְנַסּ֣וּ אֵ֑ל
וּקְד֖וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל הִתְווּ
41 And they turned back and tempted God,
and constrained the Holy of Israel.
3e 4B 8
7
לֹא־זָכְר֥וּ אֶת־יָד֑וֹ
י֝֗וֹם אֲ‍ֽשֶׁר־פָּדָ֥ם מִנִּי־צָֽר
42 They did not remember even his hand,
the day he ransomed them from trouble.
3e 4A 6
7
אֲשֶׁר־שָׂ֣ם בְּ֭מִצְרַיִם אֹֽתוֹתָ֑יו
וּ֝מוֹפְתָ֗יו בִּשְׂדֵה־צֹֽעַן
43 That he had set up in Egypt his signs,
and his portents in the field of Zoan.
3e 4B 9
7
וַיַּהֲפֹ֣ךְ לְ֭דָם יְאֹרֵיהֶ֑ם
וְ֝נֹזְלֵיהֶ֗ם בַּל־יִשְׁתָּיֽוּן
44 That he changed their canals to blood,
so their flows they could not imbibe.
3e 4B 10
8
יְשַׁלַּ֬ח בָּהֶ֣ם עָ֭רֹב וַיֹּאכְלֵ֑ם
וּ֝צְפַרְדֵּ֗עַ וַתַּשְׁחִיתֵֽם
45 He sent a swarm of flies at them and it ate them,
and frogs and he destroyed them.
3e 4B 10
8
וַיִּתֵּ֣ן לֶחָסִ֣יל יְבוּלָ֑ם
וִֽ֝יגִיעָ֗ם לָאַרְבֶּֽה
46 And he gave to the caterpillar their produce,
and their labour to a swarm.
3e 4B 9
6
יַהֲרֹ֣ג בַּבָּרָ֣ד גַּפְנָ֑ם
וְ֝שִׁקְמוֹתָ֗ם בַּֽחֲנָמַֽל
47 He slew their vines with hail,
and their sycamore with sleet.
3e 4B 8
8
וַיַּסְגֵּ֣ר לַבָּרָ֣ד בְּעִירָ֑ם
וּ֝מִקְנֵיהֶ֗ם לָרְשָׁפִֽים
48 And he imprisoned their kine to the hail,
and their acquisitions to the fire-brands.

3e 4B 9
7
יְשַׁלַּח־בָּ֨ם ׀ חֲר֬וֹן אַפּ֗וֹ עֶבְרָ֣ה וָזַ֣עַם וְצָרָ֑ה
מִ֝שְׁלַ֗חַת מַלְאֲכֵ֥י רָעִֽים
49 He sent them his fierce anger, fury and indignation and trouble,
by sending messengers of evil.
3e 4B 16
8
יְפַלֵּ֥ס נָתִ֗יב לְאַ֫פּ֥וֹ
לֹא־חָשַׂ֣ךְ מִמָּ֣וֶת נַפְשָׁ֑ם
וְ֝חַיָּתָ֗ם לַדֶּ֥בֶר הִסְגִּֽיר
50 He leveled a pathway for his anger.
He did not keep back their being from death,
and he imprisoned their lives to the pestilence.
3e 4B 8
7
9
וַיַּ֣ךְ כָּל־בְּכ֣וֹר בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם
רֵאשִׁ֥ית א֝וֹנִ֗ים בְּאָהֳלֵי־חָֽם
51 And he struck all the firstborn in Egypt,
head of the vigour in the tents of Ham.
3e 4B 9
9
וַיַּסַּ֣ע כַּצֹּ֣אן עַמּ֑וֹ
וַֽיְנַהֲגֵ֥ם כַּ֝עֵ֗דֶר בַּמִּדְבָּֽר
52 And he sprung his people like sheep,
and drove them like a troop in the wilderness.
3e 4B 7
10
וַיַּנְחֵ֣ם לָ֭בֶטַח וְלֹ֣א פָחָ֑דוּ
וְאֶת־א֝וֹיְבֵיהֶ֗ם כִּסָּ֥ה הַיָּֽם
53 And he guided them in trust and they were not in dread,
and their enemies the sea covered.
3e 4B 11
9
וַ֭יְבִיאֵם אֶל־גְּב֣וּל קָדְשׁ֑וֹ
הַר־זֶ֝֗ה קָנְתָ֥ה יְמִינֽוֹ
54 g And he conducted them to the border of his holiness,
whose right hand acquired this hill.
3e 4B 8
7
וַיְגָ֤רֶשׁ מִפְּנֵיהֶ֨ם ׀ גּוֹיִ֗ם וַֽ֭יַּפִּילֵם בְּחֶ֣בֶל נַחֲלָ֑ה
וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֥ן בְּ֝אָהֳלֵיהֶ֗ם שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל
55 And he expelled the nations before their faces, and let fall in pledge an inheritance,
and made the sceptres of Israel dwell in their tents.
3e 4C 18
13
וַיְנַסּ֣וּ וַ֭יַּמְרוּ אֶת־אֱלֹהִ֣ים עֶלְי֑וֹן
וְ֝עֵדוֹתָ֗יו לֹ֣א שָׁמָֽרוּ
56 But they tempted and they provoked God Most High,
and his testimonies they did not keep.

3e 4B 12
8
וַיִּסֹּ֣גוּ וַֽ֭יִּבְגְּדוּ כַּאֲבוֹתָ֑ם
נֶ֝הְפְּכ֗וּ כְּקֶ֣שֶׁת רְמִיָּֽה
57 And they were spineless and acted treacherously like their ancestors.
They were changed like an unready bow.
3e 4B 12
9
וַיַּכְעִיס֥וּהוּ בְּבָמוֹתָ֑ם
וּ֝בִפְסִילֵיהֶ֗ם יַקְנִיאֽוּהוּ
58 And they grieved him with their high places,
and with their graven images moved him to jealousy.
3e 4A 9
9
שָׁמַ֣ע אֱ֭לֹהִים וַֽיִּתְעַבָּ֑ר
וַיִּמְאַ֥ס מְ֝אֹ֗ד בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל
59 God heard and was furious,
and he refused utterly in Israel.
3e 4B 9
9
וַ֭יִּטֹּשׁ מִשְׁכַּ֣ן שִׁל֑וֹ
אֹ֝֗הֶל שִׁכֵּ֥ן בָּאָדָֽם
60 g So he abandoned the dwelling in Shiloh,
the tent where he dwelt among humanity.
3e 4B 7
7
וַיִּתֵּ֣ן לַשְּׁבִ֣י עֻזּ֑וֹ
וְֽתִפְאַרְתּ֥וֹ בְיַד־צָֽר
61 And he gave his strength into captivity,
and his adornment into the hand of trouble.
3e 4B 7
7
וַיַּסְגֵּ֣ר לַחֶ֣רֶב עַמּ֑וֹ
וּ֝בְנַחֲלָת֗וֹ הִתְעַבָּֽר
62 And he imprisoned with the sword his people,
and with his inheritance he was furious.
3e 4B 8
8
בַּחוּרָ֥יו אָֽכְלָה־אֵ֑שׁ
וּ֝בְתוּלֹתָ֗יו לֹ֣א הוּלָּֽלוּ
63 His young men fire devoured,
and his maidens were not praiseworthy.
3e 4B 6
8
כֹּ֭הֲנָיו בַּחֶ֣רֶב נָפָ֑לוּ
וְ֝אַלְמְנֹתָ֗יו לֹ֣א תִבְכֶּֽינָה
64 g His priests fell by the sword,
and his widows did not weep.

3e 4B 9
9
וַיִּקַ֖ץ כְּיָשֵׁ֥ן ׀ אֲדֹנָ֑י
כְּ֝גִבּ֗וֹר מִתְרוֹנֵ֥ן מִיָּֽיִן
65 And my Lord awoke as from sleep,
as valour shouting from wine.
3e 4A 9
9
וַיַּךְ־צָרָ֥יו אָח֑וֹר
חֶרְפַּ֥ת ע֝וֹלָ֗ם נָ֣תַן לָֽמוֹ
66 And he struck his foes back,
a reproach ever he gave them.
3e 4B 6
8
וַ֭יִּמְאַס בְּאֹ֣הֶל יוֹסֵ֑ף
וּֽבְשֵׁ֥בֶט אֶ֝פְרַ֗יִם לֹ֣א בָחָֽר
67 g And he refused the tent of Joseph,
and the sceptre of Ephraim he did not choose.
3e 4B 8
8
וַ֭יִּבְחַר אֶת־שֵׁ֣בֶט יְהוּדָ֑ה
אֶֽת־הַ֥ר צִ֝יּ֗וֹן אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָהֵֽב
68 g But he chose the sceptre of Judah,
the hill of Zion which he loved.
3e 4B 9
8
וַיִּ֣בֶן כְּמוֹ־רָ֭מִים מִקְדָּשׁ֑וֹ
כְּ֝אֶ֗רֶץ יְסָדָ֥הּ לְעוֹלָֽם
69 And he built as exalted, his sanctuary,
as the earth he founded forever.
3e 4B 9
9
וַ֭יִּבְחַר בְּדָוִ֣ד עַבְדּ֑וֹ
וַ֝יִּקָּחֵ֗הוּ מִֽמִּכְלְאֹ֥ת צֹֽאן
70 g And he chose in David his servant,
and took him from the sheepfolds.
3e 4B 8
10
מֵאַחַ֥ר עָל֗וֹת הֱ֫בִיא֥וֹ
לִ֭רְעוֹת בְּיַעֲקֹ֣ב עַמּ֑וֹ
וּ֝בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל נַחֲלָתֽוֹ
71 From behind those giving suck he conducted him,
to shepherd in Jacob his people,
and in Israel his inheritance.
3e 4B 8
8
8
וַ֭יִּרְעֵם כְּתֹ֣ם לְבָב֑וֹ
וּבִתְבוּנ֖וֹת כַּפָּ֣יו יַנְחֵֽם
72 g And he shepherded them as the completeness of his heart,
and in the discernments of his open palms he guided them.
3e 4B 8
8


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