Psalmorum 78
1 intellectus Asaph adtendite populus meus legem meam inclinate aurem vestram in verba oris mei
A maskil of Asaph. My people, attend to my teaching: bend your ears to the words of my mouth,
2 aperiam in parabola os meum eloquar propositiones ab initio
as I open my mouth in a poem on the riddling story of the past.
3 quanta audivimus et cognovimus ea et patres nostri narraverunt nobis
What we have heard and known, and what our ancestors have told us,
4 non sunt occultata a filiis eorum in generationem alteram narrantes laudes Domini et virtutes eius et mirabilia eius quae fecit
we will not hide from their children. We will tell to the next generation the praises and might of the Lord, and the wonders that he has done.
5 et suscitavit testimonium in Iacob et legem posuit in Israhel quanta mandavit patribus nostris nota facere ea filiis suis
He set up a testimony in Jacob, a law he appointed in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to make known to their children,
6 ut cognoscat generatio altera filii qui nascentur et exsurgent et narrabunt filiis suis
that the next generation should know it, that the children yet to be born should arise and tell their children;
7 ut ponant in Deo spem suam et non obliviscantur opera Dei et mandata eius exquirant
that in God they might put their confidence, and not forget God’s works; but that they might keep his commandments,
8 ne fiant sicut patres eorum generatio prava et exasperans generatio quae non direxit cor suum et non est creditus cum Deo spiritus eius
and not be like their ancestors, a generation defiant and stubborn, a generation with heart unsteady, and spirit unfaithful towards God.
9 filii Effrem intendentes et mittentes arcus conversi sunt in die belli
Ephraimites, armed bowmen, turned back in the day of battle.
10 non custodierunt testamentum Dei et in lege eius noluerunt ambulare
They did not keep God’s covenant, they refused to walk in his law.
11 et obliti sunt benefactorum eius et mirabilium eius quae ostendit eis
They forgot what he had done, and the wonders he had shown them.
12 coram patribus eorum quae fecit mirabilia in terra Aegypti in campo Taneos
He did wonders before their ancestors in the country of Zoan in Egypt.
13 interrupit mare et perduxit eos statuit aquas quasi utrem
Through the sea which he split he brought them, making waters stand up like a heap;
14 et deduxit eos in nube diei et tota nocte in inluminatione ignis
he led them by day with a cloud, all the night with a light of fire.
15 interrupit petram in heremo et adaquavit eos velut in abysso multa
From the rocks which he split in the wilderness, he gave them to drink as of ocean’s abundance.
16 et eduxit aquam de petra et deduxit tamquam flumina aquas
He brought streams out of the rock, and made water run down like rivers.
17 et adposuerunt adhuc peccare ei in ira excitaverunt Excelsum in inaquoso
Yet they still went on sinning against him, they defied the Most High in the desert.
18 et temptaverunt Deum in cordibus suis ut peterent escas animabus suis
They willfully challenged God, demanding the food that they longed for.
19 et male locuti sunt de Deo dixerunt numquid poterit Deus parare mensam in deserto
“Is God able,” such was their challenge, “to spread in the desert a table?
20 quoniam percussit petram et fluxerunt aquae et torrentes inundaverunt numquid et panem potest dare aut parare mensam populo suo
From the rock that he struck there gushed water, and torrents that overflowed; but can he also give bread, or provide his people with meat?”
21 ideo audivit Dominus et distulit et ignis accensus est in Iacob et ira ascendit in Israhel
When the Lord heard this, he was furious, and fire was kindled on Jacob, anger flared up against Israel.
22 quia non crediderunt in Deo nec speraverunt in salutare eius
For they put no trust in God, no confidence in his help.
23 et mandavit nubibus desuper et ianuas caeli aperuit
So he summoned the clouds above; and, opening the doors of heaven,
24 et pluit illis manna ad manducandum et panem caeli dedit eis
he rained manna upon them for food, and grain of heaven he gave them.
25 panem angelorum manducavit homo cibaria misit eis in abundantiam
Everyone ate the bread of angels; he sent them food to the full.
26 transtulit austrum de caelo et induxit in virtute sua africum
He launched the east wind in the heavens, and guided the south by his power.
27 et pluit super eos sicut pulverem carnes et sicut harenam maris volatilia pinnata
He rained meat upon them like dust, winged bird like the sand of the sea.
28 et ceciderunt in medio castrorum eorum circa tabernacula eorum
In the midst of their camp he dropped it, all around their tents.
29 et manducaverunt et saturati sunt nimis et desiderium eorum adtulit eis
They ate and were more than filled; he had brought them the thing they desired.
30 non sunt fraudati a desiderio suo adhuc escae eorum erant in ore ipsorum
But the thing they desired became loathsome: while their food was still in their mouths,
31 et ira Dei ascendit in eos et occidit pingues eorum et electos Israhel inpedivit
the wrath of God rose against them. He slew the stoutest among them, and laid low the young men of Israel.
32 in omnibus his peccaverunt adhuc et non crediderunt mirabilibus eius
Yet for all this they sinned yet more, and refused to believe in his wonders.
33 et defecerunt in vanitate dies eorum et anni eorum cum festinatione
So he ended their days in a breath, and their years in sudden dismay.
34 cum occideret eos quaerebant eum et revertebantur et diluculo veniebant ad Deum
When he slew them, then they sought after him, they turned and sought God with diligence.
35 et rememorati sunt quia Deus adiutor est eorum et Deus excelsus redemptor eorum est
They remembered that God was their rock, and the Most High God their redeemer.
36 et dilexerunt eum in ore suo et lingua sua mentiti sunt ei
But they flattered him with their mouth, and lied to him with their tongue.
37 cor autem ipsorum non erat rectum cum eo nec fideles habiti sunt in testamento eius
Their heart was not steady with him, they were faithless to his covenant.
38 ipse autem est misericors et propitius fiet peccatis eorum et non perdet eos et abundabit ut avertat iram suam et non accendet omnem iram suam
But he is full of pity: he pardons sin and destroys not. Often he turns his anger away, without stirring his wrath at all.
39 et recordatus est quia caro sunt spiritus vadens et non rediens
So he remembered that they were but flesh, breath that passes and does not return.
40 quotiens exacerbaverunt eum in deserto in ira concitaverunt eum in inaquoso
But how often they rebelled in the desert, and caused him grief in the wilderness,
41 et conversi sunt et temptaverunt Deum et Sanctum Israhel exacerbaverunt
tempting God again and again, provoking the Holy One of Israel.
42 non sunt recordati manus eius die qua redemit eos de manu tribulantis
They did not remember his strength, nor the day he redeemed from the foe,
43 sicut posuit in Aegypto signa sua et prodigia sua in campo Taneos
how he set his signs in Egypt, in the country of Zoan his wonders.
44 et convertit in sanguine flumina eorum et imbres eorum ne biberent
He turned their canals into blood, their streams undrinkable.
45 misit in eos cynomiam et comedit eos et ranam et disperdit eos
He sent forth flies, which devoured them; frogs, too, which destroyed them.
46 et dedit erugini fructus eorum et labores eorum lucustae
Their crops he gave to the caterpillar, and the fruits of their toil to the locust.
47 et occidit in grandine vineam eorum et moros eorum in pruina
He slew their vines with hail, and their sycamore trees with frost.
48 et tradidit grandini iumenta eorum et possessionem eorum igni
He delivered their cattle to the hail, and their flocks to bolts of fire.
49 misit in eos iram indignationis suae indignationem et iram et tribulationem inmissionem per angelos malos
He let loose his hot anger among them, fury and wrath and distress, a band of destroying angels.
50 viam fecit semitae irae suae non pepercit a morte animarum eorum et iumenta eorum in morte conclusit
He cleared a path for his anger, did not spare them from death, but gave them over to pestilence.
51 et percussit omne primitivum in terra Aegypti primitias laborum eorum in tabernaculis Cham
He struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, the first fruits of their strength in the tents of Ham.
52 et abstulit sicut oves populum suum et perduxit eos tamquam gregem in deserto
He led forth his people like sheep, he was guide to his flock in the desert.
53 et deduxit eos in spe et non timuerunt et inimicos eorum operuit mare
Securely he led them, and free from fear, while their foes were drowned in the sea.
54 et induxit eos in montem sanctificationis suae montem quem adquisivit dextera eius et eiecit a facie eorum gentes et sorte divisit eis terram in funiculo distributionis
To his holy realm he brought them, to the mountain his right hand had purchased.
55 et habitare fecit in tabernaculis eorum tribus Israhel
He drove out the nations before them, and allotted their land for possession, and their tents for Israel to live in.
56 et temptaverunt et exacerbaverunt Deum excelsum et testimonia eius non custodierunt
Yet they tempted and angered the Most High God, they did not observe his decrees.
57 et averterunt se et non servaverunt pactum quemadmodum patres eorum conversi sunt in arcum pravum
They drew back, false like their ancestors; they failed like a treacherous bow.
58 et in ira concitaverunt eum in collibus suis et in sculptilibus suis ad aemulationem eum provocaverunt
Their shrines stirred him to anger, their idols moved him to jealousy.
59 audivit Deus et sprevit et ad nihilum redegit valde Israhel
When God heard of this, he was furious, and he spurned Israel utterly.
60 et reppulit tabernaculum Selo tabernaculum suum ubi habitavit in hominibus
He abandoned his home in Shiloh, the tent he had pitched among people.
61 et tradidit in captivitatem virtutem eorum et pulchritudinem eorum in manus inimici
He gave his strength up to captivity, his glory to the hands of the foe.
62 et conclusit in gladio populum suum et hereditatem suam sprevit
He gave his people to the sword, he was furious with his own.
63 iuvenes eorum comedit ignis et virgines eorum non sunt lamentatae
Fire devoured their young men, and their maidens had no marriage-song.
64 sacerdotes eorum in gladio ceciderunt et viduae eorum non plorabuntur
Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows could not weep.
65 et excitatus est tamquam dormiens Dominus tamquam potens crapulatus a vino
Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, like a warrior flushed with wine;
66 et percussit inimicos suos in posteriora obprobrium sempiternum dedit illis
and he beat back his foes, putting them to perpetual scorn.
67 et reppulit tabernaculum Ioseph et tribum Effrem non elegit
He disowned the tent of Joseph, he rejected the tribe of Ephraim;
68 et elegit tribum Iuda montem Sion quem dilexit
but he chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loves.
69 et aedificavit sicut unicornium sanctificium suum in terra quam fundavit in saecula
And he built like the heights his sanctuary, like the earth which he founded forever.
70 et elegit David servum suum et sustulit eum de gregibus ovium de post fetantes accepit eum
And he chose David his servant, taking him from the sheepfolds.
71 pascere Iacob servum suum et Israhel hereditatem suam
From the mother-ewes he brought him, to be shepherd to Jacob his people, and to Israel his inheritance.
72 et pavit eos in innocentia cordis sui et in intellectibus manuum suarum deduxit eos
With upright heart did he shepherd them, and with skilful hands did he guide them.
