Mazmur 78:1-4

Psalm 78 ¹ 

A well-written song ²  by Asaph.

78:1 Pay attention, my people, to my instruction!

Listen to the words I speak! ³ 

78:2 I will sing a song that imparts wisdom;

I will make insightful observations about the past. ⁴ 

78:3 What we have heard and learned ⁵  –

that which our ancestors ⁶  have told us –

78:4 we will not hide from their ⁷  descendants.

We will tell the next generation

about the Lord’s praiseworthy acts, ⁸ 

about his strength and the amazing things he has done.

Mazmur 78:13-16

78:13 He divided the sea and led them across it;

he made the water stand in a heap.

78:14 He led them with a cloud by day,

and with the light of a fire all night long.

78:15 He broke open rocks in the wilderness,

and gave them enough water to fill the depths of the sea. ⁹ 

78:16 He caused streams to flow from the rock,

and made the water flow like rivers.

Mazmur 78:23-29

78:23 He gave a command to the clouds above,

and opened the doors in the sky.

78:24 He rained down manna for them to eat;

he gave them the grain of heaven. ¹⁰ 

78:25 Man ate the food of the mighty ones. ¹¹ 

He sent them more than enough to eat. ¹² 

78:26 He brought the east wind through the sky,

and by his strength led forth the south wind.

78:27 He rained down meat on them like dust,

birds as numerous as the sand on the seashores. ¹³ 

78:28 He caused them to fall right in the middle of their camp,

all around their homes.

78:29 They ate until they were stuffed; ¹⁴ 

he gave them what they desired.

[78:1]  ¹ sn Psalm 78. The author of this lengthy didactic psalm rehearses Israel’s history. He praises God for his power, goodness and patience, but also reminds his audience that sin angers God and prompts his judgment. In the conclusion to the psalm the author elevates Jerusalem as God’s chosen city and David as his chosen king.

[78:1]  ² tn The meaning of the Hebrew term מַשְׂכִּיל (maskil) is uncertain. See the note on the phrase “well-written song” in the superscription of Ps 74.

[78:1]  ³ tn Heb “Turn your ear to the words of my mouth.”

[78:2]  ⁴ tn Heb “I will open with a wise saying my mouth, I will utter insightful sayings from long ago.” Elsewhere the Hebrew word pair חִידָה+מָשָׁל (mashal + khidah) refers to a taunt song (Hab 2:6), a parable (Ezek 17:2), proverbial sayings (Prov 1:6), and an insightful song that reflects on the mortality of humankind and the ultimate inability of riches to prevent death (Ps 49:4).

[78:3]  ⁵ tn Or “known.”

[78:3]  ⁶ tn Heb “fathers” (also in vv. 5, 8, 12, 57).

[78:4]  ⁷ tn The pronominal suffix refers back to the “fathers” (“our ancestors,” v. 3).

[78:4]  ⁸ tn Heb “to a following generation telling the praises of the Lord.” “Praises” stand by metonymy for the mighty acts that prompt worship. Cf. Ps 9:14.

[78:15]  ⁹ tn Heb “and caused them to drink, like the depths, abundantly.”

[78:24]  ¹⁰ sn Manna was apparently shaped like a seed (Exod 16:31), perhaps explaining why it is here compared to grain.

[78:25]  ¹¹ sn Because of the reference to “heaven” in the preceding verse, it is likely that mighty ones refers here to the angels of heaven. The LXX translates “angels” here, as do a number of modern translations (NEB, NIV, NRSV).

[78:25]  ¹² tn Heb “provision he sent to them to satisfaction.”

[78:27]  ¹³ tn Heb “and like the sand of the seas winged birds.”

[78:29]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “and they ate and were very satisfied.”