תהילים פרק ע״ח

מַשְׂכִּיל לְאָסָף הַאֲזִינָה עַמִּי תּוֹרָתִי הַטּוּ אָזְנְכֶם לְאִמְרֵי־פִי׃

Maskil le'Asaf ha'azina ami torati, hatu oznechem le'imrei fi.

A maskil of Asaph. Give ear, my people, to my teaching, turn your ear to what I say.

אֶפְתְּחָה בְמָשָׁל פִּי אַבִּיעָה חִידוֹת מִנִּי־קֶדֶם׃

Eftecha vemashal pi, avi'a chidot mini kedem.

I will expound a theme, hold forth on the lessons of the past,

אֲשֶׁר שָׁמַעְנוּ וַנֵּדָעֵם וַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ סִפְּרוּ־לָנוּ׃

Asher shamanu vaneda'em, va'avoteinu sipru lanu.

things we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us.

לֹא נְכַחֵד מִבְּנֵיהֶם לְדוֹר אַחֲרוֹן מְסַפְּרִים תְּהִלּוֹת יְהוָה וֶעֱזוּזוֹ וְנִפְלְאוֹתָיו אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה׃

Lo nechached mibneihem ledor acharon, mesaprim tehilot Adonai ve'ezuzo venifl'otav asher asa.

We will not withhold them from their children, telling the coming generation the praises of the LORD and His might, and the wonders He performed.

וַיָּקֶם עֵדוּת בְּיַעֲקֹב וְתוֹרָה שָׂם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה אֶת־אֲבוֹתֵינוּ לְהוֹדִיעָם לִבְנֵיהֶם׃

Vayakem edut beYa'akov, vetora sam beYisrael, asher tziva et avoteinu lehodi'am livneihem.

He established a decree in Jacob, ordained a teaching in Israel, charging our fathers to make them known to their children,

לְמַעַן יֵדְעוּ דּוֹר אַחֲרוֹן בָּנִים יִוָּלֵדוּ יָקֻמוּ וִיסַפְּרוּ לִבְנֵיהֶם׃

Lema'an yed'u dor acharon, banim yivaledu yakumu visapru livneihem.

that a future generation might know—children yet to be born—and in turn tell their children

וְיָשִׂימוּ בֵאלֹהִים כִּסְלָם וְלֹא יִשְׁכְּחוּ מַעַלְלֵי־אֵל וּמִצְוֺתָיו יִנְצֹרוּ׃

Veyasimu vElohim kislam, velo yishkechu ma'alilei El, umitzvotav yintzoru.

that they might put their confidence in God, and not forget God's great deeds, but observe His commandments,

וְלֹא יִהְיוּ כַּאֲבוֹתָם דּוֹר סוֹרֵר וּמֹרֶה דּוֹר לֹא־הֵכִין לִבּוֹ וְלֹא־נֶאֶמְנָה אֶת־אֵל רוּחוֹ׃

Velo yihyu ka'avotam dor sorer umore, dor lo hechin libo, velo ne'emna et El rucho.

and not be like their fathers, a wayward and defiant generation, a generation whose heart was inconstant, whose spirit was not true to God.

בְּנֵי־אֶפְרַיִם נוֹשְׁקֵי רוֹמֵי־קָשֶׁת הָפְכוּ בְּיוֹם קְרָב׃

Benei Efrayim noshkei romei kashet, hafchu beyom kerav.

Like the Ephraimite bowmen who turned tail in the day of battle,

לֹא שָׁמְרוּ בְּרִית אֱלֹהִים וּבְתוֹרָתוֹ מֵאֲנוּ לָלֶכֶת׃

Lo shamru berit Elohim, uvetorato me'anu lalechet.

they did not keep God's covenant, they refused to follow His instruction;

וַיִּשְׁכְּחוּ עֲלִילוֹתָיו וְנִפְלְאוֹתָיו אֲשֶׁר הֶרְאָם׃

Vayishkechu alilotav venifl'otav asher her'am.

they forgot His deeds and the wonders that He showed them.

נֶגֶד אֲבוֹתָם עָשָׂה פֶלֶא בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם שְׂדֵה־צֹעַן׃

Neged avotam asa fele, be'eretz Mitzrayim sedeh Tzo'an.

He performed marvels in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, the plain of Zoan.

בָּקַע יָם וַיַּעֲבִירֵם וַיַּצֶּב־מַיִם כְּמוֹ־נֵד׃

Baka yam vaya'avirem, vayatzev mayim kemo ned.

He split the sea and took them through it; He made the waters stand like a wall.

וַיַּנְחֵם בֶּעָנָן יוֹמָם וְכָל־הַלַּיְלָה בְּאוֹר אֵשׁ׃

Vayanchem be'anan yomam, vechol halayla be'or esh.

He led them with a cloud by day, and throughout the night by the light of fire.

יְבַקַּע צֻרִים בַּמִּדְבָּר וַיַּשְׁקְ כִּתְהֹמוֹת רַבָּה׃

Yevaka tzurim bamidbar, vayashk kithomot raba.

He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink as if from the great deep.

וַיּוֹצִא נוֹזְלִים מִסָּלַע וַיּוֹרֶד כַּנְּהָרוֹת מָיִם׃

Vayotzi nozlim misala, vayored kaneharot mayim.

He brought forth streams from a rock and made water flow like rivers.

וַיּוֹסִיפוּ עוֹד לַחֲטֹא־לוֹ לַמְרוֹת עֶלְיוֹן בַּצִּיָּה׃

Vayosifu od lachato lo, lamrot Elyon batziya.

But they went on sinning against Him, defying the Most High in the parched land.

וַיְנַסּוּ־אֵל בִּלְבָבָם לִשְׁאָל־אֹכֶל לְנַפְשָׁם׃

Vayenasu El bilvavam, lish'ol ochel lenafsha.

To test God was in their mind when they demanded food for themselves.

וַיְדַבְּרוּ בֵּאלֹהִים אָמְרוּ הֲיוּכַל אֵל לַעֲרֹךְ שֻׁלְחָן בַּמִּדְבָּר׃

Vayedabru bElohim, amru hayuchal El la'aroch shulchan bamidbar.

They spoke against God; they said, 'Can God spread a feast in the wilderness?'

הֵן הִכָּה־צוּר וַיָּזוּבוּ מַיִם וּנְחָלִים יִשְׁטֹפוּ הֲגַם־לֶחֶם יוּכַל תֵּת אִם־יָכִין שְׁאֵר לְעַמּוֹ׃

Hen hika tzur vayazuvu mayim, unechalim yishtofu, hagam lechem yuchal tet, im yachin she'er le'amo.

'True, He struck the rock and waters flowed, streams gushed forth; but can He provide bread? Can He supply His people with meat?'

לָכֵן שָׁמַע יְהוָה וַיִּתְעַבָּר וְאֵשׁ נִשְּׂקָה בְיַעֲקֹב וְגַם־אַף עָלָה בְיִשְׂרָאֵל׃

Lachen shama Adonai vayit'abar, ve'esh niska veYa'akov, vegam af ala veYisrael.

The LORD heard and was angered; fire broke out against Jacob, anger flared up at Israel,

כִּי לֹא הֶאֱמִינוּ בֵּאלֹהִים וְלֹא בָטְחוּ בִּישׁוּעָתוֹ׃

Ki lo he'eminu bElohim, velo vatchu bishu'ato.

because they did not put their trust in God, did not rely on His deliverance.

וַיְצַו שְׁחָקִים מִמָּעַל וְדַלְתֵי שָׁמַיִם פָּתָח׃

Vayetzav shchakim mima'al, vedaltei shamayim patach.

So He commanded the skies above, He opened the doors of heaven

וַיַּמְטֵר עֲלֵיהֶם מָן לֶאֱכֹל וּדְגַן־שָׁמַיִם נָתַן לָמוֹ׃

Vayamter aleihem man le'echol, udgan shamayim natan lamo.

and rained manna upon them for food, giving them heavenly grain.

לֶחֶם אַבִּירִים אָכַל אִישׁ צֵידָה שָׁלַח לָהֶם לָשֹׂבַע׃

Lechem abirim achal ish, tzeida shalach lahem lasova.

Each man ate the bread of angels; He sent them provision in plenty.

יַסַּע קָדִים בַּשָּׁמָיִם וַיְנַהֵג בְּעֻזּוֹ תֵימָן׃

Yasa kadim bashamayim, vaynaheg be'uzo teiman.

He set the east wind moving through heaven, and drove the south wind by His might.

וַיַּמְטֵר עֲלֵיהֶם כֶּעָפָר שְׁאֵר וּכְחוֹל יַמִּים עוֹף כָּנָף׃

Vayamter aleihem ke'afar she'er, ukechol yamim of kanaf.

He rained meat on them like dust, winged birds like the sands of the sea,

וַיַּפֵּל בְּקֶרֶב מַחֲנֵהוּ סָבִיב לְמִשְׁכְּנֹתָיו׃

Vayapel bekerev machanehu, saviv lemishkenotav.

making them come down inside the camp, around their dwellings.

וַיֹּאכְלוּ וַיִּשְׂבְּעוּ מְאֹד וְתַאֲוָתָם יָבִא לָהֶם׃

Vayochlu vayisbe'u me'od, veta'avatam yavi lahem.

They ate and were well sated; He gave them what they craved.

לֹא־זָרוּ מִתַּאֲוָתָם עוֹד אָכְלָם בְּפִיהֶם׃

Lo zaru mita'avatam, od ochlam befihem.

They had not yet wearied of what they craved, the food was still in their mouths

וְאַף אֱלֹהִים עָלָה בָהֶם וַיַּהֲרֹג בְּמִשְׁמַנֵּיהֶם וּבַחוּרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הִכְרִיעַ׃

Ve'af Elohim ala vahem, vayaharog bemishmaneihem, uvachurei Yisrael hichri'a.

when God's anger flared up at them. He slew their sturdiest, struck down the youth of Israel.

בְּכָל־זֹאת חָטְאוּ־עוֹד וְלֹא־הֶאֱמִינוּ בְּנִפְלְאוֹתָיו׃

Bechol zot chat'u od, velo he'eminu benifl'otav.

Despite all this, they went on sinning and had no faith in His wonders.

וַיְכַל־בַּהֶבֶל יְמֵיהֶם וּשְׁנוֹתָם בַּבֶּהָלָה׃

Vaychal bahevel yemeihem, ushnotam babehala.

He made their days vanish like a breath, their years in sudden terror.

אִם־הֲרָגָם וּדְרָשׁוּהוּ וְשָׁבוּ וְשִׁחֲרוּ־אֵל׃

Im haragam udrashuhu, veshavu veshicharu El.

When He struck them, they took note of Him, turned back and sought God.

וַיִּזְכְּרוּ כִּי־אֱלֹהִים צוּרָם וְאֵל עֶלְיוֹן גֹּאֲלָם׃

Vayizk'ru ki Elohim tzuram, ve'El Elyon go'alam.

They remembered that God was their rock, God Most High, their redeemer.

וַיְפַתּוּהוּ בְּפִיהֶם וּבִלְשׁוֹנָם יְכַזְּבוּ־לוֹ׃

Vayefatuhu befihem, uvilshonam yechazevu lo.

Yet they deceived Him with their speech, lied to Him with their words.

וְלִבָּם לֹא־נָכוֹן עִמּוֹ וְלֹא נֶאֶמְנוּ בִּבְרִיתוֹ׃

Velibam lo nachon imo, velo ne'emnu bivrito.

Their hearts were inconstant toward Him; they were untrue to His covenant.

וְהוּא רַחוּם יְכַפֵּר עָוֺן וְלֹא־יַשְׁחִית וְהִרְבָּה לְהָשִׁיב אַפּוֹ וְלֹא־יָעִיר כָּל־חֲמָתוֹ׃

Vehu rachum yechaper avon velo yashchit, vehirba lehashiv apo, velo ya'ir kol chamato.

But He, being merciful, forgave iniquity and would not destroy; He restrained His wrath time and again and did not give full vent to His fury;

וַיִּזְכֹּר כִּי־בָשָׂר הֵמָּה רוּחַ הוֹלֵךְ וְלֹא יָשׁוּב׃

Vayizkor ki vasar hema, ru'ach holech velo yashuv.

for He remembered that they were but flesh, a passing breath that does not return.

כַּמָּה יַמְרוּהוּ בַמִּדְבָּר יַעֲצִיבוּהוּ בִּישִׁימוֹן׃

Kama yamruhu bamidbar, ya'atzivuhu bishimon.

How often did they defy Him in the wilderness, did they grieve Him in the wasteland!

וַיָּשׁוּבוּ וַיְנַסּוּ אֵל וּקְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל הִתְווּ׃

Vayashuvu vaynasu El, ukdosh Yisrael hitvu.

Again and again they tested God, vexed the Holy One of Israel.

לֹא־זָכְרוּ אֶת־יָדוֹ יוֹם אֲשֶׁר־פָּדָם מִנִּי־צָר׃

Lo zachru et yado, yom asher padam mini tzar.

They did not remember His strength, or the day He redeemed them from the foe;

אֲשֶׁר־שָׂם בְּמִצְרַיִם אֹתוֹתָיו וּמוֹפְתָיו בִּשְׂדֵה־צֹעַן׃

Asher sam beMitzrayim ototav, umoftav bisdeh Tzo'an.

how He displayed His signs in Egypt, His portents in the plain of Zoan;

וַיַּהֲפֹךְ לְדָם יְאֹרֵיהֶם וְנֹזְלֵיהֶם בַּל־יִשְׁתָּיוּן׃

Vayahafoch ledam ye'oreihem, venozleihem bal yishtayun.

how He turned their rivers into blood, He made their waters undrinkable.

יְשַׁלַּח בָּהֶם עָרֹב וַיֹּאכְלֵם וּצְפַרְדֵּעַ וַתַּשְׁחִיתֵם׃

Yeshalach bahem arov vayochlem, utzefarde'a vataschchitem.

He inflicted upon them swarms of insects to devour them, frogs to destroy them.

וַיִּתֵּן לֶחָסִיל יְבוּלָם וִיגִיעָם לָאַרְבֶּה׃

Vayiten lechasil yevulam, viyi'am la'arbe.

He gave their crops over to grubs, their produce to locusts.

יַהֲרֹג בַּבָּרָד גַּפְנָם וְשִׁקְמוֹתָם בַּחֲנָמַל׃

Yaharog babarad gafnam, veshikmotam bachanamal.

He killed their vines with hail, their sycamores with frost.

וַיַּסְגֵּר לַבָּרָד בְּעִירָם וּמִקְנֵיהֶם לָרְשָׁפִים׃

Vayasger labarad be'iram, umiknehem lareshafim.

He gave their cattle over to hail, their livestock to lightning bolts.

יְשַׁלַּח־בָּם חֲרוֹן אַפּוֹ עֶבְרָה וָזַעַם וְצָרָה מִשְׁלַחַת מַלְאֲכֵי רָעִים׃

Yeshalach bam charon apo, evra vaza'am vetzara, mishalachat mal'achei ra'im.

He inflicted His burning anger upon them, wrath, indignation, trouble, a band of deadly messengers.

יְפַלֵּס נָתִיב לְאַפּוֹ לֹא־חָשַׂךְ מִמָּוֶת נַפְשָׁם וְחַיָּתָם לַדֶּבֶר הִסְגִּיר׃

Yefales nativ le'apo, lo chasach mimavet nafsham, vechayatam ladever hisgir.

He cleared a path for His anger; He did not stop short of slaying them, but gave them over to plague.

וַיַּךְ כָּל־בְּכוֹר בְּמִצְרָיִם רֵאשִׁית אוֹנִים בְּאָהֳלֵי־חָם׃

Vayach kol bechor beMitzrayim, reshit onim be'oholei Cham.

He struck every firstborn in Egypt, the first fruits of their vigor in the tents of Ham.

וַיַּסַּע כַּצֹּאן עַמּוֹ וַיְנַהֲגֵם כַּעֵדֶר בַּמִּדְבָּר׃

Vayasa katzon amo, vaynahagem ka'eder bamidbar.

He set His people moving like sheep, drove them like a flock in the wilderness.

וַיַּנְחֵם לָבֶטַח וְלֹא פָחָדוּ וְאֶת־אוֹיְבֵיהֶם כִּסָּה הַיָּם׃

Vayanchem lavetach velo fachadu, ve'et oyveihem kisa hayam.

He led them in safety; they were unafraid; as for their enemies, the sea covered them.

וַיְבִיאֵם אֶל־גְּבוּל קָדְשׁוֹ הַר־זֶה קָנְתָה יְמִינוֹ׃

Vayevi'em el gevul kodsho, har ze kanta yemino.

He brought them to His holy realm, the mountain His right hand had acquired.

וַיְגָרֶשׁ מִפְּנֵיהֶם גּוֹיִם וַיַּפִּילֵם בְּחֶבֶל נַחֲלָה וַיַּשְׁכֵּן בְּאָהֳלֵיהֶם שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל׃

Vaygaresh mipneihem goyim, vayapilem bechevel nachala, vayashken be'oholeihem shivtei Yisrael.

He drove out nations before them; He gave them their lands as a possession; He let the tribes of Israel settle in their tents.

וַיְנַסּוּ וַיַּמְרוּ אֶת־אֱלֹהִים עֶלְיוֹן וְעֵדוֹתָיו לֹא שָׁמָרוּ׃

Vayenasu vayamru et Elohim Elyon, ve'edotav lo shamaru.

Yet they tested God, the Most High, and defied Him; they did not observe His decrees.

וַיִּסֹּגוּ וַיִּבְגְּדוּ כַּאֲבוֹתָם נֶהֶפְכוּ כְּקֶשֶׁת רְמִיָּה׃

Vayisogu vayivgedu ka'avotam, nehefchu kekeshet remiya.

They fell away, faithless like their fathers; they played false like a treacherous bow.

וַיַּכְעִיסוּהוּ בְּבָמוֹתָם וּבִפְסִילֵיהֶם יַקְנִיאוּהוּ׃

Vayach'isuhu bevamotam, uvfisileihem yakni'uhu.

They vexed Him with their high places; they incensed Him with their idols.

שָׁמַע אֱלֹהִים וַיִּתְעַבָּר וַיִּמְאַס מְאֹד בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל׃

Shama Elohim vayit'abar, vayim'as me'od beYisrael.

God heard it and was enraged; He utterly rejected Israel.

וַיִּטֹּשׁ מִשְׁכַּן שִׁלוֹ אֹהֶל שִׁכֵּן בָּאָדָם׃

Vayitosh mishkan Shilo, ohel shiken ba'adam.

He forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent He had set among men.

וַיִּתֵּן לַשְּׁבִי עֻזּוֹ וְתִפְאַרְתּוֹ בְיַד־צָר׃

Vayiten lashvi uzo, vetif'arto veyad tzar.

He let His might go into captivity, His glory into the hands of the foe.

וַיַּסְגֵּר לַחֶרֶב עַמּוֹ וּבְנַחֲלָתוֹ הִתְעַבָּר׃

Vayasger lecherev amo, uvenachalato hit'abar.

He gave His people over to the sword; He was enraged at His inheritance.

בַּחוּרָיו אָכְלָה־אֵשׁ וּבְתוּלֹתָיו לֹא הוּלָּלוּ׃

Bachurav achla esh, uvtulotav lo hulalu.

Fire consumed their young men, and their maidens remained unwed.

כֹּהֲנָיו בַּחֶרֶב נָפָלוּ וְאַלְמְנֹתָיו לֹא תִבְכֶּינָה׃

Kohanav becherev nafalu, ve'almnotav lo tivkeina.

Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows could not mourn.

וַיִּקַץ כְּיָשֵׁן אֲדֹנָי כְּגִבּוֹר מִתְרוֹנֵן מִיָּיִן׃

Vayikatz keyashen Adonai, kegibor mitronen miyayin.

The Lord awoke as from sleep, like a warrior shaking off wine.

וַיַּךְ־צָרָיו אָחוֹר חֶרְפַּת עוֹלָם נָתַן לָמוֹ׃

Vayach tzarav achor, cherpat olam natan lamo.

He drove His foes back, dealing them lasting shame.

וַיִּמְאַס בְּאֹהֶל יוֹסֵף וּבְשֵׁבֶט אֶפְרַיִם לֹא בָחָר׃

Vayim'as be'ohel Yosef, uveshevet Efrayim lo vachar.

He rejected the clan of Joseph; He did not choose the tribe of Ephraim,

וַיִּבְחַר אֶת־שֵׁבֶט יְהוּדָה אֶת־הַר צִיּוֹן אֲשֶׁר אָהֵב׃

Vayivchar et shevet Yehuda, et har Tziyon asher ahev.

but chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which He loved.

וַיִּבֶן כְּמוֹ־רָמִים מִקְדָּשׁוֹ כְּאֶרֶץ יְסָדָהּ לְעוֹלָם׃

Vayiven kemo ramim mikdasho, ke'eretz yesadah le'olam.

He built His sanctuary like the heavens, like the earth that He established forever.

וַיִּבְחַר בְּדָוִד עַבְדּוֹ וַיִּקָּחֵהוּ מִמִּכְלְאֹת צֹאן׃

Vayivchar beDavid avdo, vayikachehu mimikle'ot tzon.

He chose David, His servant, and took him from the sheepfolds.

מֵאַחַר עָלוֹת הֱבִיאוֹ לִרְעוֹת בְּיַעֲקֹב עַמּוֹ וּבְיִשְׂרָאֵל נַחֲלָתוֹ׃

Me'achar alot hevi'o lir'ot beYa'akov amo, uveYisrael nachalato.

He brought him from minding the nursing ewes to tend His people Jacob, Israel, His very own.

וַיִּרְעֵם כְּתֹם לְבָבוֹ וּבִתְבוּנוֹת כַּפָּיו יַנְחֵם׃

Vayir'em ketom levavo, uvitevunot kapav yanchem.

He tended them with blameless heart; with skillful hands he led them.