A maskilמַשְׂכִּילof Asaph.לְאָסָףGive ear,הַאֲזִינָהmy people,עַמִּיto my instruction;תּוֹרָתִיinclineהַטּוּyour earאָזְנְכֶםto the sayingsלְאִמְרֵיof my mouth.פִי
I will openאֶפְתְּחָהmy mouthפִּיwith a proverb;בְמָשָׁלI will pour outאַבִּיעָהriddlesחִידוֹתfrom of old,מִנִּי קֶדֶם
whichאֲשֶׁרwe have heardשָׁמַעְנוּand known,וַנֵּדָעֵםand our fathersוַאֲבוֹתֵינוּhave told us.סִפְּרוּ לָנוּ
We will notלֹאhide themנְכַחֵדfrom their children;מִבְּנֵיהֶםto the generationלְדוֹרto comeאַחֲרוֹןwe will recountמְסַפְּרִיםthe praisesתְּהִלּוֹתof YHWH,יְהוָהand his strengthוֶעֱזוּזוֹand his wondersוְנִפְלְאוֹתָיוthatאֲשֶׁרhe has done.עָשָׂה
He establishedוַיָּקֶםa testimonyעֵדוּתin Jacob,בְּיַעֲקֹבand an instructionוְתוֹרָהhe setשָׂםin Israel,בְּיִשְׂרָאֵלwhichאֲשֶׁרhe commandedצִוָּהour fathersאֶת אֲבוֹתֵינוּto make knownלְהוֹדִיעָםto their children,לִבְנֵיהֶם
so thatלְמַעַןthe generationדּוֹרto comeאַחֲרוֹןmight know,יֵדְעוּchildrenבָּנִיםyet to be born,יִוָּלֵדוּwho would rise upיָקֻמוּandוִtellיסַפְּרוּtheir children,לִבְנֵיהֶם
and putוְיָשִׂימוּin Elohimבֵאלֹהִיםtheir confidence,כִּסְלָםand notוְלֹאforgetיִשְׁכְּחוּthe worksמַעַלְלֵיof El,אֵלand keepיִנְצֹרוּhis commandments,וּמִצְוֺתָיו
and notוְלֹאbeיִהְיוּlike their fathers,כַּאֲבוֹתָםa generationדּוֹרobstinateסוֹרֵרand rebellious,וּמֹרֶהa generationדּוֹרthat did notלֹאmake steadyהֵכִיןits heart,לִבּוֹand whose spiritוְ רוּחוֹwas notלֹאfaithfulנֶאֶמְנָהto El.אֶת אֵל
The sonsבְּנֵיof Ephraim,אֶפְרַיִםarmedנוֹשְׁקֵיshootersרוֹמֵיof the bow,קָשֶׁתturned backהָפְכוּon the dayבְּיוֹםof battle.קְרָב
They did notלֹאkeepשָׁמְרוּthe covenantבְּרִיתof Elohim,אֱלֹהִיםand in his instructionוּבְתוֹרָתוֹthey refusedמֵאֲנוּto walk.לָלֶכֶת
And they forgotוַיִּשְׁכְּחוּhis deeds,עֲלִילוֹתָיוand his wondersוְנִפְלְאוֹתָיוthatאֲשֶׁרhe had shown them.הֶרְאָם
Beforeנֶגֶדtheir fathersאֲבוֹתָםhe didעָשָׂהwondersפֶלֶאin the landבְּאֶרֶץof Egypt,מִצְרַיִםthe fieldשְׂדֵהof Zoan.צֹעַן
He splitבָּקַעthe seaיָםand brought them through,וַיַּעֲבִירֵםand madeוַיַּצֶּבthe watersמַיִםstandיַּצֶּבlikeכְּמוֹa heap.נֵד
And he led themוַיַּנְחֵםwith the cloudבֶּעָנָןby day,יוֹמָםand allוְכָלthe nightהַלַּיְלָהwith a lightבְּאוֹרof fire.אֵשׁ
He splitיְבַקַּעrocksצֻרִיםin the wilderness,בַּמִּדְבָּרand gave them drinkוַיַּשְׁקְas from the deeps,כִּתְהֹמוֹתabundantly.רַבָּה
And he brought outוַיּוֹצִאtorrentsנוֹזְלִיםfrom the crag,מִסָּלַעand madeוַיּוֹרֶדthe watersמָיִםflow downיּוֹרֶדlike rivers.כַּנְּהָרוֹת
But they went onוַיּוֹסִיפוּstillעוֹדsinningלַחֲטֹאagainst him,לוֹrebellingלַמְרוֹתagainst Elyonעֶלְיוֹןin the dry land.בַּצִּיָּה
And they putוַיְנַסּוּElאֵלto the testיְנַסּוּin their heartבִּלְבָבָםby askingלִשְׁאָלfoodאֹכֶלfor their appetite.לְנַפְשָׁם
And they spokeוַיְדַבְּרוּagainst Elohim;בֵּאלֹהִיםthey said,אָמְרוּ“CanהֲיוּכַלElאֵלprepareלַעֲרֹךְa tableשֻׁלְחָןin the wilderness?בַּמִּדְבָּר
Look,הֵןhe struckהִכָּהthe rockצוּרand watersמַיִםflowed,וַיָּזוּבוּand streamsוּנְחָלִיםoverflowed;יִשְׁטֹפוּcan heהֲ יוּכַלalsoגַםgiveתֵּתbread,לֶחֶםorאִםprovideיָכִיןmeatשְׁאֵרfor his people?”לְעַמּוֹ
ThereforeלָכֵןYHWHיְהוָהheardשָׁמַעand became enraged;וַיִּתְעַבָּרand a fireוְאֵשׁwas kindledנִשְּׂקָהagainst Jacob,בְיַעֲקֹבand alsoוְגַםangerאַףroseעָלָהagainst Israel,בְיִשְׂרָאֵל
becauseכִּיthey did notלֹאbelieveהֶאֱמִינוּin Elohim,בֵּאלֹהִיםnorוְלֹאtrustבָטְחוּin his salvation.בִּישׁוּעָתוֹ
And he commandedוַיְצַוthe cloudsשְׁחָקִיםabove,מִמָּעַלand the doorsוְדַלְתֵיof the heavensשָׁמַיִםhe opened,פָּתָח
and rained downוַיַּמְטֵרupon themעֲלֵיהֶםmannaמָןto eat,לֶאֱכֹלand the grainוּדְגַןof the heavensשָׁמַיִםhe gave them.נָתַן לָמוֹ
The breadלֶחֶםof the strongאַבִּירִיםeach oneאִישׁate;אָכַלprovisionsצֵידָהhe sent themשָׁלַח לָהֶםto the full.לָשֹׂבַע
He sent forthיַסַּעthe east windקָדִיםin the heavens,בַּשָּׁמָיִםand droveוַיְנַהֵגby his strengthבְּעֻזּוֹthe south wind,תֵימָן
and rained downוַיַּמְטֵרupon themעֲלֵיהֶםmeatשְׁאֵרlike dust,כֶּעָפָרand like the sandוּכְחוֹלof the seas,יַמִּיםwingedכָּנָףbirds,עוֹף
and he let them fallוַיַּפֵּלin the midstבְּקֶרֶבof his camp,מַחֲנֵהוּall aroundסָבִיבhis dwellings.לְמִשְׁכְּנֹתָיו
And they ateוַיֹּאכְלוּand were filledוַיִּשְׂבְּעוּgreatly,מְאֹדand what they cravedוְתַאֲוָתָםhe brought them.יָבִא לָהֶם
They had notלֹאturned awayזָרוּfrom what they craved;מִתַּאֲוָתָםtheir foodאָכְלָםwas stillעוֹדin their mouths,בְּפִיהֶם
when the angerוְאַףof Elohimאֱלֹהִיםroseעָלָהagainst them,בָהֶםand he killedוַיַּהֲרֹגamong their sturdiest,בְּמִשְׁמַנֵּיהֶםand the young menוּבַחוּרֵיof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלhe brought low.הִכְרִיעַ
In spite of allבְּכָלthisזֹאתthey stillעוֹדsinned,חָטְאוּand did notוְלֹאbelieveהֶאֱמִינוּin his wonders.בְּנִפְלְאוֹתָיו
And he consumedוַיְכַלin vaporבַּהֶבֶלtheir days,יְמֵיהֶםand their yearsוּשְׁנוֹתָםin sudden terror.בַּבֶּהָלָה
Whenאִםhe killed them,הֲרָגָםthey sought him,וּדְרָשׁוּהוּand they returnedוְשָׁבוּand eagerly soughtוְשִׁחֲרוּEl.אֵל
And they rememberedוַיִּזְכְּרוּthatכִּיElohimאֱלֹהִיםwas their Rock,צוּרָםand ElוְאֵלElyonעֶלְיוֹןtheir Redeemer.גֹּאֲלָם
But they enticed himוַיְפַתּוּהוּwith their mouth,בְּפִיהֶםand with their tongueוּבִלְשׁוֹנָםthey lied to him;יְכַזְּבוּ לוֹ
and their heartוְלִבָּםwas notלֹאsteadfastנָכוֹןwith him,עִמּוֹnorוְלֹאwere they faithfulנֶאֶמְנוּto his covenant.בִּבְרִיתוֹ
But he,וְהוּאmerciful,רַחוּםmakes expiationיְכַפֵּרfor iniquityעָוֺןand does notוְלֹאdestroy;יַשְׁחִיתand many timesוְהִרְבָּהhe turned backלְהָשִׁיבhis anger,אַפּוֹand did notוְלֹאstir upיָעִירallכָּלhis fury.חֲמָתוֹ
And he rememberedוַיִּזְכֹּרthatכִּיtheyהֵמָּהwere flesh,בָשָׂרa windרוּחַthat goesהוֹלֵךְand does notוְלֹאreturn.יָשׁוּב
How oftenכַּמָּהthey rebelled against himיַמְרוּהוּin the wilderness,בַמִּדְבָּרgrieved himיַעֲצִיבוּהוּin the wasteland!בִּישִׁימוֹן
And againוַיָּשׁוּבוּthey putוַיְנַסּוּElאֵלto the test,יְנַסּוּand the Holy Oneוּקְדוֹשׁof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלthey aggrieved.הִתְווּ
They did notלֹאrememberזָכְרוּhis hand,אֶת יָדוֹthe dayיוֹםwhenאֲשֶׁרhe ransomed themפָּדָםfrom the adversary,מִנִּי צָר
whenאֲשֶׁרhe setשָׂםin Egyptבְּמִצְרַיִםhis signs,אֹתוֹתָיוand his portentsוּמוֹפְתָיוin the fieldבִּשְׂדֵהof Zoan;צֹעַן
and he turnedוַיַּהֲפֹךְinto bloodלְדָםtheir canals,יְאֹרֵיהֶםand their torrents,וְנֹזְלֵיהֶםso that they could notבַּלdrink.יִשְׁתָּיוּן
He sentיְשַׁלַּחamong themבָּהֶםswarms of fliesעָרֹבthat devoured them,וַיֹּאכְלֵםand frogsוּצְפַרְדֵּעַthat destroyed them.וַתַּשְׁחִיתֵם
And he gaveוַיִּתֵּןto the hopperלֶחָסִילtheir produce,יְבוּלָםand their laborוִיגִיעָםto the locust.לָאַרְבֶּה
He killedיַהֲרֹגwith hailבַּבָּרָדtheir vine,גַּפְנָםand their sycamoresוְשִׁקְמוֹתָםwith frost.בַּחֲנָמַל
And he gave overוַיַּסְגֵּרto the hailלַבָּרָדtheir cattle,בְּעִירָםand their herdsוּמִקְנֵיהֶםto the flames.לָרְשָׁפִים
He sentיְשַׁלַּחagainst themבָּםthe burningחֲרוֹןof his anger,אַפּוֹwrathעֶבְרָהand indignationוָזַעַםand distress,וְצָרָהa dispatchמִשְׁלַחַתof messengersמַלְאֲכֵיof evils.רָעִים
He leveledיְפַלֵּסa pathנָתִיבfor his anger;לְאַפּוֹhe did notלֹאhold backחָשַׂךְtheir soulנַפְשָׁםfrom death,מִמָּוֶתand their lifeוְחַיָּתָםto the pestilenceלַדֶּבֶרhe gave over.הִסְגִּיר
And he struckוַיַּךְeveryכָּלfirstbornבְּכוֹרin Egypt,בְּמִצְרָיִםthe beginningרֵאשִׁיתof vigorאוֹנִיםin the tentsבְּאָהֳלֵיof Ham.חָם
And he madeוַיַּסַּעhis peopleעַמּוֹset outיַּסַּעlike sheep,כַּצֹּאןand drove themוַיְנַהֲגֵםlike a flockכַּעֵדֶרin the wilderness.בַּמִּדְבָּר
And he led themוַיַּנְחֵםin safety,לָבֶטַחand they were notוְלֹאin dread;פָחָדוּbut their enemiesוְאֶת אוֹיְבֵיהֶםthe seaהַיָּםcovered.כִּסָּה
And he brought themוַיְבִיאֵםto his holy territory,אֶל גְּבוּל קָדְשׁוֹthisזֶהmountainהַרthat his right handיְמִינוֹacquired.קָנְתָה
And he drove outוַיְגָרֶשׁnationsגּוֹיִםbefore them,מִפְּנֵיהֶםand allotted themוַיַּפִּילֵםwith a lineבְּחֶבֶלas an inheritance,נַחֲלָהand madeוַיַּשְׁכֵּןthe tribesשִׁבְטֵיof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלdwellיַּשְׁכֵּןin their tents.בְּאָהֳלֵיהֶם
But they put him to the testוַיְנַסּוּand rebelled againstוַיַּמְרוּ אֶתElohimאֱלֹהִיםElyon,עֶלְיוֹןand his testimoniesוְעֵדוֹתָיוthey did notלֹאkeep.שָׁמָרוּ
And they turned backוַיִּסֹּגוּand dealt treacherouslyוַיִּבְגְּדוּlike their fathers;כַּאֲבוֹתָםthey were twistedנֶהְפְּכוּlike a bowכְּקֶשֶׁתof deceit.רְמִיָּה
And they provoked him to angerוַיַּכְעִיסוּהוּwith their high places,בְּבָמוֹתָםand with their carved imagesוּבִפְסִילֵיהֶםthey made him jealous.יַקְנִיאוּהוּ
Elohimאֱלֹהִיםheardשָׁמַעand became enraged,וַיִּתְעַבָּרand he utterlyמְאֹדdespisedוַיִּמְאַסIsrael.בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל
And he abandonedוַיִּטֹּשׁthe dwellingמִשְׁכַּןof Shiloh,שִׁלוֹthe tentאֹהֶלwhere he dweltשִׁכֵּןamong human beings.בָּאָדָם
And he gaveוַיִּתֵּןto captivityלַשְּׁבִיhis strength,עֻזּוֹand his beautyוְתִפְאַרְתּוֹinto the handבְיַדof the adversary.צָר
And he gave overוַיַּסְגֵּרto the swordלַחֶרֶבhis people,עַמּוֹand against his inheritanceוּבְנַחֲלָתוֹhe was enraged.הִתְעַבָּר
His young menבַּחוּרָיוthe fireאֵשׁdevoured,אָכְלָהand his virginsוּבְתוּלֹתָיוwere notלֹאcelebrated.הוּלָּלוּ
His priestsכֹּהֲנָיוby the swordבַּחֶרֶבfell,נָפָלוּand his widowsוְאַלְמְנֹתָיוdid notלֹאweep.תִבְכֶּינָה
And Adonaiוַ אֲדֹנָיawokeיִּקַץlike one who sleeps,כְּיָשֵׁןlike a mighty manכְּגִבּוֹרshoutingמִתְרוֹנֵןbecause of wine.מִיָּיִן
And he struckוַיַּךְhis adversariesצָרָיוfrom behind;אָחוֹרan eternalעוֹלָםreproachחֶרְפַּתhe gave them.נָתַן לָמוֹ
And he despisedוַיִּמְאַסthe tentבְּאֹהֶלof Joseph,יוֹסֵףand the tribeוּבְשֵׁבֶטof Ephraimאֶפְרַיִםhe did notלֹאchoose,בָחָר
but he choseוַיִּבְחַרthe tribeאֶת שֵׁבֶטof Judah,יְהוּדָהMountאֶת הַרZion,צִיּוֹןwhichאֲשֶׁרhe loved.אָהֵב
And he builtוַיִּבֶןlikeכְּמוֹthe heightsרָמִיםhis sanctuary,מִקְדָּשׁוֹlike the earthכְּאֶרֶץhe foundedיְסָדָהּforever.לְעוֹלָם
And he choseוַיִּבְחַרDavidבְּדָוִדhis servant,עַבְדּוֹand took himוַיִּקָּחֵהוּfrom the foldsמִמִּכְלְאֹתof the sheep;צֹאן
from behindמֵאַחַרthe nursing ewesעָלוֹתhe brought himהֱבִיאוֹto shepherdלִרְעוֹתJacobבְּיַעֲקֹבhis people,עַמּוֹand Israelוּבְיִשְׂרָאֵלhis inheritance.נַחֲלָתוֹ
And he shepherded themוַיִּרְעֵםaccording to the integrityכְּתֹםof his heart,לְבָבוֹand with the understandingוּבִתְבוּנוֹתof his palmsכַּפָּיוhe led them.יַנְחֵם