top Psalm 77 (78)
Greek: Septuagint (LXX)
English: John Barach
Psalm 77 (78)

Συνέσεως τῷ Ἀσάφ. The instruction of Asaph
Prologue: The Chain of Tradition
1 [MT=78:1] Προσέχετε, λαός μου, τὸν νόμον μου, κλίνατε τὸ οὖς ὑμῶν εἰς τὰ ῥήματα τοῦ στόματός μου· 2 [MT=78:2] ἀνοίξω ἐν παραβολαῖς τὸ στόμα μου, φθέγξομαι προβλήματα ἀπ' ἀρχῆς. 3 [MT=78:3] ὅσα ἠκούσαμεν καὶ ἔγνωμεν αὐτὰ καὶ οἱ πατέρες ἡμῶν διηγήσαντο ἡμῖν, 4 [MT=78:4] οὐκ ἐκρύβη ἀπὸ τῶν τέκνων αὐτῶν εἰς γενεὰν ἑτέραν ἀπαγγέλλοντες τὰς αἰνέσεις τοῦ κυρίου καὶ τὰς δυναστείας αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰ θαυμάσια αὐτοῦ, ἃ ἐποίησεν. 77.1 [MT=78:1] Give heed, O my people, to my law; incline your ear to the words of my mouth. 77.2 [MT=78:2] I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter problems from the beginning. 77.3 [MT=78:3] Whatsoever we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us, 77.4 [MT=78:4] it was not hidden from their children. To another generation they reported the praises of the Lord, and His powers, and His wonders which He performed.
5 [MT=78:5] Καὶ ἀνέστησεν μαρτύριον ἐν Ἰακὼβ καὶ νόμον ἔθετο ἐν Ἰσραήλ, ὅσα ἐνετείλατο τοῖς πατράσιν ἡμῶν τοῦ γνωρίσαι αὐτὰ τοῖς υἱοῖς αὐτῶν, 6 [MT=78:6] ὅπως ἄν γνῷ γενεὰ ἑτέρα, υἱοὶ οἱ τεχθησόμενοι, καὶ ἀναστήσονται καὶ ἀπαγγελοῦσιν αὐτὰ τοῖς υἱοῖς αὐτῶν, 7 [MT=78:7] ἵνα θῶνται ἐπὶ τὸν θεὸν τὴν ἐλπίδα αὐτῶν καὶ μὴ ἐπιλάθωνται τῶν ἔργων τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ ἐκζητήσουσιν, 8 [MT=78:8] ἵνα μὴ γένωνται ὡς οἱ πατέρες αὐτῶν γενεὰ σκολιὰ καὶ παραπικραίνουσα, γενεά, ἥτις οὐ κατηύθυνεν τὴν καρδίαν αὐτῆς καὶ οὐκ ἐπιστώθη μετὰ τοῦ θεοῦ τὸ πνεῦμα αὐτῆς. 77.5 [MT=78:5] And He raised up a testimony in Jacob and set a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers to make known to their sons, 77.6 [MT=78:6] so that another generation might know—sons yet to be born—and they shall rise up and report them to their own sons, 77.7 [MT=78:7] so that they might set their hope upon God and not forget the works of God, but seek out His commandments; 77.8 [MT=78:8] so that they might not become like their fathers, a crooked and embittering generation, a generation that did not direct its heart aright, and whose spirit was not made faithful with God.
The Failure of Ephraim and the Exodus
9 [MT=78:9] Υἱοὶ Ἐφραὶμ ἐντείνοντες καὶ βάλλοντες τόξοις ἐστράφησαν ἐν ἡμέρᾳ πολέμου. 10 [MT=78:10] οὐκ ἐφύλαξαν τὴν διαθήκην τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ἐν τῷ νόμῳ αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἤθελον πορεύεσθαι 11 [MT=78:11] καὶ ἐπελάθοντο τῶν εὐεργεσιῶν αὐτοῦ καὶ τῶν θαυμασίων αὐτοῦ, ὧν ἔδειξεν αὐτοῖς, 12 [MT=78:12] ἐναντίον τῶν πατέρων αὐτῶν ἃ ἐποίησεν θαυμάσια ἐν γῇ Αἰγύπτῳ ἐν πεδίῳ Τάνεως. 77.9 [MT=78:9] The sons of Ephraim, bending and shooting with bows, turned back in the day of battle. 77.10 [MT=78:10] They did not keep the covenant of God and did not wish to walk in His law. 77.11 [MT=78:11] And they forgot His benefits and His wonders which He showed them, 77.12 [MT=78:12] the wonders He performed before their fathers in the land of Egypt, in the plain of Tanis.
13 [MT=78:13] διέρρηξεν θάλασσαν καὶ διήγαγεν αὐτούς, ἔστησεν ὕδατα ὡσεὶ ἀσκὸν 14 [MT=78:14] καὶ ὡδήγησεν αὐτοὺς ἐν νεφέλῃ ἡμέρας καὶ ὅλην τὴν νύκτα ἐν φωτισμῷ πυρός. 15 [MT=78:15] διέρρηξεν πέτραν ἐν ἐρήμῳ καὶ ἐπότισεν αὐτοὺς ὡς ἐν ἀβύσσῳ πολλῇ 16 [MT=78:16] καὶ ἐξήγαγεν ὕδωρ ἐκ πέτρας καὶ κατήγαγεν ὡς ποταμοὺς ὕδατα. 77.13 [MT=78:13] He split the sea and led them through; He made the waters stand like a wineskin. 77.14 [MT=78:14] And He guided them with a cloud by day and all the night with a light of fire. 77.15 [MT=78:15] He split the rock in the wilderness and gave them drink as from a great abyss. 77.16 [MT=78:16] And He brought water out of the rock and brought down waters like rivers.
Rebellion in the Wilderness
17 [MT=78:17] Καὶ προσέθεντο ἔτι τοῦ ἁμαρτάνειν αὐτῷ, παρεπίκραναν τὸν ὕψιστον ἐν ἀνύδρῳ 18 [MT=78:18] καὶ ἐξεπείρασαν τὸν θεὸν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν τοῦ αἰτῆσαι βρώματα ταῖς ψυχαῖς αὐτῶν 19 [MT=78:19] καὶ κατελάλησαν τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ εἶπαν, μὴ δυνήσεται ὁ θεὸς ἑτοιμάσαι τράπεζαν ἐν ἐρήμῳ; 20 [MT=78:20] ἐπεὶ ἐπάταξεν πέτραν καὶ ἐρρύησαν ὕδατα καὶ χείμαρροι κατεκλύσθησαν, μὴ καὶ ἄρτον δύναται δοῦναι ἢ ἑτοιμάσαι τράπεζαν τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ; 77.17 [MT=78:17] But they added still more to their sinning against Him; they embittered the Most High in the waterless land. 77.18 [MT=78:18] And they tested God in their hearts by asking for food for their souls. 77.19 [MT=78:19] And they spoke against God and said: "Will God be able to prepare a table in the wilderness? 77.20 [MT=78:20] Since He struck the rock and waters flowed and torrents overflowed, can He also give bread or prepare a table for His people?"
21 [MT=78:21] Διὰ τοῦτο ἤκουσεν κύριος καὶ ἀνεβάλετο, καὶ πῦρ ἀνήφθη ἐν Ἰακώβ, καὶ ὀργὴ ἀνέβη ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰσραήλ, 22 [MT=78:22] ὅτι οὐκ ἐπίστευσαν ἐν τῷ θεῷ οὐδὲ ἤλπισαν ἐπὶ τὸ σωτήριον αὐτοῦ. 23 [MT=78:23] καὶ ἐνετείλατο νεφέλαις ὑπεράνωθεν καὶ θύρας οὐρανοῦ ἀνέῳξεν 24 [MT=78:24] καὶ ἔβρεξεν αὐτοῖς μάννα φαγεῖν καὶ ἄρτον οὐρανοῦ ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς· 25 [MT=78:25] ἄρτον ἀγγέλων ἔφαγεν ἄνθρωπος, ἐπισιτισμὸν ἀπέστειλεν αὐτοῖς εἰς πλησμονήν. 77.21 [MT=78:21] Therefore the Lord heard and was delayed; and a fire was kindled in Jacob, and anger ascended against Israel, 77.22 [MT=78:22] because they did not believe in God nor hope in His salvation. 77.23 [MT=78:23] And He commanded the clouds from above and opened the doors of heaven, 77.24 [MT=78:24] and He rained manna for them to eat and gave them the bread of heaven. 77.25 [MT=78:25] Man ate the bread of angels; He sent them provisions to the full.
The Quail and the Judgment
26 [MT=78:26] Ἀπῆρεν νότον ἐξ οὐρανοῦ καὶ ἐπήγαγεν ἐν τῇ δυναστείᾳ αὐτοῦ λίβα 27 [MT=78:27] καὶ ἔβρεξεν ἐπ' αὐτοὺς ὡσεὶ χοῦν σάρκας καὶ ὡσεὶ ἄμμον θαλασσῶν πετεινὰ πτερωτά, 28 [MT=78:28] καὶ ἐπέπεσον εἰς μέσον τῆς παρεμβολῆς αὐτῶν κύκλῳ τῶν σκηνωμάτων αὐτῶν, 29 [MT=78:29] καὶ ἐφάγοσαν καὶ ἐνεπλήσθησαν σφόδρα, καὶ τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν αὐτῶν ἤνεγκεν αὐτοῖς, 77.26 [MT=78:26] He removed the south wind from heaven and brought in the southwest wind by His power. 77.27 [MT=78:27] And He rained flesh upon them like dust, and feathered birds like the sand of the seas. 77.28 [MT=78:28] And they fell into the midst of their camp, all around their tents. 77.29 [MT=78:29] And they ate and were very satisfied, and He brought them their desire.
30 [MT=78:30] Οὐκ ἐστερήθησαν ἀπὸ τῆς ἐπιθυμίας αὐτῶν. ἔτι τῆς βρώσεως αὐτῶν οὔσης ἐν τῷ στόματι αὐτῶν 31 [MT=78:31] καὶ ὀργὴ τοῦ θεοῦ ἀνέβη ἐπ' αὐτοὺς καὶ ἀπέκτεινεν ἐν τοῖς πίοσιν αὐτῶν καὶ τοὺς ἐκλεκτοὺς τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ συνεπόδισεν. 77.30 [MT=78:30] They were not deprived of their desire. While their food was still in their mouth, 77.31 [MT=78:31] the anger of God ascended against them and killed among their wealthiest, and He shackled the chosen of Israel.
Insincere Repentance
32 [MT=78:32] Ἐν πᾶσιν τούτοις ἥμαρτον ἔτι καὶ οὐκ ἐπίστευσαν ἐν τοῖς θαυμασίοις αὐτοῦ, 33 [MT=78:33] καὶ ἐξέλιπον ἐν ματαιότητι αἱ ἡμέραι αὐτῶν καὶ τὰ ἔτη αὐτῶν μετὰ σπουδῆς. 77.32 [MT=78:32] In all these things they sinned still more and did not believe in His wonders. 77.33 [MT=78:33] And their days failed in vanity, and their years with haste.
34 [MT=78:34] Ὅταν ἀπέκτεννεν αὐτούς, ἐξεζήτουν αὐτὸν καὶ ἐπέστρεφον καὶ ὤρθριζον πρὸς τὸν θεὸν 35 [MT=78:35] καὶ ἐμνήσθησαν ὅτι ὁ θεὸς βοηθὸς αὐτῶν ἐστιν καὶ ὁ θεὸς ὁ ὕψιστος λυτρωτὴς αὐτῶν ἐστιν. 36 [MT=78:36] καὶ ἠπάτησαν αὐτὸν ἐν τῷ στόματι αὐτῶν καὶ τῇ γλώσσῃ αὐτῶν ἐψεύσαντο αὐτῷ, 37 [MT=78:37] ἡ δὲ καρδία αὐτῶν οὐκ εὐθεῖα μετ' αὐτοῦ, οὐδὲ ἐπιστώθησαν ἐν τῇ διαθήκῃ αὐτοῦ. 77.34 [MT=78:34] When He was killing them, they sought Him out and returned and rose early for God. 77.35 [MT=78:35] And they remembered that God is their helper and God the Most High is their ransomer. 77.36 [MT=78:36] But they deceived Him with their mouth and lied to Him with their tongue; 77.37 [MT=78:37] for their heart was not upright with Him, nor were they made faithful in His covenant.
38 [MT=78:38] Αὐτὸς δέ ἐστιν οἰκτίρμων καὶ ἱλάσεται ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις αὐτῶν καὶ οὐ διαφθερεῖ καὶ πληθυνεῖ τοῦ ἀποστρέψαι τὸν θυμὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ οὐχὶ ἐκκαύσει πᾶσαν τὴν ὀργὴν αὐτοῦ· 39 [MT=78:39] καὶ ἐμνήσθη ὅτι σάρξ εἰσιν, πνεῦμα πορευόμενον καὶ οὐκ ἐπιστρέφον. 77.38 [MT=78:38] But He is compassionate and will be propitious to their sins and will not destroy; and He will multiply the turning away of His wrath and will not kindle all His anger. 77.39 [MT=78:39] And He remembered that they are flesh, a spirit that goes forth and does not return.
The Ten Plagues Recalled
40 [MT=78:40] Ποσάκις παρεπίκραναν αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, παρώργισαν αὐτὸν ἐν γῇ ἀνύδρῳ; 41 [MT=78:41] καὶ ἐπέστρεψαν καὶ ἐπείρασαν τὸν θεὸν καὶ τὸν ἅγιον τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ παρώξυναν. 42 [MT=78:42] οὐκ ἐμνήσθησαν τῆς χειρὸς αὐτοῦ, ἡμέρας ἧς ἐλυτρώσατο αὐτοὺς ἐκ χειρὸς θλίβοντος, 43 [MT=78:43] ὡς ἔθετο ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ τὰ σημεῖα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰ τέρατα αὐτοῦ ἐν πεδίῳ Τάνεως· 77.40 [MT=78:40] How often they embittered Him in the wilderness, and provoked Him to anger in a waterless land! 77.41 [MT=78:41] And they turned back and tested God and provoked the Holy One of Israel. 77.42 [MT=78:42] They did not remember His hand, the day in which He ransomed them from the hand of the afflicter, 77.43 [MT=78:43] how He set His signs in Egypt and His portents in the plain of Tanis.
44 [MT=78:44] καὶ μετέστρεψεν εἰς αἷμα τοὺς ποταμοὺς αὐτῶν καὶ τὰ ὀμβρήματα αὐτῶν, ὅπως μὴ πίωσιν· 45 [MT=78:45] ἐξαπέστειλεν εἰς αὐτοὺς κυνόμυιαν, καὶ κατέφαγεν αὐτούς, καὶ βάτραχον, διέφθειρεν αὐτούς· 46 [MT=78:46] καὶ ἔδωκεν τῇ ἐρυσίβῃ τὸν καρπὸν αὐτῶν καὶ τοὺς πόνους αὐτῶν τῇ ἀκρίδι· 47 [MT=78:47] ἀπέκτεινεν ἐν χαλάζῃ τὴν ἄμπελον αὐτῶν καὶ τὰς συκαμίνους αὐτῶν ἐν τῇ πάχνῃ· 48 [MT=78:48] καὶ παρέδωκεν εἰς χάλαζαν τὰ κτήνη αὐτῶν καὶ τὴν ὕπαρξιν αὐτῶν τῷ πυρί· 77.44 [MT=78:44] He turned their rivers and their rain-pools into blood, so that they might not drink. 77.45 [MT=78:45] He sent the dog-fly against them and it devoured them, and the frog, and it destroyed them. 77.46 [MT=78:46] And He gave their fruit to the mildew and their labors to the locust. 77.47 [MT=78:47] He killed their vine with hail and their sycamores with the frost. 77.48 [MT=78:48] And He delivered their cattle to the hail and their substance to the fire.
49 [MT=78:49] ἐξαπέστειλεν εἰς αὐτοὺς ὀργὴν θυμοῦ αὐτοῦ, θυμὸν καὶ ὀργὴν καὶ θλῖψιν, ἀποστολὴν δι' ἀγγέλων πονηρῶν· 50 [MT=78:50] ὡδοποίησεν τρίβον τῇ ὀργῇ αὐτοῦ, οὐκ ἐφείσατο ἀπὸ θανάτου τῶν ψυχῶν αὐτῶν καὶ τὰ κτήνη αὐτῶν εἰς θάνατον συνέκλεισεν 51 [MT=78:51] καὶ ἐπάταξεν πᾶν πρωτότοκον ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ, ἀπαρχὴν τῶν πόνων αὐτῶν ἐν τοῖς σκηνώμασι Χάμ. 77.49 [MT=78:49] He sent against them the anger of His wrath—fury and anger and affliction, a mission by evil angels. 77.50 [MT=78:50] He made a path for His anger; He did not spare their souls from death and He enclosed their cattle unto death. 77.51 [MT=78:51] And He struck every firstborn in Egypt, the first-fruits of their labors in the tents of Ham.
52 [MT=78:52] καὶ ἀπῆρεν ὡς πρόβατα τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀνήγαγεν αὐτοὺς ὡς ποίμνιον ἐν ἐρήμῳ 53 [MT=78:53] καὶ ὡδήγησεν αὐτοὺς ἐν ἐλπίδι, καὶ οὐκ ἐδειλίασαν, καὶ τοὺς ἐχθροὺς αὐτῶν ἐκάλυψεν θάλασσα. 54 [MT=78:54] καὶ εἰσήγαγεν αὐτοὺς εἰς ὅριον ἁγιάσματος αὐτοῦ, ὄρος τοῦτο, ὃ ἐκτήσατο ἡ δεξιὰ αὐτοῦ, 55 [MT=78:55] καὶ ἐξέβαλεν ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτῶν ἔθνη καὶ ἐκληροδότησεν αὐτοὺς ἐν σχοινίῳ κληροδοσίας καὶ κατεσκήνωσεν ἐν τοῖς σκηνώμασιν αὐτῶν τὰς φυλὰς τοῦ Ἰσραήλ. 77.52 [MT=78:52] And He removed His people like sheep and led them up like a flock in the wilderness. 77.53 [MT=78:53] And He guided them in hope, and they did not fear, and the sea covered their enemies. 77.54 [MT=78:54] And He brought them to the border of His sanctuary, this mountain, which His right hand possessed. 77.55 [MT=78:55] And He cast out nations from before them and allotted them by a line of inheritance and settled the tribes of Israel in their tents.
Apostasy in the Land
56 [MT=78:56] Καὶ ἐπείρασαν καὶ παρεπίκραναν τὸν θεὸν τὸν ὕψιστον καὶ τὰ μαρτύρια αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἐφυλάξαντο 57 [MT=78:57] καὶ ἀπέστρεψαν καὶ ἠσυνθέτησαν καθὼς καὶ οἱ πατέρες αὐτῶν καὶ μετεστράφησαν εἰς τόξον στρεβλὸν 58 [MT=78:58] καὶ παρώργισαν αὐτὸν ἐν τοῖς βουνοῖς αὐτῶν καὶ ἐν τοῖς γλυπτοῖς αὐτῶν παρεζήλωσαν αὐτόν. 77.56 [MT=78:56] And they tested and embittered God the Most High and did not keep His testimonies. 77.57 [MT=78:57] And they turned away and broke covenant just as their fathers did; they were turned into a crooked bow. 77.58 [MT=78:58] And they provoked Him to anger with their hills and moved Him to jealousy with their graven images.
The Fall of Shiloh
59 [MT=78:59] Ἤκουσεν ὁ θεὸς καὶ ὑπερεῖδεν καὶ ἐξουδένωσεν σφόδρα τὸν Ἰσραὴλ 60 [MT=78:60] καὶ ἀπώσατο τὴν σκηνὴν Σηλώμ, σκήνωμα αὐτοῦ, οὗ κατεσκήνωσεν ἐν ἀνθρώποις. 61 [MT=78:61] καὶ παρέδωκεν εἰς αἰχμαλωσίαν τὴν ἰσχὺν αὐτῶν καὶ τὴν καλλονὴν αὐτῶν εἰς χεῖρας ἐχθροῦ 62 [MT=78:62] καὶ συνέκλεισεν εἰς ῥομφαίαν τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν κληρονομίαν αὐτοῦ ὑπερεῖδεν. 63 [MT=78:63] τοὺς νεανίσκους αὐτῶν κατέφαγεν πῦρ, καὶ αἱ παρθένοι αὐτῶν οὐκ ἐπενθήθησαν· 64 [MT=78:64] οἱ ἱερεῖς αὐτῶν ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ ἔπεσαν, καὶ αἱ χῆραι αὐτῶν οὐ κλαυσθήσονται. 77.59 [MT=78:59] God heard and overlooked [them] and utterly despised Israel. 77.60 [MT=78:60] And He rejected the tent of Shiloh, His dwelling where He dwelt among men. 77.61 [MT=78:61] And He delivered their strength into captivity and their beauty into the hands of the enemy. 77.62 [MT=78:62] And He enclosed His people unto the sword and overlooked His inheritance. 77.63 [MT=78:63] Fire devoured their young men, and their virgins were not lamented. 77.64 [MT=78:64] Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows shall not be wept for.
The Election of Judah and David
65 [MT=78:65] Καὶ ἐξηγέρθη ὡς ὁ ὑπνῶν κύριος, ὡς δυνατὸς κεκραιπαληκὼς ἐξ οἴνου, 66 [MT=78:66] καὶ ἐπάταξεν τοὺς ἐχθροὺς αὐτοῦ εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω ὄνειδος αἰώνιον ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς. 77.65 [MT=78:65] And the Lord was awakened as one sleeping, as a mighty man who has been hungover from wine. 77.66 [MT=78:66] And He struck His enemies into the rear; He gave them an eternal reproach.
67 [MT=78:67] Καὶ ἀπώσατο τὸ σκήνωμα Ἰωσὴφ καὶ τὴν φυλὴν Ἐφραὶμ οὐκ ἐξελέξατο· 68 [MT=78:68] καὶ ἐξελέξατο τὴν φυλὴν Ἰούδα, τὸ ὄρος τὸ Σιών, ὃ ἠγάπησεν, 69 [MT=78:69] καὶ ᾠκοδόμησεν ὡς μονοκερώτων τὸ ἁγίασμα αὐτοῦ, ἐν τῇ γῇ ἐθεμελίωσεν αὐτὴν εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα. 70 [MT=78:70] καὶ ἐξελέξατο Δαυὶδ τὸν δοῦλον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀνέλαβεν αὐτὸν ἐκ τῶν ποιμνίων τῶν προβάτων, 71 [MT=78:71] ἐξόπισθεν τῶν λοχευομένων ἔλαβεν αὐτὸν ποιμαίνειν Ἰακὼβ τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ Ἰσραὴλ τὴν κληρονομίαν αὐτοῦ, 72 [MT=78:72] καὶ ἐποίμανεν αὐτοὺς ἐν τῇ ἀκακίᾳ τῆς καρδίας αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐν ταῖς συνέσεσι τῶν χειρῶν αὐτοῦ ὡδήγησεν αὐτούς. 77.67 [MT=78:67] And He rejected the tent of Joseph and did not choose the tribe of Ephraim; 77.68 [MT=78:68] but He chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which He loved. 77.69 [MT=78:69] And He built His sanctuary like that of unicorns; He founded it in the earth forever. 77.70 [MT=78:70] And He chose David His servant and took him from the flocks of sheep; 77.71 [MT=78:71] from behind the ewes giving birth He took him, to shepherd Jacob His people and Israel His inheritance. 77.72 [MT=78:72] And he shepherded them in the innocence of his heart and guided them by the understanding of his hands.