Psalms 78

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 78 of 150

¹ A Lesson of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law; stretch out your ears to the words of my mouth.

² I will open my mouth in a parable; I will pour forth dark sayings of old,

³ which we have heard and known, and our fathers have recounted to us.

Chapter Summary

An exhortation to learn and preach the law of Jehovah; he recounts His wonders to Israel. A Lesson of Asaph.

תּוֹרָה law, instruction H8451 · TWOT 910d

פֶּ֫לֶא wonders H6382 · TWOT 1768a

בְּרִית covenant H1285 · TWOT 282a

נָסָה to test, tempt H5254 · TWOT 1373

זָכַר to remember H2142 · TWOT 551

שָׁכַח to forget H7911 · TWOT 2383

David

the servant Jehovah chose, taken from the sheepfolds to shepherd His people Jacob (vv70-72)

Asaph

Levite teacher named in the heading as author of this instructional psalm

Ephraim

tribe of armed archers who turned back in battle and whose tent God refused to choose (vv9,67)

Joseph

patriarch whose tabernacle God rejected when He chose Judah instead (v67)

Judah

the tribe God chose, with Mount Zion which He loved, to build His sanctuary (v68)

Jacob

patriarch and covenant nation in whom God raised a Testimony and whom David was called to feed (vv5,71)

Ephraim Retreats

Armed Ephraimite archers turn back in the day of battle, not keeping the covenant of God.

Psalms 78:9-10

Dividing the Sea

God does wonders in Egypt, divides the sea, and makes the waters stand in a heap for Israel to pass through.

Psalms 78:12-13

Water from Rocks

God splits rocks in the wilderness, bringing streams of water going down like rivers.

Psalms 78:15-16

Word-for-word literal translation with Hebrew interlinear, Strong's numbers, and audio.