Salmo 78
Poema da família de Asafe.
1Povo meu, escute o meu ensino;
incline os ouvidos para o que eu tenho a dizer.
2Em parábolas abrirei a minha boca,
proferirei enigmas do passado;
3o que ouvimos e aprendemos,
o que nossos pais nos contaram.
4Não os esconderemos dos nossos filhos;
contaremos à próxima geração
os louváveis feitos do Senhor,
o seu poder e as maravilhas que fez.
5Ele decretou estatutos para Jacó,
e em Israel estabeleceu a lei,
e ordenou aos nossos antepassados
que a ensinassem aos seus filhos,
6de modo que a geração seguinte a conhecesse,
e também os filhos que ainda nasceriam,
e eles, por sua vez, contassem aos seus próprios filhos.
7Então eles porão a confiança em Deus;
não esquecerão os seus feitos
e obedecerão aos seus mandamentos.
8Eles não serão como os seus antepassados,
obstinados e rebeldes,
povo de coração desleal para com Deus,
gente de espírito infiel.
9Os homens de Efraim, flecheiros armados,
viraram as costas no dia da batalha;
10não guardaram a aliança de Deus
e se recusaram a viver de acordo com a sua lei.
11Esqueceram o que ele tinha feito,
as maravilhas que lhes havia mostrado.
12Ele fez milagres diante dos seus antepassados,
na terra do Egito, na região de Zoã.
13Dividiu o mar para que pudessem passar;
fez a água erguer-se como um muro.
14Ele os guiou com a nuvem de dia
e com a luz do fogo de noite.
15Fendeu as rochas no deserto
e deu-lhes tanta água como a que flui das profundezas;
16da pedra fez sair regatos
e fluir água como um rio.
17Mas contra ele continuaram a pecar,
revoltando-se no deserto contra o Altíssimo.
18Deliberadamente puseram Deus à prova,
exigindo o que desejavam comer.
19Duvidaram de Deus, dizendo:
“Poderá Deus preparar uma mesa no deserto?
20Sabemos que, quando ele feriu a rocha,
a água brotou e jorrou em torrentes.
Mas conseguirá também dar-nos de comer?
Poderá suprir de carne o seu povo?”
21O Senhor os ouviu e enfureceu-se;
com fogo atacou Jacó,
e sua ira levantou-se contra Israel,
22pois eles não creram em Deus
nem confiaram no seu poder salvador.
23Contudo, ele deu ordens às nuvens
e abriu as portas dos céus;
24fez chover maná para que o povo comesse,
deu-lhe o pão78.24 Hebraico: trigo. dos céus.
25Os homens comeram o pão dos anjos;
enviou-lhes comida à vontade.
26Enviou dos céus o vento oriental
e pelo seu poder fez avançar o vento sul.
27Fez chover carne sobre eles como pó,
bandos de aves como a areia da praia.
28Levou-as a cair dentro do acampamento,
ao redor das suas tendas.
29Comeram à vontade,
e assim ele satisfez o desejo deles.
30Mas, antes de saciarem o apetite,
quando ainda tinham a comida na boca,
31acendeu-se contra eles a ira de Deus;
e ele feriu de morte os mais fortes dentre eles,
matando os jovens de Israel.
32A despeito disso tudo, continuaram pecando;
não creram nos seus prodígios.
33Por isso ele encerrou os dias deles como um sopro
e os anos deles em repentino pavor.
34Sempre que Deus os castigava com a morte, eles o buscavam;
com fervor se voltavam de novo para ele.
35Lembravam-se de que Deus era a sua Rocha,
de que o Deus Altíssimo era o seu Redentor.
36Com a boca o adulavam,
com a língua o enganavam;
37o coração deles não era sincero;
não foram fiéis à sua aliança.
38Contudo, ele foi misericordioso;
perdoou-lhes as maldades e não os destruiu.
Vez após vez conteve a sua ira,
sem despertá-la totalmente.
39Lembrou-se de que eram meros mortais,
brisa passageira que não retorna.
40Quantas vezes mostraram-se rebeldes contra ele no deserto
e o entristeceram na terra solitária!
41Repetidas vezes puseram Deus à prova;
irritaram o Santo de Israel.
42Não se lembravam da sua mão poderosa,
do dia em que os redimiu do opressor,
43do dia em que mostrou os seus prodígios no Egito,
as suas maravilhas na região de Zoã,
44quando transformou os rios e os riachos dos egípcios em sangue,
e eles não mais conseguiam beber das suas águas,
45e enviou enxames de moscas que os devoraram,
e rãs que os devastaram;
46quando entregou as suas plantações às larvas,
a produção da terra aos gafanhotos,
47e destruiu as suas vinhas com a saraiva
e as suas figueiras bravas com a geada;
48quando entregou o gado deles ao granizo,
os seus rebanhos aos raios;
49quando os atingiu com a sua ira ardente,
com furor, indignação e hostilidade,
com muitos anjos destruidores.
50Abriu caminho para a sua ira;
não os poupou da morte,
mas os entregou à peste.
51Matou todos os primogênitos do Egito,
as primícias do vigor varonil das tendas de Cam.
52Mas tirou o seu povo como ovelhas
e o conduziu como a um rebanho pelo deserto.
53Ele os guiou em segurança, e não tiveram medo;
e os seus inimigos afundaram-se no mar.
54Assim os trouxe à fronteira da sua terra santa,
aos montes que a sua mão direita conquistou.
55Expulsou nações que lá estavam,
distribuiu-lhes as terras por herança
e deu suas tendas às tribos de Israel para que nelas habitassem.
56Mas eles puseram Deus à prova
e foram rebeldes contra o Altíssimo;
não obedeceram aos seus testemunhos.
57Foram desleais e infiéis, como os seus antepassados,
confiáveis como um arco defeituoso.
58Eles o irritaram com os altares idólatras;
com os seus ídolos lhe provocaram ciúmes.
59Sabendo-o Deus, enfureceu-se
e rejeitou totalmente Israel;
60abandonou o tabernáculo de Siló,
a tenda onde habitava entre os homens.
61Entregou o símbolo do seu poder ao cativeiro
e o seu esplendor nas mãos do adversário.
62Deixou que o seu povo fosse morto à espada,
pois enfureceu-se com a sua herança.
63O fogo consumiu os seus jovens,
e as suas moças não tiveram canções de núpcias;
64os sacerdotes foram mortos à espada!
As viúvas já nem podiam chorar!
65Então o Senhor despertou como que de um sono,
como um guerreiro despertado do domínio do vinho.
66Fez retroceder a golpes os seus adversários
e os entregou a permanente humilhação.
67Também rejeitou as tendas de José
e não escolheu a tribo de Efraim;
68ao contrário, escolheu a tribo de Judá
e o monte Sião, o qual amou.
69Construiu o seu santuário como as alturas;
como a terra o firmou para sempre.
70Escolheu o seu servo Davi
e o tirou do aprisco das ovelhas,
71do pastoreio de ovelhas,
para ser o pastor de Jacó, seu povo,
de Israel, sua herança.
72E de coração íntegro Davi os pastoreou;
com mãos experientes os conduziu.
Maschil of Asaph.
1Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.78.1 Maschil…: or, A Psalm for Asaph to give instruction
2I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
3Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.
4We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.
5For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:
6That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:
7That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:
8And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.78.8 that…: Heb. that prepared not their heart
9The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.78.9 carrying: Heb. throwing forth
10They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law;
11And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them.
12Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
13He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap.
14In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.
15He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths.
16He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.
17And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness.
18And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.
19Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?78.19 furnish: Heb. order
20Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?
21Therefore the LORD heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel;
22Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation:
23Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,
24And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.
25Man did eat angels’ food: he sent them meat to the full.78.25 Man…: or, Every one did eat the bread of the mighty
26He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind.78.26 to blow: Heb. to go
27He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea:78.27 feathered…: Heb. fowl of wing
28And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations.
29So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire;
30They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths,
31The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.78.31 smote…: Heb. made to bow78.31 chosen…: or, young men
32For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.
33Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.
34When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God.
35And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.
36Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.
37For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.
38But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.
39For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.
40How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!78.40 provoke: or, rebel against
41Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.
42They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy.78.42 from…: or, from affliction
43How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan:78.43 wrought: Heb. set
44And had turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, that they could not drink.
45He sent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them.
46He gave also their increase unto the caterpiller, and their labour unto the locust.
47He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycomore trees with frost.78.47 destroyed: Heb. killed78.47 frost: or, great hailstones
48He gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts.78.48 gave…: Heb. shut up78.48 hot…: or, lightnings
49He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.
50He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence;78.50 He made…: Heb. He weighed a path78.50 life…: or, beasts to the murrain
51And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:
52But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
53And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.78.53 overwhelmed: Heb. covered
54And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased.
55He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
56Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies:
57But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.
58For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.
59When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel:
60So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men;
61And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy’s hand.
62He gave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance.
63The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage.78.63 given…: Heb. praised
64Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation.
65Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.
66And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach.
67Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim:
68But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved.
69And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever.78.69 established: Heb. founded
70He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:
71From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.78.71 following: Heb. after
72So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.
