Lytt til min lov, mitt folk; bøy ørene mot ordene fra min munn.

<Maschil. Of Asaph.> Give ear, O my people, to my law; let your ears be bent down to the words of my mouth.

Jeg vil åpne min munn med en fortelling, med gåtefulle ord fra gammel tid;

Opening my mouth I will give out a story, even the dark sayings of old times;

Ord som vi har hørt og kjent, som fedrene våre har fortalt oss.

Which have come to our hearing and our knowledge, as they were given to us by our fathers.

Vi vil ikke skjule dem for barna våre; vi vil fortelle kommende generasjoner om Herrens lovsang, hans styrke og de underfulle gjerningene han har gjort.

We will not keep them secret from our children; we will make clear to the coming generation the praises of the Lord and his strength, and the great works of wonder which he has done.

Han satte opp en lov for Jakob og fastsatte en lov i Israel, som han ga til våre fedre, for at de skulle lære den videre til sine barn;

He put up a witness in Jacob, and made a law in Israel; which he gave to our fathers so that they might give knowledge of them to their children;

slik at kommende generasjoner skulle kjenne dem, barna som skulle fødes, og de igjen fortelle dem til sine barn;

So that the generation to come might have knowledge of them, even the children of the future, who would give word of them to their children;

slik at de kunne sette sin lit til Gud og ikke glemme Guds verk, men holde hans bud;

So that they might put their hope in God, and not let God's works go out of their minds, but keep his laws;

og ikke være som sine fedre, et trassig og gjenstridig slektledd, et slektledd som ikke hadde et fast hjerte, og hvis ånd ikke var trofast mot Gud.

And not be like their fathers, a stiff-necked and uncontrolled generation; a generation whose heart was hard, whose spirit was not true to God.

Efraims barn, bevæpnet med buer, vendte om på kampens dag.

The children of Ephraim, armed with bows, were turned back on the day of the fight.

De holdt ikke Guds pakt og nektet å vandre etter hans lov.

They were not ruled by God's word, and they would not go in the way of his law;

De glemte hans gjerninger og de underfulle tingene han hadde vist dem.

They let his works go out of their memory, and the wonders which he had made them see.

Han gjorde store gjerninger for deres fedres øyne, i Egypt-dalen, på marken i Soan.

He did great works before the eyes of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan.

Han kløvde havet og lot dem gå igjennom; vannet stod som en mur på begge sider.

The sea was cut in two so that they might go through; the waters were massed together on this side and on that.

Om dagen ledet han dem med skystøtten, og om natten med ildens lys.

In the daytime he was guiding them in the cloud, and all through the night with a light of fire.

Han kløv steinene i ørkenen og ga dem rikelig å drikke som fra store dyp.

The rocks of the waste land were broken by his power, and he gave them drink as out of the deep waters.

Han lot bekker strømme ut av klippen og vann renne ned som elver.

He made streams come out of the rock; and waters came flowing down like rivers.

Likevel fortsatte de å synde mot ham, og gjorde opprør mot den Høyeste i ødemarken.

And they went on sinning against him even more, turning away from the Most High in the waste land;

De fristet Gud i sitt hjerte ved å kreve mat for sine lyster.

Testing God in their hearts, requesting meat for their desire.

De talte mot Gud og sa: Kan Gud dekke bord i ørkenen?

They said bitter words against God, saying, Is God able to make ready a table in the waste land?

Se, han slo på klippen slik at vannet fløt og bekkene strømmet ned; kan han også gi oss brød og skaffe kjøtt til sitt folk?

See, the rock was cut open by his power, so that the water came rushing out, and overflowing streams; is he able to give us bread? is he able to get meat for his people?

Derfor hørte Herren dette og ble vred, en ild tente mot Jakob, og vrede steg opp mot Israel.

So these things came to the Lord's ears, and he was angry; and a fire was lighted against Jacob, and wrath came up against Israel;

For de trodde ikke på Gud, og satte ikke sin lit til hans frelse.

Because they had no faith in God, and no hope in his salvation.

Han befalte skyene i det høye, og himmelens dører åpnet seg;

And he gave orders to the clouds on high, and the doors of heaven were open;

og han lot manna regne over dem til å spise, og ga dem himmelens korn.

And he sent down manna like rain for their food, and gave them the grain of heaven.

Mennesker fikk spise englebrød; han sendte dem mat i overflod.

Man took part in the food of strong ones; he sent them meat in full measure.

Han sendte østenvinden over himmelen, og ved sin kraft drev han sønnavinden.

He sent an east wind from heaven, driving on the south wind by his power.

Han lot kjøtt falle over dem som støv, og fugler så mange som havets sand.

He sent down meat on them like dust, and feathered birds like the sand of the sea,

Han sendte dem ned midt i leiren, omkring deres telt.

And he let it come down into their resting-place, round about their tents.

Så de spiste og ble overmette, for han ga dem det de ønsket;

So they had food and were full; for he gave them their desire;

men de vendte seg ikke fra sine lyster. Mens maten ennå var i deres munn,

But they were not turned from their desires; and while the food was still in their mouths,

kom Herrens vrede over dem. Han drepte de feteste blant dem, og slo ned Israels unge menn.

The wrath of God came on them, and put to death the fattest of them, and put an end to the young men of Israel.

Men til tross for dette syndet de fortsatt, og hadde ingen tro på hans under.

For all this they went on sinning even more, and had no faith in his great wonders.

Derfor lot han deres dager svinne bort som en vindpust, og deres år i frykt.

So their days were wasted like a breath, and their years in trouble.

Når han slo dem, søkte de ham, og vendte om og lengtet etter Gud.

When he sent death on them, then they made search for him; turning to him and looking for him with care;

De husket at Gud var deres klippe, og Gud den Høyeste var deres frelser.

In the memory that God was their Rock, and the Most High God their saviour.

Men de var falske mot ham med sin munn, og løy for ham med sin tunge.

But their lips were false to him, and their tongues were untrue to him;

Deres hjerter var ikke tro mot ham, og de holdt ikke hans pakt.

And their hearts were not right with him, and they did not keep their agreement with him.

Men han, full av barmhjertighet, tilgir synd og ødelegger ikke; ofte holder han sin vrede tilbake, og lar ikke hele sin harme bryte ut.

But he, being full of pity, has forgiveness for sin, and does not put an end to man: frequently turning back his wrath, and not being violently angry.

Han husket at de bare var kjøtt, en vind som farer forbi og ikke kommer igjen.

So he kept in mind that they were only flesh; a breath which is quickly gone, and will not come again.

Hvor ofte gjorde de opprør mot ham i ørkenen, og bedrøvet ham i ødemarken!

How frequently did they go against him in the waste land, and give him cause for grief in the dry places!

Igjen fristet de Gud, og krenket Israels Hellige.

Again they put God to the test, and gave pain to the Holy One of Israel.

De tenkte ikke på hans kraft eller den dag han fridde dem fra fiendens hånd;

They did not keep in mind the work of his hand, or the day when he took them from the power of their haters;

da han gjorde sine tegn i Egypt og sine undere på marken i Soan.

How he had done his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan;

Han gjorde deres elver om til blod, så de ikke kunne drikke fra deres bekker.

So that their rivers were turned to blood, and they were not able to get drink from their streams.

Han sendte fluesvermer blant dem som fortærte dem, og frosker som ødela dem.

He sent different sorts of flies among them, poisoning their flesh; and frogs for their destruction.

Han ga marken deres til larver, og avlingen deres til gresshopper.

He gave the increase of their fields to worms, the fruits of their industry to the locusts.

Han ødela deres vintrær med hagl og deres morbærtrær med frost.

He sent ice for the destruction of their vines; their trees were damaged by the bitter cold.

Han overga deres husdyr til hagl og deres kveg til brennende ild.

Ice was rained down on their cattle; thunderstorms sent destruction among the flocks.

Han sendte sin brennende vrede over dem, vrede, harme og nød, en sky av ulykkesengler.

He sent on them the heat of his wrath, his bitter disgust, letting loose evil angels among them.

Han banet vei for sin vrede; han sparte ikke deres sjeler fra døden, men overga dem til pesten.

He let his wrath have its way; he did not keep back their soul from death, but gave their life to disease.

Han slo alle førstefødte i Egypt, kraftens førstegrøde i Hams telt.

He gave to destruction all the first sons of Egypt; the first-fruits of their strength in the tents of Ham;

Men han førte sitt folk ut som sauer, og ledet dem som en hjord i ørkenen.

But he took his people out like sheep, guiding them in the waste land like a flock.

Han ledet dem trygt, så de ikke fryktet, men havet dekket deres fiender.

He took them on safely so that they had no fear; but their haters were covered by the sea.

Han førte dem til sitt hellige land, til fjellet, som hans høyre hånd hadde ervervet.

And he was their guide to his holy land, even to the mountain, which his right hand had made his;

Han drev ut folkeslag for dem, gjorde en arv til dem etter landegrenser, og lot Israels stammer slå seg ned i sine hjemsteder.

Driving out nations before them, marking out the line of their heritage, and giving the people of Israel their tents for a resting-place.

Men de satte seg opp imot Gud den Høyeste, fristet ham og holdt ikke hans lover.

But they were bitter against the Most High God, testing him, and not keeping his laws;

De vendte om og var utro som deres fedre, de dreide fra veien som en sviktende bue.

Their hearts were turned back and untrue like their fathers; they were turned to one side like a twisted bow.

De vakte hans vrede med sine offersteder, og opprørte ham med sine utskårne bilder.

They made him angry with their high places; moving him to wrath with their images.

Gud hørte det og ble harm, og han forlot Israel fullstendig.

When this came to God's ears he was very angry, and gave up Israel completely;

Han forlot boligen i Silo, teltet han satte blant menneskene.

So that he went away from the holy place in Shiloh, the tent which he had put among men;

Han overga sin makt til fangenskap og sin herlighet i fiendehånd.

And he let his strength be taken prisoner, and gave his glory into the hands of his hater.

Han ga sitt folk over til sverdet, og var vred på sin arv.

He gave his people up to the sword, and was angry with his heritage.

Ungguttene deres ble fortært av ild, og jomfruene deres hadde ingen bryllupsang.

Their young men were burned in the fire; and their virgins were not praised in the bride-song.

Deres prester falt for sverdet, og deres enker kunne ikke gråte.

Their priests were put to death by the sword, and their widows made no weeping for them.

Da våknet Herren som fra søvn, som en stridbar mann som roper etter vin.

Then was the Lord like one awaking from sleep, and like a strong man crying out because of wine.

Han slo sine fiender på flukt, låt dem lide evig skam.

His haters were turned back by his blows and shamed for ever.

Han forkastet Josefs telt og valgte ikke Efraims stamme.

And he put the tent of Joseph on one side, and took not the tribe of Ephraim;

Men han valgte Judas stamme, til Sions berg, som han har kjær.

But he took the tribe of Judah for himself, and the mountain of Zion, in which he had pleasure.

Han bygde sin helligdom som høydene, som jorden som han har grunnfestet for evig.

And he made his holy place like the high heaven, like the earth which is fixed by him for ever.

Han utvalgte David, sin tjener, og tok ham fra sauefollene;

He took David to be his servant, taking him from the place of the flocks;

fra de diegivende sauene hentet han ham, for å gjete sitt folk Jakob og sin arv Israel.

From looking after the sheep which were giving milk, he took him to give food to Jacob his people, and to Israel his heritage.

Han gjetet dem med et oppriktig hjerte, og ledet dem med kloke hender.

So he gave them food with an upright heart, guiding them by the wisdom of his hands.