I Will Open My Mouth in Parables
(Matthew 13:34–35)

מַשְׂכִּ֗יל (A Maskil) לְאָ֫סָ֥ף (of Asaph).

1הַאֲזִ֣ינָה (Give ear), עַ֭מִּי (O my people), תּוֹרָתִ֑י (to my instruction);

הַטּ֥וּ (stretch out) אָ֝זְנְכֶ֗ם (your⁺ ear) לְאִמְרֵי־ (to the words) פִֽי׃ (of my mouth).

2  אֶפְתְּחָ֣ה (I will open) בְמָשָׁ֣ל (in a parable) פִּ֑י (my mouth);

אַבִּ֥יעָה (I will pour forth) חִ֝יד֗וֹת (things hidden) מִנִּי־ (from) קֶֽדֶם׃ (of old),

3  אֲשֶׁ֣ר (which) שָׁ֭מַעְנוּ (we have heard) וַנֵּדָעֵ֑ם (and known),

וַ֝אֲבוֹתֵ֗ינוּ (and our fathers) סִפְּרוּ־ (have recounted) לָֽנוּ׃ (to us).

4  לֹ֤א (Not) נְכַחֵ֨ד׀ (will we hide them) מִבְּנֵיהֶ֗ם (from their children),

לְד֥וֹר (to a generation) אַחֲר֗וֹן (following) מְֽ֭סַפְּרִים (recounting)

תְּהִלּ֣וֹת (the praises) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH) וֶעֱזוּז֥וֹ (and His strength),

וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו (and His wonders) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) עָשָֽׂה׃ (He has done).

5  וַיָּ֤קֶם (And for He established) עֵד֨וּת׀ (a testimony) בְּֽיַעֲקֹ֗ב (in Jacob),

וְתוֹרָה֮ (and a law) שָׂ֤ם (He has appointed) בְּיִשְׂרָ֫אֵ֥ל (in Israel),

אֲשֶׁ֣ר (which) צִ֭וָּה (He commanded) אֶת־ (-) אֲבוֹתֵ֑ינוּ (to our fathers),

לְ֝הוֹדִיעָ֗ם (to make them known) לִבְנֵיהֶֽם׃ (to their sons),

6  לְמַ֤עַן (so that) יֵדְע֨וּ׀ (would know them) דּ֣וֹר (a generation) אַ֭חֲרוֹן (following)—

בָּנִ֣ים (the sons) יִוָּלֵ֑דוּ (to be born)—

יָ֝קֻ֗מוּ (to arise) וִֽיסַפְּר֥וּ (and recount) לִבְנֵיהֶֽם׃ (to their sons),

7  וְיָשִׂ֥ימוּ (that they should put) בֵֽאלֹהִ֗ים (in God) כִּ֫סְלָ֥ם (their hope),

וְלֹ֣א (and not) יִ֭שְׁכְּחוּ (forget) מַֽעַלְלֵי־ (the works) אֵ֑ל (of God),

וּמִצְוֺתָ֥יו (and His commandments) יִנְצֹֽרוּ׃ (keep).

8  וְלֹ֤א (And not) יִהְי֨וּ׀ (they should be) כַּאֲבוֹתָ֗ם (like their fathers),

דּוֹר֮ (a generation) סוֹרֵ֪ר (being stubborn) וּמֹ֫רֶ֥ה (and rebellious),

דּ֭וֹר (a generation) לֹא־ (that not) הֵכִ֣ין (did set firm) לִבּ֑וֹ (its heart),

וְלֹא־ (and not) נֶאֶמְנָ֖ה (was faithful) אֶת־ (to) אֵ֣ל (God) רוּחֽוֹ׃ (its spirit).

9  בְּֽנֵי־ (The sons) אֶפְרַ֗יִם (of Ephraim)— נוֹשְׁקֵ֥י (handling) רוֹמֵי־ (and shooting) קָ֑שֶׁת (the bow)—

הָ֝פְכ֗וּ (turned back) בְּי֣וֹם (on the day) קְרָֽב׃ (of battle).

10  לֹ֣א (Not) שָׁ֭מְרוּ (they did keep) בְּרִ֣ית (the covenant) אֱלֹהִ֑ים (of God),

וּ֝בְתוֹרָת֗וֹ (and in His law) מֵאֲנ֥וּ (they refused) לָלֶֽכֶת׃ (to walk),

11  וַיִּשְׁכְּח֥וּ (and they forgot) עֲלִילוֹתָ֑יו (His deeds),

וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו (and His wonders) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) הֶרְאָֽם׃ (He had shown them).

12  נֶ֣גֶד (In the eyes) אֲ֭בוֹתָם (of their fathers) עָ֣שָׂה (He did) פֶ֑לֶא (a wonder)

בְּאֶ֖רֶץ (in the land) מִצְרַ֣יִם (of Egypt), שְׂדֵה־ (in the field) צֹֽעַן׃ (of Zoan).

13  בָּ֣קַע (He divided) יָ֭ם (the sea) וַיַּֽעֲבִירֵ֑ם (and let them cross over),

וַֽיַּצֶּב־ (and He made stand up) מַ֥יִם (the waters) כְּמוֹ־ (like) נֵֽד׃ (a heap).

14  וַיַּנְחֵ֣ם (And He led them) בֶּעָנָ֣ן (with the cloud) יוֹמָ֑ם (by day),

וְכָל־ (and all) הַ֝לַּ֗יְלָה (the night) בְּא֣וֹר (with a light) אֵֽשׁ׃ (of fire).

15  יְבַקַּ֣ע (He split open) צֻ֭רִים (the rocks) בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר (in the wilderness),

וַ֝יַּ֗שְׁקְ (and gave to drink) כִּתְהֹמ֥וֹת (like the depths) רַבָּֽה׃ (in abundance).

16  וַיּוֹצִ֣א (And He brought forth) נוֹזְלִ֣ים (streams) מִסָּ֑לַע (from the rock),

וַיּ֖וֹרֶד (and made come down) כַּנְּהָר֣וֹת (like the rivers) מָֽיִם׃ (waters).

17  וַיּוֹסִ֣יפוּ (And they continued) ע֭וֹד (still) לַחֲטֹא־ (to sin) ל֑וֹ (against Him)

לַֽמְר֥וֹת (by rebelling against) עֶ֝לְי֗וֹן (the Most High) בַּצִּיָּֽה׃ (in the desert).

18  וַיְנַסּוּ־ (And they tested) אֵ֥ל (God) בִּלְבָבָ֑ם (in their heart)

לִֽשְׁאָל־ (by requesting) אֹ֥כֶל (food) לְנַפְשָֽׁם׃ (of their soul).

19  וַֽיְדַבְּר֗וּ (And they spoke) בֵּֽאלֹ֫הִ֥ים (against God), אָ֭מְרוּ (saying),

הֲי֣וּכַל (Is able) אֵ֑ל (God) לַעֲרֹ֥ךְ (to arrange) שֻׁ֝לְחָ֗ן (a table) בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃ (in the wilderness)?

20  הֵ֤ן (Behold), הִכָּה־ (He struck) צ֨וּר׀ (the rock), וַיָּז֣וּבוּ (and gushed out) מַיִם֮ (the waters),

וּנְחָלִ֪ים (and torrents) יִ֫שְׁטֹ֥פוּ (overflowed).

הֲגַם־ (And also) לֶ֭חֶם (bread) י֣וּכַל (is He able) תֵּ֑ת (to give)?

אִם־ (Or) יָכִ֖ין (provide) שְׁאֵ֣ר (food) לְעַמּֽוֹ׃ (for His people)?

21  לָכֵ֤ן׀ (At this) שָׁמַ֥ע (heard) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH)

וַֽיִּתְעַבָּ֥ר (and boiled over),

וְ֭אֵשׁ (and a fire) נִשְּׂקָ֣ה (was kindled) בְיַעֲקֹ֑ב (against Jacob),

וְגַם־ (and) אַ֝֗ף (anger) עָלָ֥ה (came up) בְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (against Israel),

22  כִּ֤י (because) לֹ֣א (not) הֶ֭אֱמִינוּ (did they have faith) בֵּאלֹהִ֑ים (in God),

וְלֹ֥א (and not) בָ֝טְח֗וּ (they did trust) בִּֽישׁוּעָתֽוֹ׃ (in His salvation).

23  וַיְצַ֣ו (And He commanded) שְׁחָקִ֣ים (the clouds) מִמָּ֑עַל (above),

וְדַלְתֵ֖י (and the doors) שָׁמַ֣יִם (of the heavens) פָּתָֽח׃ (He opened).

24  וַיַּמְטֵ֬ר (And He rained down) עֲלֵיהֶ֣ם (on them) מָ֣ן (manna) לֶאֱכֹ֑ל (to eat),

וּדְגַן־ (the grain) שָׁ֝מַ֗יִם (of the heavens) נָ֣תַן (he gave) לָֽמוֹ׃ (to them).

25  לֶ֣חֶם (The bread) אַ֭בִּירִים (of the mighty ones) אָ֣כַל (ate) אִ֑ישׁ (a man);

צֵידָ֬ה (food) שָׁלַ֖ח (He sent) לָהֶ֣ם (to them) לָשֹֽׂבַע׃ (in abundance).

26  יַסַּ֣ע (He caused to blow) קָ֭דִים (an east wind) בַּשָּׁמָ֑יִם (in the heavens),

וַיְנַהֵ֖ג (and He guided) בְּעֻזּ֣וֹ (by His power) תֵימָֽן׃ (the south wind).

27  וַיַּמְטֵ֬ר (And He rained) עֲלֵיהֶ֣ם (upon them) כֶּעָפָ֣ר (like the dust) שְׁאֵ֑ר (food),

וּֽכְח֥וֹל (and like the sand) יַ֝מִּ֗ים (of the seas) ע֣וֹף (bird) כָּנָֽף׃ (winged),

28  וַ֭יַּפֵּל (and He felled them) בְּקֶ֣רֶב (in the midst) מַחֲנֵ֑הוּ (of their camp),

סָ֝בִ֗יב (all around) לְמִשְׁכְּנֹתָֽיו׃ (their dwellings).

29  וַיֹּאכְל֣וּ (And they ate) וַיִּשְׂבְּע֣וּ (and were satisfied) מְאֹ֑ד (greatly),

וְ֝תַֽאֲוָתָ֗ם (and their desires) יָבִ֥א (He brought) לָהֶֽם׃ (to them).

30  לֹא־ (Not) זָר֥וּ (were they estranged) מִתַּאֲוָתָ֑ם (from their desire),

ע֝֗וֹד (and still) אָכְלָ֥ם (their food was) בְּפִיהֶֽם׃ (in their mouth).

31  וְאַ֤ף (And the anger) אֱלֹהִ֨ים׀ (of God) עָ֘לָ֤ה (came) בָהֶ֗ם (upon them)

וַֽ֭יַּהֲרֹג (and He killed) בְּמִשְׁמַנֵּיהֶ֑ם (the fattest of them),

וּבַחוּרֵ֖י (and the young men) יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל (of Israel) הִכְרִֽיעַ׃ (He subdued).

32  בְּכָל־ (In all) זֹ֭את (this) חָֽטְאוּ־ (they sinned) ע֑וֹד (still),

וְלֹֽא־ (and not) הֶ֝אֱמִ֗ינוּ (they did have faith) בְּנִפְלְאוֹתָֽיו׃ (in His wonders).

33  וַיְכַל־ (And He finished off) בַּהֶ֥בֶל (in futility) יְמֵיהֶ֑ם (their days),

וּ֝שְׁנוֹתָ֗ם (and their years) בַּבֶּהָלָֽה׃ (in terror).

34  אִם־ (When) הֲרָגָ֥ם (He slew them) וּדְרָשׁ֑וּהוּ (they would seek Him),

וְ֝שָׁ֗בוּ (and they turned back) וְשִֽׁחֲרוּ־ (and sought after) אֵֽל׃ (God).

35  וַֽ֭יִּזְכְּרוּ (And they remembered) כִּֽי־ (that) אֱלֹהִ֣ים (God) צוּרָ֑ם (was their rock),

וְאֵ֥ל (and El-) עֶ֝לְיוֹן (Elyon) גֹּאֲלָֽם׃ (their Redeemer).

36  וַיְפַתּ֥וּהוּ (And they deceived Him) בְּפִיהֶ֑ם (with their mouth),

וּ֝בִלְשׁוֹנָ֗ם (and with their tongue) יְכַזְּבוּ־ (they lied) לֽוֹ׃ (to Him).

37  וְ֭לִבָּם (And their heart) לֹא־ (not) נָכ֣וֹן (was established) עִמּ֑וֹ (with Him),

וְלֹ֥א (and not) נֶ֝אֶמְנ֗וּ (were they faithful) בִּבְרִיתֽוֹ׃ (to His covenant).

38  וְה֤וּא (And He), רַח֨וּם׀ (the compassionate One),

יְכַפֵּ֥ר (forgave) עָוֺן֮ (the iniquity), וְֽלֹא־ (and not) יַ֫שְׁחִ֥ית (did He destroy them).

וְ֭הִרְבָּה (And He often) לְהָשִׁ֣יב (restrained) אַפּ֑וֹ (His anger),

וְלֹֽא־ (and not) יָ֝עִיר (did He stir up) כָּל־ (all) חֲמָתֽוֹ׃ (His wrath).

39  וַ֭יִּזְכֹּר (And He remembered) כִּי־ (that) בָשָׂ֣ר (flesh) הֵ֑מָּה (they were),

ר֥וּחַ (a breath) ה֝וֹלֵ֗ךְ (going by) וְלֹ֣א (that not) יָשֽׁוּב׃ (does return).

40  כַּ֭מָּה (How often) יַמְר֣וּהוּ (they rebelled against Him) בַמִּדְבָּ֑ר (in the wilderness)

יַ֝עֲצִיב֗וּהוּ (and grieved Him) בִּֽישִׁימֽוֹן׃ (in the desert)!

41  וַיָּשׁ֣וּבוּ (And they turned back) וַיְנַסּ֣וּ (and tested) אֵ֑ל (God),

וּקְד֖וֹשׁ (and the Holy One) יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל (of Israel) הִתְווּ׃ (they pained).

42  לֹא־ (Not) זָכְר֥וּ (they have remembered) אֶת־ (-) יָד֑וֹ (His hand),

י֝֗וֹם (the day) אֲ‍ֽשֶׁר־ (when) פָּדָ֥ם (He ransomed them) מִנִּי־ (from) צָֽר׃ (the adversary),

43  אֲשֶׁר־ (when) שָׂ֣ם (He worked) בְּ֭מִצְרַיִם (in Egypt) אֹֽתוֹתָ֑יו (His signs),

וּ֝מוֹפְתָ֗יו (and His wonders) בִּשְׂדֵה־ (in the field) צֹֽעַן׃ (of Zoan),

44  וַיַּהֲפֹ֣ךְ (and He turned) לְ֭דָם (into blood) יְאֹרֵיהֶ֑ם (their rivers),

וְ֝נֹזְלֵיהֶ֗ם (and from their streams) בַּל־ (not) יִשְׁתָּיֽוּן׃ (they could drink).

45  יְשַׁלַּ֬ח (He sent) בָּהֶ֣ם (among them) עָ֭רֹב (the swarm) וַיֹּאכְלֵ֑ם (and it consumed them),

וּ֝צְפַרְדֵּ֗עַ (and the frog) וַתַּשְׁחִיתֵֽם׃ (and it destroyed them).

46  וַיִּתֵּ֣ן (And He gave) לֶחָסִ֣יל (to the ravager) יְבוּלָ֑ם (their produce),

וִֽ֝יגִיעָ֗ם (and their labor) לָאַרְבֶּֽה׃ (to the locust).

47  יַהֲרֹ֣ג (He destroyed) בַּבָּרָ֣ד (with the hail) גַּפְנָ֑ם (their vines),

וְ֝שִׁקְמוֹתָ֗ם (and their sycamore trees) בַּֽחֲנָמַֽל׃ (with the frost).

48  וַיַּסְגֵּ֣ר (And He gave up) לַבָּרָ֣ד (to the hail) בְּעִירָ֑ם (their cattle),

וּ֝מִקְנֵיהֶ֗ם (and their flocks) לָרְשָׁפִֽים׃ (to the firebolts).

49  יְשַׁלַּח־ (He sent) בָּ֨ם׀ (against them) חֲר֬וֹן (the burning) אַפּ֗וֹ (of His anger)—

עֶבְרָ֣ה (fury), וָזַ֣עַם (and rage), וְצָרָ֑ה (and distress),

מִ֝שְׁלַ֗חַת (a discharge) מַלְאֲכֵ֥י (of messengers) רָעִֽים׃ (of evils).

50  יְפַלֵּ֥ס (He made level) נָתִ֗יב (a path) לְאַ֫פּ֥וֹ (for His anger);

לֹא־ (not) חָשַׂ֣ךְ (He did spare) מִמָּ֣וֶת (from death) נַפְשָׁ֑ם (their soul),

וְ֝חַיָּתָ֗ם (and their life) לַדֶּ֥בֶר (to the pestilence) הִסְגִּֽיר׃ (He gave over).

51  וַיַּ֣ךְ (And He struck) כָּל־ (all) בְּכ֣וֹר (the firstborn) בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם (in Egypt),

רֵאשִׁ֥ית (the first) א֝וֹנִ֗ים (of the vigour) בְּאָהֳלֵי־ (in the tents) חָֽם׃ (of Ham).

52  וַיַּסַּ֣ע (And He made go forth) כַּצֹּ֣אן (like sheep) עַמּ֑וֹ (His people),

וַֽיְנַהֲגֵ֥ם (and He guided them) כַּ֝עֵ֗דֶר (like a flock) בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃ (in the wilderness).

53  וַיַּנְחֵ֣ם (And He led them) לָ֭בֶטַח (to safety), וְלֹ֣א (and not) פָחָ֑דוּ (they did dread);

וְאֶת־ (and) א֝וֹיְבֵיהֶ֗ם (their enemies) כִּסָּ֥ה (covered) הַיָּֽם׃ (the sea).

54  וַ֭יְבִיאֵם (And He brought them) אֶל־ (to) גְּב֣וּל (the border) קָדְשׁ֑וֹ (of His holiness),

הַר־ (the mountain) זֶ֝֗ה (this), קָנְתָ֥ה (that had acquired) יְמִינֽוֹ׃ (His right hand).

55  וַיְגָ֤רֶשׁ (And He drove out) מִפְּנֵיהֶ֨ם׀ (before their face) גּוֹיִ֗ם (the nations),

וַֽ֭יַּפִּילֵם (and caused them to fall) בְּחֶ֣בֶל (in the line) נַחֲלָ֑ה (of inheritance),

וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֥ן (and He settled) בְּ֝אָהֳלֵיהֶ֗ם (in their tents) שִׁבְטֵ֥י (the tribes) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel).

56  וַיְנַסּ֣וּ (And they tested) וַ֭יַּמְרוּ (and provoked) אֶת־ (-) אֱלֹהִ֣ים (El-) עֶלְי֑וֹן (Elyon),

וְ֝עֵדוֹתָ֗יו (and His testimonies) לֹ֣א (not) שָׁמָֽרוּ׃ (they did keep).

57  וַיִּסֹּ֣גוּ (And they turned back) וַֽ֭יִּבְגְּדוּ (and were treacherous) כַּאֲבוֹתָ֑ם (like their fathers);

נֶ֝הְפְּכ֗וּ (they were turned) כְּקֶ֣שֶׁת (like a bow) רְמִיָּֽה׃ (of deceit).

58  וַיַּכְעִיס֥וּהוּ (And they provoked Him to anger) בְּבָמוֹתָ֑ם (with their high places),

וּ֝בִפְסִילֵיהֶ֗ם (and with their carved images) יַקְנִיאֽוּהוּ׃ (they made Him jealous).

59  שָׁמַ֣ע (Heard) אֱ֭לֹהִים (God), וַֽיִּתְעַבָּ֑ר (and boiled over),

וַיִּמְאַ֥ס (and He rejected) מְ֝אֹ֗ד (exceedingly) בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (Israel),

60  וַ֭יִּטֹּשׁ (and He left behind) מִשְׁכַּ֣ן (the dwelling place) שִׁל֑וֹ (of Shiloh),

אֹ֝֗הֶל (the tent) שִׁכֵּ֥ן (He had pitched) בָּאָדָֽם׃ (among men),

61  וַיִּתֵּ֣ן (and He delivered) לַשְּׁבִ֣י (to captivity) עֻזּ֑וֹ (His strength),

וְֽתִפְאַרְתּ֥וֹ (and His splendor) בְיַד־ (to the hand) צָֽר׃ (of the adversary).

62  וַיַּסְגֵּ֣ר (And He delivered up) לַחֶ֣רֶב (to the sword) עַמּ֑וֹ (His people),

וּ֝בְנַחֲלָת֗וֹ (and on His inheritance) הִתְעַבָּֽר׃ (He boiled over).

63  בַּחוּרָ֥יו (His young men) אָֽכְלָה־ (consumed) אֵ֑שׁ (fire),

וּ֝בְתוּלֹתָ֗יו (and His virgins) לֹ֣א (not) הוּלָּֽלוּ׃ (were praised).

64  כֹּ֭הֲנָיו (His priests) בַּחֶ֣רֶב (by the sword) נָפָ֑לוּ (fell),

וְ֝אַלְמְנֹתָ֗יו (and the widows) לֹ֣א (not) תִבְכֶּֽינָה׃ (could weep).

65  וַיִּקַ֖ץ (And awoke) כְּיָשֵׁ֥ן׀ (as a sleeper) אֲדֹנָ֑י (and the Lord),

כְּ֝גִבּ֗וֹר (as a mighty one) מִתְרוֹנֵ֥ן (overcome) מִיָּֽיִן׃ (by wine).

66  וַיַּךְ־ (And He beat) צָרָ֥יו (his adversaries) אָח֑וֹר (back);

חֶרְפַּ֥ת (a reproach) ע֝וֹלָ֗ם (forever) נָ֣תַן (He gave) לָֽמוֹ׃ (to them).

67  וַ֭יִּמְאַס (And He rejected) בְּאֹ֣הֶל (the tent) יוֹסֵ֑ף (of Joseph),

וּֽבְשֵׁ֥בֶט (and the tribe) אֶ֝פְרַ֗יִם (of Ephraim) לֹ֣א (not) בָחָֽר׃ (He did choose).

68  וַ֭יִּבְחַר (And He chose) אֶת־ (-) שֵׁ֣בֶט (the tribe) יְהוּדָ֑ה (of Judah) אֶֽת־ (-),

הַ֥ר (Mount) צִ֝יּ֗וֹן (Zion) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (which) אָהֵֽב׃ (He loved).

69  וַיִּ֣בֶן (And He built) כְּמוֹ־ (like) רָ֭מִים (the heights) מִקְדָּשׁ֑וֹ (His sanctuary);

כְּ֝אֶ֗רֶץ (like the earth) יְסָדָ֥הּ (He founded it) לְעוֹלָֽם׃ (forever).

70  וַ֭יִּבְחַר (And He chose) בְּדָוִ֣ד (David) עַבְדּ֑וֹ (His servant)

וַ֝יִּקָּחֵ֗הוּ (and He took him) מִֽמִּכְלְאֹ֥ת (from the folds) צֹֽאן׃ (of his flock),

71  מֵאַחַ֥ר (from tending) עָל֗וֹת (the ewes) הֱ֫בִיא֥וֹ (He brought him)

לִ֭רְעוֹת (to be shepherd) בְּיַעֲקֹ֣ב (of Jacob) עַמּ֑וֹ (His people)

וּ֝בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (and of Israel) נַחֲלָתֽוֹ׃ (His inheritance).

72  וַ֭יִּרְעֵם (And he tended them) כְּתֹ֣ם (with the integrity) לְבָב֑וֹ (of his heart);

וּבִתְבוּנ֖וֹת (and by the skillfulness) כַּפָּ֣יו (of his hands) יַנְחֵֽם׃ (he guided them).