Psa 78:2-6 | NET2full | STEP | I will sing a song that imparts wisdom ; I will make insightful observations about the past .

‏ Psalms 78:2-6

2 I will sing a song that imparts wisdom;
I will make insightful observations about the past. ^{▼▼tn Heb “I will open with a wise saying my mouth, I will utter insightful sayings from long ago.” Elsewhere the Hebrew word pair חִידָה + מָשָׁל (mashal + khidah) refers to a taunt song (Hab 2:6), a parable (Ezek 17:2), proverbial sayings (Prov 1:6), and an insightful song that reflects on the mortality of humankind and the ultimate inability of riches to prevent death (Ps 49:4).}
3 What we have heard and learned ^{▼▼tn Or “known.”} —
that which our ancestors ^{▼▼tn Heb “fathers” (also in vv. 5, 8, 12, 57).} have told us—
4 we will not hide from their ^{▼▼tn The pronominal suffix refers back to the “fathers” (“our ancestors,” v. 3).} descendants.
We will tell the next generation
about the Lord’s praiseworthy acts, ^{▼▼tn Heb “to a following generation telling the praises of the Lord.” “Praises” stand by metonymy for the mighty acts that prompt worship. Cf. Ps 9:14.}
about his strength and the amazing things he has done.
5 He established a rule ^{▼▼tn The Hebrew noun עֵדוּת (ʿedut) refers here to God’s command that the older generation teach their children about God’s mighty deeds in the nation’s history (see Exod 10:2; Deut 4:9; 6:20-25).} in Jacob;
he set up a law in Israel.
He commanded our ancestors
to make his deeds known to their descendants, ^{▼▼tn Heb “which he commanded our fathers to make them known to their sons.” The plural suffix “them” probably refers back to the Lord’s mighty deeds (see vv. 3-4).}
6 so that the next generation, children yet to be born,
might know about them.
They will grow up and tell their descendants about them. ^{▼▼tn Heb “in order that they might know, a following generation, sons [who] will be born, they will arise and will tell to their sons.”}