Mazmur 78:57

78:57 They were unfaithful ¹  and acted as treacherously as ²  their ancestors;

they were as unreliable as a malfunctioning bow. ³ 

Mazmur 79:8

79:8 Do not hold us accountable for the sins of earlier generations! ⁴ 

Quickly send your compassion our way, ⁵ 

for we are in serious trouble! ⁶ 

[78:57]  ¹ tn Heb “they turned back.”

[78:57]  ² tn Or “acted treacherously like.”

[78:57]  ³ tn Heb “they turned aside like a deceitful bow.”

[79:8]  ⁴ tn Heb “do not remember against us sins, former.” Some understand “former” as an attributive adjective modifying sins, “former [i.e., chronologically prior] sins” (see BDB 911 s.v. רִאשׁוֹן). The present translation assumes that ראשׁנים (“former”) here refers to those who lived formerly, that is, the people’s ancestors (see Lam 5:7). The word is used in this way in Lev 26:45; Deut 19:14 and Eccl 1:11.

[79:8]  ⁵ tn Heb “may your compassion quickly confront us.” The prefixed verbal form is understood as a jussive, indicating a tone of prayer.

[79:8]  ⁶ tn Heb “for we are very low.”