Psalms 77 | Biblion Bible Reader

WEB·Psalms 78

¹A contemplation by Asaph. Hear my teaching, my people. Turn your ears to the words of my mouth.

KJVMaschil^H4905^(H8688) of Asaph^H623. Give ear^H238^(H8685), O my people^H5971, to my law^H8451: incline^H5186^(H8685) your ears^H241 to the words^H561 of my mouth^H6310.

² I will open my mouth in a parable. I will utter dark sayings of old,

KJVI will open^H6605^(H8799) my mouth^H6310 in a parable^H4912: I will utter^H5042^(H8686) dark sayings^H2420 of old^H6924:

³ which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.

KJVWhich we have heard^H8085^(H8804) and known^H3045^(H8799), and our fathers^H1 have told^H5608^(H8765) us.

⁴ We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of Yahweh, his strength, and his wondrous deeds that he has done.

KJVWe will not hide^H3582^(H8762) them from their children^H1121, shewing^H5608^(H8764) to the generation^H1755 to come^H314 the praises^H8416 of the LORD^H3068, and his strength^H5807, and his wonderful works^H6381^(H8737) that he hath done^H6213^(H8804).

⁵ For he established a covenant in Jacob, and appointed a teaching in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children;

KJVFor he established^H6965^(H8686) a testimony^H5715 in Jacob^H3290, and appointed^H7760^(H8804) a law^H8451 in Israel^H3478, which he commanded^H6680^(H8765) our fathers^H1, that they should make them known^H3045^(H8687) to their children^H1121:

⁶ that the generation to come might know, even the children who should be born; who should arise and tell their children,

KJVThat the generation^H1755 to come^H314 might know^H3045^(H8799) them, even the children^H1121 which should be born^H3205^(H8735); who should arise^H6965^(H8799) and declare^H5608^(H8762) them to their children^H1121:

⁷ that they might set their hope in God, and not forget God’s deeds, but keep his commandments,

KJVThat they might set^H7760^(H8799) their hope^H3689 in God^H430, and not forget^H7911^(H8799) the works^H4611 of God^H410, but keep^H5341^(H8799) his commandments^H4687:

⁸ and might not be as their fathers— a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that didn’t make their hearts loyal, whose spirit was not steadfast with God.

KJVAnd might not be as their fathers^H1, a stubborn^H5637^(H8802) and rebellious^H4784^(H8802) generation^H1755; a generation^H1755 that set^H3559 not their heart^H3820 aright^H3559^(H8689), and whose spirit^H7307 was not stedfast^H539^(H8738) with God^H410.

⁹ The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.

KJVThe children^H1121 of Ephraim^H669, being armed^H5401^(H8802), and carrying^H7411^(H8802) bows^H7198, turned back^H2015^(H8804) in the day^H3117 of battle^H7128.

¹⁰ They didn’t keep God’s covenant, and refused to walk in his law.

KJVThey kept^H8104^(H8804) not the covenant^H1285 of God^H430, and refused^H3985^(H8765) to walk^H3212^(H8800) in his law^H8451;

¹¹ They forgot his doings, his wondrous deeds that he had shown them.

KJVAnd forgat^H7911^(H8799) his works^H5949, and his wonders^H6381^(H8737) that he had shewed^H7200^(H8689) them.

¹² He did marvelous things in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.

KJVMarvellous things^H6382 did^H6213^(H8804) he in the sight^H5048 of their fathers^H1, in the land^H776 of Egypt^H4714, in the field^H7704 of Zoan^H6814.

¹³ He split the sea, and caused them to pass through. He made the waters stand as a heap.

KJVHe divided^H1234^(H8804) the sea^H3220, and caused them to pass through^H5674^(H8686); and he made the waters^H4325 to stand^H5324^(H8686) as an heap^H5067.

¹⁴ In the daytime he also led them with a cloud, and all night with a light of fire.

KJVIn the daytime^H3119 also he led^H5148^(H8686) them with a cloud^H6051, and all the night^H3915 with a light^H216 of fire^H784.

¹⁵ He split rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink abundantly as out of the depths.

KJVHe clave^H1234^(H8762) the rocks^H6697 in the wilderness^H4057, and gave them drink^H8248^(H8686) as out of the great^H7227 depths^H8415.

¹⁶ He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.

KJVHe brought^H3318^(H8686) streams^H5140^(H8802) also out of the rock^H5553, and caused waters^H4325 to run down^H3381^(H8686) like rivers^H5104.

¹⁷ Yet they still went on to sin against him, to rebel against the Most High in the desert.

KJVAnd they sinned^H2398^(H8800) yet more^H3254^(H8686) against him by provoking^H4784^(H8687) the most High^H5945 in the wilderness^H6723.

¹⁸ They tempted God in their heart by asking food according to their desire.

KJVAnd they tempted^H5254^(H8762) God^H410 in their heart^H3824 by asking^H7592^(H8800) meat^H400 for their lust^H5315.

¹⁹ Yes, they spoke against God. They said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?

KJVYea, they spake^H1696^(H8762) against God^H430; they said^H559^(H8804), Can^H3201^(H8799) God^H410 furnish^H6186^(H8800) a table^H7979 in the wilderness^H4057?

²⁰ Behold, he struck the rock, so that waters gushed out, and streams overflowed. Can he give bread also? Will he provide meat for his people?”

KJVBehold, he smote^H5221^(H8689) the rock^H6697, that the waters^H4325 gushed out^H2100^(H8799), and the streams^H5158 overflowed^H7857^(H8799); can^H3201^(H8799) he give^H5414^(H8800) bread^H3899 also? can^H3201^(H8799) he provide^H3559^(H8686) flesh^H7607 for his people^H5971?

²¹ Therefore Yahweh heard, and was angry. A fire was kindled against Jacob, anger also went up against Israel,

KJVTherefore the LORD^H3068 heard^H8085^(H8804) this, and was wroth^H5674^(H8691): so a fire^H784 was kindled^H5400^(H8738) against Jacob^H3290, and anger^H639 also came up^H5927^(H8804) against Israel^H3478;

²² because they didn’t believe in God, and didn’t trust in his salvation.

KJVBecause they believed^H539^(H8689) not in God^H430, and trusted^H982^(H8804) not in his salvation^H3444:

²³ Yet he commanded the skies above, and opened the doors of heaven.

KJVThough he had commanded^H6680^(H8762) the clouds^H7834 from above^H4605, and opened^H6605^(H8804) the doors^H1817 of heaven^H8064,

²⁴ He rained down manna on them to eat, and gave them food from the sky.

KJVAnd had rained down^H4305^(H8686) manna^H4478 upon them to eat^H398^(H8800), and had given^H5414^(H8804) them of the corn^H1715 of heaven^H8064.

²⁵ Man ate the bread of angels. He sent them food to the full.

KJVMan^H376 did eat^H398^(H8804) angels^H47' food^H3899: he sent^H7971^(H8804) them meat^H6720 to the full^H7648.

²⁶ He caused the east wind to blow in the sky. By his power he guided the south wind.

KJVHe caused an east wind^H6921 to blow^H5265^(H8686) in the heaven^H8064: and by his power^H5797 he brought in^H5090^(H8762) the south wind^H8486.

²⁷ He also rained meat on them as the dust, winged birds as the sand of the seas.

KJVHe rained^H4305^(H8686) flesh^H7607 also upon them as dust^H6083, and feathered^H3671 fowls^H5775 like as the sand^H2344 of the sea^H3220:

²⁸ He let them fall in the middle of their camp, around their habitations.

KJVAnd he let it fall^H5307^(H8686) in the midst^H7130 of their camp^H4264, round about^H5439 their habitations^H4908.

²⁹ So they ate, and were well filled. He gave them their own desire.

KJVSo they did eat^H398^(H8799), and were well^H3966 filled^H7646^(H8799): for he gave^H935^(H8686) them their own desire^H8378;

³⁰ They didn’t turn from their cravings. Their food was yet in their mouths,

KJVThey were not estranged^H2114^(H8804) from their lust^H8378. But while their meat^H400 was yet in their mouths^H6310,

³¹ when the anger of God went up against them, killed some of their strongest, and struck down the young men of Israel.

KJVThe wrath^H639 of God^H430 came^H5927^(H8804) upon them, and slew^H2026^(H8799) the fattest^H4924 of them, and smote down^H3766^(H8689) the chosen^H970 men of Israel^H3478.

³² For all this they still sinned, and didn’t believe in his wondrous works.

KJVFor all this they sinned^H2398^(H8804) still, and believed^H539^(H8689) not for his wondrous works^H6381^(H8737).

³³ Therefore he consumed their days in vanity, and their years in terror.

KJVTherefore their days^H3117 did he consume^H3615^(H8762) in vanity^H1892, and their years^H8141 in trouble^H928.

³⁴ When he killed them, then they inquired after him. They returned and sought God earnestly.

KJVWhen he slew^H2026^(H8804) them, then they sought^H1875^(H8804) him: and they returned^H7725^(H8804) and enquired early^H7836^(H8765) after God^H410.

³⁵ They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God, their redeemer.

KJVAnd they remembered^H2142^(H8799) that God^H430 was their rock^H6697, and the high^H5945 God^H410 their redeemer^H1350^(H8802).

³⁶ But they flattered him with their mouth, and lied to him with their tongue.

KJVNevertheless they did flatter^H6601^(H8762) him with their mouth^H6310, and they lied^H3576^(H8762) unto him with their tongues^H3956.

³⁷ For their heart was not right with him, neither were they faithful in his covenant.

KJVFor their heart^H3820 was not right^H3559^(H8737) with him, neither were they stedfast^H539^(H8738) in his covenant^H1285.

³⁸ But he, being merciful, forgave iniquity, and didn’t destroy them. Yes, many times he turned his anger away, and didn’t stir up all his wrath.

KJVBut he, being full of compassion^H7349, forgave^H3722^(H8762) their iniquity^H5771, and destroyed^H7843^(H8686) them not: yea, many a time^H7235^(H8689) turned^H7725 he his anger^H639 away^H7725^(H8687), and did not stir up^H5782^(H8686) all his wrath^H2534.

³⁹ He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes away, and doesn’t come again.

KJVFor he remembered^H2142^(H8799) that they were but flesh^H1320; a wind^H7307 that passeth away^H1980^(H8802), and cometh not again^H7725^(H8799).

⁴⁰ How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness, and grieved him in the desert!

KJVHow^H4100 oft did they provoke^H4784^(H8686) him in the wilderness^H4057, and grieve^H6087^(H8686) him in the desert^H3452!

⁴¹ They turned again and tempted God, and provoked the Holy One of Israel.

KJVYea, they turned back^H7725^(H8799) and tempted^H5254^(H8762) God^H410, and limited^H8428^(H8689) the Holy One^H6918 of Israel^H3478.

⁴² They didn’t remember his hand, nor the day when he redeemed them from the adversary;

KJVThey remembered^H2142^(H8804) not his hand^H3027, nor the day^H3117 when he delivered^H6299^(H8804) them from the enemy^H6862.

⁴³ how he set his signs in Egypt, his wonders in the field of Zoan,

KJVHow he had wrought^H7760^(H8804) his signs^H226 in Egypt^H4714, and his wonders^H4159 in the field^H7704 of Zoan^H6814:

⁴⁴ he turned their rivers into blood, and their streams, so that they could not drink.

KJVAnd had turned^H2015^(H8799) their rivers^H2975 into blood^H1818; and their floods^H5140^(H8802), that they could not drink^H8354^(H8799).

⁴⁵ He sent among them swarms of flies, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them.

KJVHe sent^H7971^(H8762) divers sorts of flies^H6157 among them, which devoured^H398^(H8799) them; and frogs^H6854, which destroyed^H7843^(H8686) them.

⁴⁶ He also gave their increase to the caterpillar, and their labor to the locust.

KJVHe gave^H5414^(H8799) also their increase^H2981 unto the caterpiller^H2625, and their labour^H3018 unto the locust^H697.

⁴⁷ He destroyed their vines with hail, their sycamore fig trees with frost.

KJVHe destroyed^H2026^(H8799) their vines^H1612 with hail^H1259, and their sycomore trees^H8256 with frost^H2602.

⁴⁸ He also gave over their livestock to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts.

KJVHe gave up^H5462^(H8686) their cattle^H1165 also to the hail^H1259, and their flocks^H4735 to hot thunderbolts^H7565.

⁴⁹ He threw on them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, indignation, and trouble, and a band of angels of evil.

KJVHe cast^H7971^(H8762) upon them the fierceness^H2740 of his anger^H639, wrath^H5678, and indignation^H2195, and trouble^H6869, by sending^H4917 evil^H7451 angels^H4397 among them.

⁵⁰ He made a path for his anger. He didn’t spare their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence,

KJVHe made^H6424^(H8762) a way^H5410 to his anger^H639; he spared^H2820^(H8804) not their soul^H5315 from death^H4194, but gave^H5462 their life^H2416 over^H5462^(H8689) to the pestilence^H1698;

⁵¹ and struck all the firstborn in Egypt, the chief of their strength in the tents of Ham.

KJVAnd smote^H5221^(H8686) all the firstborn^H1060 in Egypt^H4714; the chief^H7225 of their strength^H202 in the tabernacles^H168 of Ham^H2526:

⁵² But he led out his own people like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.

KJVBut made his own people^H5971 to go forth^H5265^(H8686) like sheep^H6629, and guided^H5090^(H8762) them in the wilderness^H4057 like a flock^H5739.

⁵³ He led them safely, so that they weren’t afraid, but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.

KJVAnd he led^H5148^(H8686) them on safely^H983, so that they feared^H6342^(H8804) not: but the sea^H3220 overwhelmed^H3680^(H8765) their enemies^H341^(H8802).

⁵⁴ He brought them to the border of his sanctuary, to this mountain, which his right hand had taken.

KJVAnd he brought^H935^(H8686) them to the border^H1366 of his sanctuary^H6944, even to this mountain^H2022, which his right hand^H3225 had purchased^H7069^(H8804).

⁵⁵ He also drove out the nations before them, allotted them for an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.

KJVHe cast out^H1644^(H8762) the heathen^H1471 also before^H6440 them, and divided^H5307^(H8686) them an inheritance^H5159 by line^H2256, and made the tribes^H7626 of Israel^H3478 to dwell^H7931^(H8686) in their tents^H168.

⁵⁶ Yet they tempted and rebelled against the Most High God, and didn’t keep his testimonies,

KJVYet they tempted^H5254^(H8762) and provoked^H4784^(H8686) the most high^H5945 God^H430, and kept^H8104^(H8804) not his testimonies^H5713:

⁵⁷ but turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers. They were twisted like a deceitful bow.

KJVBut turned back^H5472^(H8735), and dealt unfaithfully^H898^(H8799) like their fathers^H1: they were turned aside^H2015^(H8738) like a deceitful^H7423 bow^H7198.

⁵⁸ For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their engraved images.

KJVFor they provoked him to anger^H3707^(H8686) with their high places^H1116, and moved him to jealousy^H7065^(H8686) with their graven images^H6456.

⁵⁹ When God heard this, he was angry, and greatly abhorred Israel,

KJVWhen God^H430 heard^H8085^(H8804) this, he was wroth^H5674^(H8691), and greatly^H3966 abhorred^H3988^(H8799) Israel^H3478:

⁶⁰ so that he abandoned the tent of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men,

KJVSo that he forsook^H5203^(H8799) the tabernacle^H4908 of Shiloh^H7887, the tent^H168 which he placed^H7931^(H8765) among men^H120;

⁶¹ and delivered his strength into captivity, his glory into the adversary’s hand.

KJVAnd delivered^H5414^(H8799) his strength^H5797 into captivity^H7628, and his glory^H8597 into the enemy's^H6862 hand^H3027.

⁶² He also gave his people over to the sword, and was angry with his inheritance.

KJVHe gave^H5462 his people^H5971 over^H5462^(H8686) also unto the sword^H2719; and was wroth^H5674^(H8694) with his inheritance^H5159.

⁶³ Fire devoured their young men. Their virgins had no wedding song.

KJVThe fire^H784 consumed^H398^(H8804) their young men^H970; and their maidens^H1330 were not given to marriage^H1984^(H8795).

⁶⁴ Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows couldn’t weep.

KJVTheir priests^H3548 fell^H5307^(H8804) by the sword^H2719; and their widows^H490 made no lamentation^H1058^(H8799).

⁶⁵ Then the Lord awakened as one out of sleep, like a mighty man who shouts by reason of wine.

KJVThen the Lord^H136 awaked^H3364^(H8799) as one out of sleep^H3463, and like a mighty man^H1368 that shouteth^H7442^(H8711) by reason of wine^H3196.

⁶⁶ He struck his adversaries backward. He put them to a perpetual reproach.

KJVAnd he smote^H5221^(H8686) his enemies^H6862 in the hinder parts^H268: he put^H5414^(H8804) them to a perpetual^H5769 reproach^H2781.

⁶⁷ Moreover he rejected the tent of Joseph, and didn’t choose the tribe of Ephraim,

KJVMoreover he refused^H3988^(H8799) the tabernacle^H168 of Joseph^H3130, and chose^H977^(H8804) not the tribe^H7626 of Ephraim^H669:

⁶⁸ But chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which he loved.

KJVBut chose^H977^(H8799) the tribe^H7626 of Judah^H3063, the mount^H2022 Zion^H6726 which he loved^H157^(H8804).

⁶⁹ He built his sanctuary like the heights, like the earth which he has established forever.

KJVAnd he built^H1129^(H8799) his sanctuary^H4720 like high^H7311^(H8802) palaces, like the earth^H776 which he hath established^H3245^(H8804) for ever^H5769.

⁷⁰ He also chose David his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds;

KJVHe chose^H977^(H8799) David^H1732 also his servant^H5650, and took^H3947^(H8799) him from the sheepfolds^H4356^H6629:

⁷¹ from following the ewes that have their young, he brought him to be the shepherd of Jacob, his people, and Israel, his inheritance.

KJVFrom following^H310 the ewes great with young^H5763^(H8802) he brought^H935^(H8689) him to feed^H7462^(H8800) Jacob^H3290 his people^H5971, and Israel^H3478 his inheritance^H5159.

⁷² So he was their shepherd according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.

KJVSo he fed^H7462^(H8686) them according to the integrity^H8537 of his heart^H3824; and guided^H5148^(H8686) them by the skilfulness^H8394 of his hands^H3709.

WEB·Psalms 77

¹For the Chief Musician. To Jeduthun. A Psalm by Asaph. My cry goes to God! Indeed, I cry to God for help, and for him to listen to me.

KJVTo the chief Musician^H5329^(H8764), to Jeduthun^H3038, A Psalm^H4210 of Asaph^H623. I cried^H6817^(H8799) unto God^H430 with my voice^H6963, even unto God^H430 with my voice^H6963; and he gave ear^H238^(H8689) unto me.

² In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord. My hand was stretched out in the night, and didn’t get tired. My soul refused to be comforted.

KJVIn the day^H3117 of my trouble^H6869 I sought^H1875^(H8804) the Lord^H136: my sore^H3027 ran^H5064^(H8738) in the night^H3915, and ceased^H6313^(H8799) not: my soul^H5315 refused^H3985^(H8765) to be comforted^H5162^(H8736).

³ I remember God, and I groan. I complain, and my spirit is overwhelmed. Selah.

KJVI remembered^H2142^(H8799) God^H430, and was troubled^H1993^(H8799): I complained^H7878^(H8799), and my spirit^H7307 was overwhelmed^H5848^(H8691). Selah^H5542.

⁴ You hold my eyelids open. I am so troubled that I can’t speak.

KJVThou holdest^H270^(H8804) mine eyes^H5869 waking^H8109: I am so troubled^H6470^(H8738) that I cannot speak^H1696^(H8762).

⁵ I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.

KJVI have considered^H2803^(H8765) the days^H3117 of old^H6924, the years^H8141 of ancient times^H5769.

⁶ I remember my song in the night. I consider in my own heart; my spirit diligently inquires:

KJVI call to remembrance^H2142^(H8799) my song^H5058 in the night^H3915: I commune^H7878^(H8799) with mine own heart^H3824: and my spirit^H7307 made diligent search^H2664^(H8762).

⁷ “Will the Lord reject us forever? Will he be favorable no more?

KJVWill the Lord^H136 cast off^H2186^(H8799) for ever^H5769? and will^H3254^(H8686) he be favourable^H7521^(H8800) no more?

⁸ Has his loving kindness vanished forever? Does his promise fail for generations?

KJVIs his mercy^H2617 clean gone^H656^(H8804) for ever^H5331? doth his promise^H562 fail^H1584^(H8804) for evermore^H1755^H1755?

⁹ Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he, in anger, withheld his compassion?” Selah.

KJVHath God^H410 forgotten^H7911^(H8804) to be gracious^H2589^(H8800)? hath he in anger^H639 shut up^H7092^(H8804) his tender mercies^H7356? Selah^H5542.

¹⁰ Then I thought, “I will appeal to this: the years of the right hand of the Most High.”

KJVAnd I said^H559^(H8799), This is my infirmity^H2470^(H8763): but I will remember the years^H8141 of the right hand^H3225 of the most High^H5945.

¹¹ I will remember Yah’s deeds; for I will remember your wonders of old.

KJVI will remember^H2142^(H8799)^(H8675)^H2142^(H8686) the works^H4611 of the LORD^H3050: surely I will remember^H2142^(H8799) thy wonders^H6382 of old^H6924.

¹² I will also meditate on all your work, and consider your doings.

KJVI will meditate^H1897^(H8804) also of all thy work^H6467, and talk^H7878^(H8799) of thy doings^H5949.

¹³ Your way, God, is in the sanctuary. What god is great like God?

KJVThy way^H1870, O God^H430, is in the sanctuary^H6944: who is so great^H1419 a God^H410 as our God^H430?

¹⁴ You are the God who does wonders. You have made your strength known among the peoples.

KJVThou art the God^H410 that doest^H6213^(H8802) wonders^H6382: thou hast declared^H3045^(H8689) thy strength^H5797 among the people^H5971.

¹⁵ You have redeemed your people with your arm, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.

KJVThou hast with thine arm^H2220 redeemed^H1350^(H8804) thy people^H5971, the sons^H1121 of Jacob^H3290 and Joseph^H3130. Selah^H5542.

¹⁶ The waters saw you, God. The waters saw you, and they writhed. The depths also convulsed.

KJVThe waters^H4325 saw^H7200^(H8804) thee, O God^H430, the waters^H4325 saw^H7200^(H8804) thee; they were afraid^H2342^(H8799): the depths^H8415 also were troubled^H7264^(H8799).

¹⁷ The clouds poured out water. The skies resounded with thunder. Your arrows also flashed around.

KJVThe clouds^H5645 poured out^H2229^(H8776) water^H4325: the skies^H7834 sent out^H5414^(H8804) a sound^H6963: thine arrows^H2687 also went abroad^H1980^(H8691).

¹⁸ The voice of your thunder was in the whirlwind. The lightnings lit up the world. The earth trembled and shook.

KJVThe voice^H6963 of thy thunder^H7482 was in the heaven^H1534: the lightnings^H1300 lightened^H215^(H8689) the world^H8398: the earth^H776 trembled^H7264^(H8804) and shook^H7493^(H8799).

¹⁹ Your way was through the sea, your paths through the great waters. Your footsteps were not known.

KJVThy way^H1870 is in the sea^H3220, and thy path^H7635 in the great^H7227 waters^H4325, and thy footsteps^H6119 are not known^H3045^(H8738).

²⁰ You led your people like a flock, by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

KJVThou leddest^H5148^(H8804) thy people^H5971 like a flock^H6629 by the hand^H3027 of Moses^H4872 and Aaron^H175.

Section titles come from the Biblion commentary, not from Scripture.

You can also read or listen to the Introduction to the book of Psalms.