Discovery BoxPsalms 78:2-4 
Context78:2 I will sing a song that imparts wisdom;
I will make insightful observations about the past. 1
78:3 What we have heard and learned 2 –
that which our ancestors 3 have told us –
78:4 we will not hide from their 4 descendants.
We will tell the next generation
about the Lord’s praiseworthy acts, 5
about his strength and the amazing things he has done.
1 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).
2 tn Or “known.”
3 tn Heb “fathers” (also in vv. 5, 8, 12, 57).
4 tn The pronominal suffix refers back to the “fathers” (“our ancestors,” v. 3).
5 tn Heb “to a following generation telling the praises of the
