Psalms 78:2

I will sing a song that imparts wisdom; I will make insightful observations about the past. ¹ 

I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old—

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

for I will speak to you in a parable. I will teach you hidden lessons from our past––

I'm chewing on the morsel of a proverb; I'll let you in on the sweet old truths,

Opening my mouth I will give out a story, even the dark sayings of old times;

I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old,

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

I will sing a song that imparts wisdom; I will make insightful observations about the past. ¹ 

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).