Psalms — Chapter 78

1Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

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

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

4We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.

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

6That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:

7That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:

8And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

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

10They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law;

11And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them.

12Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.

13He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap.

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

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

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

17And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness.

18And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.

19Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?

20Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?

21Therefore the LORD heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel;

22Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation:

23Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,

24And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.

25Man did eat angels’ food: he sent them meat to the full.

26He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind.

27He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea:

28And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations.

29So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire;

30They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths,

31The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.

32For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.

33Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.

34When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God.

35And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.

36Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.

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

38But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.

39For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.

40How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!

41Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.

42They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy.

43How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan:

44And had turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, that they could not drink.

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

46He gave also their increase unto the caterpiller, and their labour unto the locust.

47He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycomore trees with frost.

48He gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts.

49He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.

50He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence;

51And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:

52But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.

53And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.

54And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased.

55He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.

56Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies:

57But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.

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

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

60So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men;

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

62He gave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance.

63The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage.

64Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation.

65Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.

66And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach.

67Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim:

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

69And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever.

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

71From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.

72So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.

1Give ear, O my people, to my law: Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

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

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

4We will not hide them from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises of Jehovah, And his strength, and his wondrous works that he hath done.

5For he established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which he commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children;

6That the generation to come might know [them], even the children that should be born; Who should arise and tell [them] to their children,

7That they might set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep his commandments,

8And might not be as their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that set not their heart aright, And whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

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

10They kept not the covenant of God, And refused to walk in his law;

11And they forgat his doings, And his wondrous works that he had showed them.

12Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, In the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.

13He clave the sea, and caused them to pass through; And he made the waters to stand as a heap.

14In the day-time also he led them with a cloud, And all the night with a light of fire.

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

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

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

18And they tempted God in their heart By asking food according to their desire.

19Yea, they spake against God; They said, Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?

20Behold, he smote the rock, so that waters gushed out, And streams overflowed; Can he give bread also? Will he provide flesh for his people?

21Therefore Jehovah heard, and was wroth; And a fire was kindled against Jacob, And anger also went up against Israel;

22Because they believed not in God, And trusted not in his salvation.

23Yet he commanded the skies above, And opened the doors of heaven;

24And he rained down manna upon them to eat, And gave them food from heaven.

25Man did eat the bread of the mighty: He sent them food to the full.

26He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens; And by his power he guided the south wind.

27He rained flesh also upon them as the dust, And winged birds as the sand of the seas:

28And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, Round about their habitations.

29So they did eat, and were well filled; And he gave them their own desire.

30They were not estranged from that which they desired, Their food was yet in their mouths,

31When the anger of God went up against them, And slew of the fattest of them, And smote down the young men of Israel.

32For all this they sinned still, And believed not in his wondrous works.

33Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, And their years in terror.

34When he slew them, then they inquired after him; And they returned and sought God earnestly.

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

36But they flattered him with their mouth, And lied unto him with their tongue.

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

38But he, being merciful, forgave [their] iniquity, and destroyed [them] not: Yea, many a time turned he his anger away, And did not stir up all his wrath.

39And he remembered that they were but flesh, A wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.

40How oft did they rebel against him in the wilderness, And grieve him in the desert!

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

42They remember not his hand, Nor the day when he redeemed them from the adversary;

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

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

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

46He gave also their increase unto the caterpillar, And their labor unto the locust.

47He destroyed their vines with hail, And their sycomore-trees with frost.

48He gave over their cattle also to the hail, And their flocks to hot thunderbolts.

49He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, Wrath, and indignation, and trouble, A band of angels of evil.

50He made a path for his anger; He spared not their soul from death, But gave their life over to the pestilence,

51And smote all the first-born in Egypt, The chief of their strength in the tents of Ham.

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

53And he led them safely, so that they feared not; But the sea overwhelmed their enemies.

54And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, To this mountain, which his right hand had gotten.

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

56Yet they tempted and rebelled against the Most High God, And kept not his testimonies;

57But turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers: They were turned aside like a deceitful bow.

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

59When God heard [this], he was wroth, And greatly abhorred Israel;

60So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, The tent which he placed among men;

61And delivered his strength into captivity, And his glory into the adversary`s hand.

62He gave his people over also unto the sword, And was wroth with his inheritance.

63Fire devoured their young men; And their virgins had no marriage-song.

64Their priests fell by the sword; And their widows made no lamentation.

65Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, Like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.

66And he smote his adversaries backward: He put them to a perpetual reproach.

67Moreover he refused the tent of Joseph, And chose not the tribe of Ephraim,

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

69And he built his sanctuary like the heights, Like the earth which he hath established for ever.

70He chose David also his servant, And took him from the sheepfolds:

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

72So he was their shepherd according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them by the skilfulness of his hands. Psalm 79 A Psalm of Asaph.

1A well-written song by Asaph. Pay attention, my people, to my instruction. Listen to the words I speak.

2I will sing a song that imparts wisdom; I will make insightful observations about the past.

3What we have heard and learned— that which our ancestors have told us—

4we will not hide from their descendants. We will tell the next generation about the Lord’s praiseworthy acts, about his strength and the amazing things he has done.

5He established a rule in Jacob; he set up a law in Israel. He commanded our ancestors to make his deeds known to their descendants,

6so that the next generation, children yet to be born, might know about them. They will grow up and tell their descendants about them.

7Then they will place their confidence in God. They will not forget the works of God, and they will obey his commands.

8Then they will not be like their ancestors, who were a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that was not committed and faithful to God.

9The Ephraimites were armed with bows, but they retreated in the day of battle.

10They did not keep their covenant with God, and they refused to obey his law.

11They forgot what he had done, the amazing things he had shown them.

12He did amazing things in the sight of their ancestors, in the land of Egypt, in the region of Zoan.

13He divided the sea and led them across it; he made the water stand in a heap.

14He led them with a cloud by day and with the light of a fire all night long.

15He broke open rocks in the wilderness and gave them enough water to fill the depths of the sea.

16He caused streams to flow from the rock and made the water flow like rivers.

17Yet they continued to sin against him and rebelled against the Most High in the desert.

18They willfully challenged God by asking for food to satisfy their appetite.

19They insulted God, saying, “Is God really able to give us food in the wilderness?

20Yes, he struck a rock and water flowed out; streams gushed forth. But can he also give us food? Will he provide meat for his people?”

21When the Lord heard this, he was furious. A fire broke out against Jacob, and his anger flared up against Israel,

22because they did not have faith in God and did not trust his ability to deliver them.

23He gave a command to the clouds above and opened the doors in the sky.

24He rained down manna for them to eat; he gave them the grain of heaven.

25Man ate the food of the mighty ones. He sent them more than enough to eat.

26He brought the east wind through the sky and by his strength led forth the south wind.

27He rained down meat on them like dust, birds as numerous as the sand on the seashores.

28He caused them to fall right in the middle of their camp, all around their homes.

29They ate until they were beyond full; he gave them what they desired.

30They were not yet filled up; their food was still in their mouths

31when the anger of God flared up against them. He killed some of the strongest of them; he brought the young men of Israel to their knees.

32Despite all this, they continued to sin, and did not trust him to do amazing things.

33So he caused them to die unsatisfied and filled with terror.

34When he struck them down, they sought his favor; they turned back and longed for God.

35They remembered that God was their protector and that God Most High was their deliverer.

36But they deceived him with their words and lied to him.

37They were not really committed to him, and they were unfaithful to his covenant.

38Yet he is compassionate. He forgives sin and does not destroy. He often holds back his anger and does not stir up his fury.

39He remembered that they were made of flesh and were like a wind that blows past and does not return.

40How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness and insulted him in the wastelands.

41They again challenged God and offended the Holy One of Israel.

42They did not remember what he had done, how he delivered them from the enemy,

43when he performed his awesome deeds in Egypt and his acts of judgment in the region of Zoan.

44He turned their rivers into blood, and they could not drink from their streams.

45He sent swarms of biting insects against them, as well as frogs that overran their land.

46He gave their crops to the grasshopper, the fruit of their labor to the locust.

47He destroyed their vines with hail and their sycamore-fig trees with driving rain.

48He rained hail down on their cattle and hurled lightning bolts down on their livestock.

49His raging anger lashed out against them. He sent fury, rage, and trouble as messengers who bring disaster.

50He sent his anger in full force. He did not spare them from death; he handed their lives over to destruction.

51He struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, the firstfruits of their reproductive power in the tents of Ham.

52Yet he brought out his people like sheep; he led them through the wilderness like a flock.

53He guided them safely along, and they were not afraid; but the sea covered their enemies.

54He brought them to the border of his holy land, to this mountainous land that his right hand acquired.

55He drove the nations out from before them; he assigned them their tribal allotments and allowed the tribes of Israel to settle down.

56Yet they challenged and defied God Most High and did not obey his commands.

57They were unfaithful and acted as treacherously as their ancestors; they were as unreliable as a malfunctioning bow.

58They made him angry with their pagan shrines and made him jealous with their idols.

59God heard and was angry; he completely rejected Israel.

60He abandoned the sanctuary at Shiloh, the tent where he lived among men.

61He allowed the symbol of his strong presence to be captured; he gave the symbol of his splendor into the hand of the enemy.

62He delivered his people over to the sword and was angry with his chosen nation.

63Fire consumed their young men, and their virgins remained unmarried.

64Their priests fell by the sword, but their widows did not weep.

65But then the Lord awoke from his sleep; he was like a warrior in a drunken rage.

66He drove his enemies back; he made them a permanent target for insults.

67He rejected the tent of Joseph; he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim.

68He chose the tribe of Judah and Mount Zion, which he loves.

69He made his sanctuary as enduring as the heavens above, as secure as the earth, which he established permanently.

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

71He took him away from following the mother sheep, and made him the shepherd of Jacob, his people, and of Israel, his chosen nation.

72David cared for them with pure motives; he led them with skill.

1Hear my teaching, my people. Turn your ears to the words of my mouth.

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

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

4We 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.

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

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

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

8and 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

38But 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

55He 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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