Psalms 78
78
PSALM 78
Common Meter: 8,6,8,6
Maschil of Asaph.
1Attend, my people, to my law;
thereto give thou an ear;
The words that from my mouth proceed
attentively do hear.
2My mouth shall speak a parable,
and sayings dark of old;
3The same which we have heard and known,
and us our fathers told.
4We also will them not conceal
from their posterity;
Them to the generation
to come declare will we:
The praises of the Lord our God,
and his almighty strength,
The wondrous works that he hath done,
we will shew forth at length.
5His testimony and his law
in Isr'el he did place,
And charg'd our fathers it to show
to their succeeding race;
6That so the race which was to come
might well them learn and know;
And sons unborn, who should arise,
might to their sons them show:
7That they might set their hope in God,
and suffer not to fall
His mighty works out of their mind,
but keep his precepts all:
8And might not, like their fathers, be
a stiff rebellious race;
A race not right in heart; with God
whose sp'rit not stedfast was.
9The sons of Ephraim, who nor bows
nor other arms did lack,
When as the day of battle was,
they faintly turned back.
10They brake God's cov'nant,
and refus'd in his commands to go;
11His works and wonders they forgot,
which he to them did show.
12Things marvellous he brought to pass;
their fathers them beheld
Within the land of Egypt done,
yea, ev'n in Zoan's field.
13By him divided was the sea,
he caus'd them through to pass;
And made the waters so to stand,
as like an heap it was.
14With cloud by day, with light of fire
all night, he did them guide.
15In desert rocks he clave,
and drink, as from great depths, supply'd.
16He from the rock brought streams, like floods
made waters to run down.
17Yet sinning more, in desert they
provok'd the Highest One.
18For in their heart they tempted God,
and, speaking with mistrust,
They greedily did meat require
to satisfy their lust.
19Against the Lord himself they spake,
and, murmuring, said thus,
A table in the wilderness
can God prepare for us?
20Behold, he smote the rock, and thence
came streams and waters great;
But can he give his people bread?
and send them flesh to eat?
21The Lord did hear, and waxed wroth;
so kindled was a flame
'Gainst Jacob, and 'gainst Israel
up indignation came.
22For they believ'd not God, nor trust
in his salvation had;
23Though clouds above he did command,
and heav'n's doors open made,
24And manna rain'd on them,
and gave them corn of heav'n to eat.
25Man angels' food did eat; to them
he to the full sent meat.
26And in the heaven he did cause
an eastern wind to blow;
And by his power he let out
the southern wind to go.
27Then flesh as thick as dust he made
to rain down them among;
And feather'd fowls, like as the sand
which li'th the shore along.
28At his command amidst their camp
these show'rs of flesh down fell,
All round about the tabernacles
and tents where they did dwell.
29So they did eat abundantly,
and had of meat their fill;
For he did give to them what was
their own desire and will.
30They from their lust had not estrang'd
their heart and their desire;
But while the meat was in their mouths,
which they did so require,
31God's wrath upon them came,
and slew the fattest of them all;
So that the choice of Israel,
o'erthrown by death, did fall.
32Yet, notwithstanding of all this,
they sinned still the more;
And though he had great wonders wrought,
believ'd him not therefore:
33Wherefore their days in vanity
he did consume and waste;
And by his wrath their wretched years
away in trouble past.
34But when he slew them, then they did
to seek him shew desire;
Yea, they return'd, and after God
right early did enquire.
35And that the Lord had been their Rock,
they did remember then;
Ev'n that the high almighty God
had their Redeemer been.
36Yet with their mouth they flatter'd him,
and spake but feignedly;
And they unto the God of truth
with their false tongues did lie.
37For though their words were good, their heart
with him was not sincere;
Unstedfast and perfidious
they in his cov'nant were.
38But, full of pity, he forgave
their sin, them did not slay;
Nor stirr'd up all his wrath, but oft
his anger turn'd away.
39For that they were but fading flesh
to mind he did recall;
A wind that passeth soon away,
and not returns at all.
40How often did they him provoke
within the wilderness!
And in the desert did him grieve
with their rebelliousness!
41Yea, turning back, they tempted God,
and limits set upon
Him, who in midst of Isr'el is
the only Holy One.
42They did not call to mind his pow'r,
nor yet the day when he
Deliver'd them out of the hand
of their fierce enemy;
43Nor how great signs in Egypt land
he openly had wrought;
What miracles in Zoan's field
his hand to pass had brought.
44How lakes and rivers ev'ry where
he turned into blood;
So that nor man nor beast could drink
of standing lake or flood.
45He brought among them swarms of flies,
which did them sore annoy;
And divers kinds of filthy frogs
he sent them to destroy.
46He to the caterpillar gave
the fruits of all their soil;
Their labours he deliver'd up
unto the locusts' spoil.
47Their vines with hail, their sycamores
he with the frost did blast:
48Their beasts to hail he gave; their flocks
hot thunderbolts did waste.
49Fierce burning wrath he on them cast,
and indignation strong,
And troubles sore, by sending forth
ill angels them among.
50He to his wrath made way; their soul
from death he did not save;
But over to the pestilence
the lives of them he gave.
51In Egypt land the first-born all
he smote down ev'ry where;
Among the tents of Ham, ev'n these
chief of their strength that were.
52But his own people, like to sheep,
thence to go forth he made;
And he, amidst the wilderness,
them, as a flock, did lead.
53And he them safely on did lead,
so that they did not fear;
Whereas their en'mies by the sea
quite overwhelmed were.
54To borders of his sanctuary
the Lord his people led,
Ev'n to the mount which his right hand
for them had purchased.
55The nations of Canaan,
by his almighty hand,
Before their face he did expel
out of their native land;
Which for inheritance to them
by line he did divide,
And made the tribes of Israel
within their tents abide.
56Yet God most high they did provoke,
and tempted ever still;
And to observe his testimonies
did not incline their will:
57But, like their fathers, turned back,
and dealt unfaithfully:
Aside they turned, like a bow
that shoots deceitfully.
58For they to anger did provoke
him with their places high;
And with their graven images
mov'd him to jealousy.
59When God heard this, he waxed wroth,
and much loath'd Isr'el then:
60So Shiloh's tent he left, the tent
which he had plac'd with men.
61And he his strength delivered
into captivity;
He left his glory in the hand
of his proud enemy.
62His people also he gave o'er
unto the sword's fierce rage:
So sore his wrath inflamed was
against his heritage.
63The fire consum'd their choice young men;
their maids no marriage had;
64And when their priests fell by the sword,
their wives no mourning made.
65But then the Lord arose, as one
that doth from sleep awake;
And like a giant that, by wine
refresh'd, a shout doth make:
66Upon his en'mies' hinder parts
he made his stroke to fall;
And so upon them he did put
a shame perpetual.
67Moreover, he the tabernacle
of Joseph did refuse;
The mighty tribe of Ephraim
he would in no wise chuse:
68But he did chuse Jehudah's tribe
to be the rest above;
And of mount Sion he made choice,
which he so much did love.
69And he his sanctuary built
like to a palace high,
Like to the earth which he did found
to perpetuity.
70Of David, that his servant was,
he also choice did make,
And even from the folds of sheep
was pleased him to take:
71From waiting on the ewes with young,
he brought him forth to feed
Israel, his inheritance,
his people, Jacob's seed.
72So after the integrity
he of his heart them fed;
And by the good skill of his hands
them wisely governed.
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Psalms 78: MP1650
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maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society
Psalms 78
78
PSALM 78
God’s Guidance of His People in Spite of Their Unfaithfulness.
A skillful song, or a didactic or reflective poem, of Asaph.
1Listen, O my people, to my teaching;
Incline your ears to the words of my mouth [and be willing to learn].
2I will open my mouth in a parable [to instruct using examples];
I will utter dark and puzzling sayings of old [that contain important truth]—
3Which we have heard and known,
And our fathers have told us.
4We will not hide them from their children,
But [we will] tell to the generation to come the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,
And [tell of] His great might and power and the wonderful works that He has done.
5For He established a testimony (a specific precept) in Jacob
And appointed a law in Israel,
Which He commanded our fathers
That they should teach to their children [the great facts of God’s transactions with Israel],
6That the generation to come might know them, that the children still to be born
May arise and recount them to their children,
7That they should place their confidence in God
And not forget the works of God,
But keep His commandments,
8And not be like their fathers—
A stubborn and rebellious generation,
A generation that did not prepare its heart to know and follow God,
And whose spirit was not faithful to God.
9The sons of Ephraim were armed as archers and carrying bows,
Yet they turned back in the day of battle.
10They did not keep the covenant of God
And refused to walk according to His law;
11And they forgot His [incredible] works
And His miraculous wonders 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 [where Pharaoh resided].
13He divided the [Red] Sea and allowed them to pass through it,
And He made the waters stand up like [water behind] a dam.
14In the daytime He led them with a cloud
And all the night with a light of fire.
15He split rocks in the wilderness
And gave them abundant [water to] drink like the ocean depths.
16He brought streams also from the rock [at Rephidim and Kadesh]
And caused waters to run down like rivers.
17Yet they still continued to sin against Him
By rebelling against the Most High in the desert.
18And in their hearts they put God to the test
By asking for food according to their [selfish] appetite.
19Then they spoke against God;
They said, “Can God prepare [food for] a table in the wilderness?
20Behold, He struck the rock so that waters gushed out
And the streams overflowed;
Can He give bread also?
Or will He provide meat for His people?”
21Therefore, when the Lord heard, He was full of wrath;
A fire was kindled against Jacob,
And His anger mounted up against Israel,
22Because they did not believe in God [they did not rely on Him, they did not adhere to Him],
And they did not trust in His salvation (His power to save).
23Yet He commanded the clouds from above
And opened the doors of heaven;
24And He rained down manna upon them to eat
And gave them the grain of heaven.
25Man ate the bread of angels;
God sent them provision in abundance.
26He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens
And by His [unlimited] power He guided the south wind.
27He rained meat upon them like the dust,
And winged birds (quail) like the sand of the seas.
28And He let them fall in the midst of their camp,
Around their tents.
29So they ate and were well filled,
He gave them what they craved.
30Before they had satisfied their desire,
And while their food was in their mouths,
31The wrath of God rose against them
And killed some of the strongest of them,
And subdued the choice young men of Israel.
32In spite of all this they still sinned,
For they did not believe in His wonderful and extraordinary works.
33Therefore He consumed their days like a breath [in emptiness and futility]
And their years in sudden terror.
34When He killed [some of] them, then those remaining sought Him,
And they returned [to Him] and searched diligently for God [for a time].
35And they remembered that God was their rock,
And the Most High God their Redeemer.
36Nevertheless they flattered Him with their mouths
And lied to Him with their tongues.
37For their heart was not steadfast toward Him,
Nor were they faithful to His covenant.
38 # The ancient Sopherim, the Jewish scholars whose responsibility it was to do counts of all the letters, words, and verses of the OT, said that this verse marks the halfway point in Psalms. But He, the source of compassion and lovingkindness, forgave their wickedness and did not destroy them;
Many times He restrained His anger
And did not stir up all His wrath.
39For He [graciously] remembered that they were mere [human] flesh,
A wind that goes and does not return.
40How often they rebelled against Him in the wilderness
And grieved Him in the desert!
41Again and again they tempted God,
And distressed the Holy One of Israel.
42They did not remember [the miracles worked by] His [powerful] hand,
Nor the day when He redeemed them from the enemy,
43How He worked His miracles in Egypt
And His wonders in the field of Zoan [where Pharaoh resided],
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 also gave their crops to the grasshopper,
And the fruit of their labor to the locust.
47He destroyed their vines with [great] hailstones
And their sycamore trees with frost.
48He gave over their cattle also to the hailstones,
And their flocks and herds to thunderbolts.
49He sent upon them His burning anger,
His fury and indignation and distress,
A band of angels of destruction [among them].
50He leveled a path for His anger [to give it free run];
He did not spare their souls from death,
But turned over their lives to the plague.
51He killed all the firstborn in Egypt,
The first and best of their strength in the tents [of the land of the sons] of Ham.
52But God led His own people forward like sheep
And guided them in the wilderness like [a good shepherd with] a flock.
53He led them safely, so that they did not fear;
But the sea engulfed their enemies.
54So He brought them to His holy land,
To this mountain [Zion] which His right hand had acquired.
55He also drove out the nations before the sons of Israel
And allotted their land as an inheritance, measured out and partitioned;
And He had the tribes of Israel dwell in their tents [the tents of those who had been dispossessed].
56Yet they tempted and rebelled against the Most High God
And did not keep His testimonies (laws).
57They turned back and acted unfaithfully like their fathers;
They were twisted like a warped bow [that will not respond to the archer’s aim].
58For they provoked Him to [righteous] anger with their high places [devoted to idol worship]
And moved Him to jealousy with their carved images [by denying Him the love, worship, and obedience that is rightfully and uniquely His].
59When God heard this, He was filled with [righteous] wrath;
And utterly rejected Israel, [greatly hating her ways],
60So that He abandoned the tabernacle at Shiloh,
The tent in which He had dwelled among men,
61And gave up His strength and power (the ark of the covenant) into captivity,
And His glory into the hand of the enemy (the Philistines).
62He also handed His people over to the sword,
And was infuriated with His inheritance (Israel).
63The fire [of war] devoured His young men,
And His [bereaved] virgins had no wedding songs.
64His priests [Hophni and Phinehas] fell by the sword,
And His widows could not weep.
65Then the Lord awakened as from sleep,
Like a [mighty] warrior who awakens from the sleep of wine [fully conscious of his power].
66He drove His enemies backward;
He subjected them to lasting shame and dishonor.
67Moreover, He rejected the tent of Joseph,
And did not choose the tribe of Ephraim [in which the tabernacle stood].
68But He chose the tribe of Judah [as Israel’s leader],
Mount Zion, which He loved [to replace Shiloh as His capital].
69And He built His sanctuary [exalted] like the heights [of the heavens],
Like the earth which He has established forever.
70He also chose David His servant
And took him from the sheepfolds;
71 # The first impression one might receive from this passage is that God elevated David from the lowliest position in Israel to the highest. But the ancient rabbis said that God tested David’s skills and wisdom as a shepherd. For example, it is said that David held back the bigger sheep from the pasture and brought out the smaller ones first to graze on the tender grass. The rabbis represented God as saying, “He who knows how to shepherd the sheep, each one in proportion to its strength, shall come and shepherd My people.” From #Lit following.tending the ewes with nursing young He brought him
To shepherd Jacob His people,
And Israel His inheritance.
72So David shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart;
And guided them with his skillful hands.
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