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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maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society
Psalms 78
78
Lessons from Israel’s Past
A Maskil of Asaph. # 1Ch 16:5,7
1My people, hear my instruction;
listen to what I say. # Pr 5:7; 7:24; Is 55:3
2I will declare wise sayings;
I will speak mysteries from the past # Ps 49:4; Pr 1:6; Mt 13:35 —
3things we have heard and known
and that our fathers have passed down to us. # Ps 44:1
4We must not hide them from their children,
but must tell a future generation
the praises of the Lord,
His might, and the wonderful works
He has performed. # Dt 6:7; 11:19; Ps 145:4
5He established a testimony in Jacob
and set up a law in Israel,
which He commanded our fathers
to teach to their children # Ps 19:7; 81:5; 147:19
6so that a future generation —
children yet to be born — might know.
They were to rise and tell their children # Dt 11:19; Ps 22:31; 102:18
7so that they might put their confidence in God
and not forget God’s works,
but keep His commands. # Dt 6:12; Ps 103:2; Pr 3:1
8Then they would not be like their fathers,
a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation whose heart was not loyal
and whose spirit was not faithful to God. # Dt 31:27; 2Kg 17:14; 2Ch 30:7
9The Ephraimite archers turned back
on the day of battle. # Ps 44:10
10They did not keep God’s covenant
and refused to live by His law. # 1Kg 11:11; 2Kg 17:15; Jr 32:23
11They forgot what He had done,
the wonderful works He had shown them. # Ps 106:13
12He worked wonders in the sight of their fathers
in the land of Egypt, the region of Zoan. # Ex 7–12; Ps 78:43
13He split the sea and brought them across;
the water stood firm like a wall. # Ex 14:21; 15:8; Ps 136:13
14He led them with a cloud by day
and with a fiery light throughout the night. # Ex 13:21; Nm 14:14; Ps 105:39
15He split rocks in the wilderness
and gave them drink as abundant as the depths. # Ex 17:6; Nm 20:8-13; Is 48:21
16He brought streams out of the stone
and made water flow down like rivers. # Ps 105:41; 114:8
17But they continued to sin against Him,
rebelling in the desert against the Most High. # Dt 9:22; Is 63:10; Heb 3:16
18They deliberately # Lit in their heart tested God,
demanding the food they craved. # Ex 17:2,7; Ps 106:14; 1Co 10:5-10
19They spoke against God, saying,
“Is God able to provide food in the wilderness?
20Look! He struck the rock and water gushed out;
torrents overflowed. # Nm 20:11
But can He also provide bread
or furnish meat for His people? ” # Ex 16:3; Nm 11:4; 21:5
21Therefore, the Lord heard and became furious;
then fire broke out against Jacob,
and anger flared up against Israel # Nm 11:1
22because they did not believe God
or rely on His salvation. # Dt 1:23; 9:23; Heb 3:18
23He gave a command to the clouds above
and opened the doors of heaven. # Gn 7:11; Mal 3:10
24He rained manna for them to eat;
He gave them grain from heaven. # Ex 16:4,31; Jn 6:31
25People # Lit Man ate the bread of angels. # Lit mighty ones
He sent them an abundant supply of food. # Ex 16:3
26He made the east wind blow in the skies
and drove the south wind by His might. # Nm 11:31
27He rained meat on them like dust,
and winged birds like the sand of the seas.
28He made them fall in His camp,
all around His tent. # LXX, Syr read in their camp, all around their tents # Or in its camp, all around its tents # Ex 16:13; Ps 105:40
29They ate and were completely satisfied,
for He gave them what they craved. # Nm 11:4,34
30Before they had satisfied their desire,
while the food was still in their mouths,
31God’s anger flared up against them,
and He killed some of their best men.
He struck down Israel’s choice young men. # Nm 11:33-34; Jb 20:23
32Despite all this, they kept sinning
and did not believe His wonderful works. # Nm 14:16-17
33He made their days end in futility,
their years in sudden disaster. # Nm 14:29,35
34When He killed some of them,
the rest began to seek Him;
they repented and searched for God. # Nm 21:7; Ps 63:1; Hs 5:15
35They remembered that God was their rock,
the Most High God, their Redeemer. # Is 44:6,8
36But they deceived Him with their mouths,
they lied to Him with their tongues, # Is 29:13; 57:11; Ezk 33:31
37their hearts were insincere toward Him,
and they were unfaithful to His covenant. # Ps 51:10; 78:8; Ac 8:21
38Yet He was compassionate;
He atoned for # Or He wiped out, or He forgave their guilt
and did not destroy them.
He often turned His anger aside
and did not unleash # Or stir up all His wrath. # Nm 14:18-20; Dt 4:31; Is 12:1
39He remembered that they were only flesh,
a wind that passes and does not return. # Dt 31:27; Ps 107:11
40How often they rebelled against Him
in the wilderness
and grieved Him in the desert.
41They constantly tested God # Ps 95:8-9
and provoked the Holy One of Israel. # Dt 9:7-8,22; Ps 106:29; Zch 8:14
42They did not remember His power shown
on the day He redeemed them from the foe, # Jdg 8:34; Ps 44:3; 106:10
43when He performed His miraculous signs in Egypt
and His wonders in the region of Zoan. # Ex 4:21; 7:3; Ps 105:27
44He turned their rivers into blood,
and they could not drink from their streams. # Ex 7:14-25; Ps 105:29
45He sent among them swarms of flies, # Ex 8:17; Ps 105:31
which fed on them,
and frogs, which devastated them. # Ex 8:3-6; Ps 105:30
46He gave their crops to the caterpillar
and the fruit of their labor to the locust. # Ex 10:14-15; Ps 105:34
47He killed their vines with hail
and their sycamore fig trees with a flood.
48He handed over their livestock to hail
and their cattle to lightning bolts. # Ex 9:23-24; Ps 105:32
49He sent His burning anger against them:
fury, indignation, and calamity —
a band of deadly messengers. # Or angels # Ex 12:13,23; 2Sm 24:16
50He cleared a path for His anger.
He did not spare them from death
but delivered their lives to the plague. # Ex 12:29-30
51He struck all the firstborn # Ex 13:15; Ps 105:36 in Egypt,
the first progeny of the tents of Ham. # Ham’s descendants who settled in Egypt # Ps 105:23,27
52He led His people out like sheep
and guided them like a flock in the wilderness. # Ex 15:22; Ps 77:20
53He led them safely, and they were not afraid;
but the sea covered their enemies. # Ex 14; 15:19; Jos 24:7; Ps 106:11
54He brought them to His holy land,
to the mountain His right hand acquired. # Ex 15:17; Ps 74:2
55He drove out nations before them. # Jos 11:16-23; Ps 44:2
He apportioned their inheritance by lot
and settled the tribes of Israel in their tents. # Jos 13:7; 23:4; Ps 135:12
56But they rebelliously tested the Most High God,
for they did not keep His decrees. # Jdg 2:11-13
57They treacherously turned away like their fathers;
they became warped like a faulty bow. # Ezk 20:27-28; Hs 7:16
58They enraged Him with their high places
and provoked His jealousy with their carved images. # Jdg 2:12; 1Kg 3:2; Ezk 20:28
59God heard and became furious;
He completely rejected Israel. # Dt 32:19; Ps 106:40; Am 6:8
60He abandoned the tabernacle at Shiloh,
the tent where He resided among men. # Hb adam # Jr 7:12,14; 26:6
61He gave up His strength # = the ark of the covenant to captivity
and His splendor to the hand of a foe. # 1Sm 4:17
62He surrendered His people to the sword
because He was enraged with His heritage. # Jdg 20:21; 1Sm 4:10
63Fire consumed His chosen young men,
and His young women had no wedding songs. # Lit virgins were not praised # Jr 7:34; 16:9; Lm 2:21
64His priests fell by the sword,
but the # Lit His widows could not lament. # War probably prevented customary funerals. # Jb 27:15; Ezk 24:23
65Then the Lord awoke as if from sleep,
like a warrior from the effects of wine. # Ps 73:20; 121:4; Is 42:13
66He beat back His foes;
He gave them lasting shame. # 1Sm 5:6; Ps 40:14
67He rejected the tent of Joseph
and did not choose the tribe of Ephraim.
68He chose instead the tribe of Judah,
Mount Zion, which He loved. # Ps 87:2
69He built His sanctuary like the heights, # Either the heights of heaven or the mountain heights
like the earth that He established forever. # 1Kg 6
70He chose David His servant
and took him from the sheepfolds; # 1Sm 16:11-13
71He brought him from tending ewes
to be shepherd over His people Jacob —
over Israel, His inheritance. # Ps 28:9; Is 40:11
72He shepherded them with a pure heart
and guided them with his skillful hands. # 1Kg 9:4; Ps 101:2
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