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
An Instruction of Asaph.
1Give ear, O my people, to my law, Incline your ear to sayings of my mouth.
2I open with a simile my mouth, I bring forth hidden things of old,
3That we have heard and do know, And our fathers have recounted to us.
4We do not hide from their sons, To a later generation recounting praises of Jehovah, And His strength, and His wonders that He hath done.
5And He raiseth up a testimony in Jacob, And a law hath placed in Israel, That He commanded our fathers, To make them known to their sons.
6So that a later generation doth know, Sons who are born, do rise and recount to their sons,
7And place in God their confidence, And forget not the doings of God, But keep His commands.
8And they are not like their fathers, A generation apostate and rebellious, A generation! it hath not prepared its heart, Nor stedfast with God [is] its spirit.
9Sons of Ephraim — armed bearers of bow, Have turned in a day of conflict.
10They have not kept the covenant of God, And in His law they have refused to walk,
11And they forget His doings, And His wonders that He shewed them.
12Before their fathers He hath done wonders, In the land of Egypt — the field of Zoan.
13He cleft a sea, and causeth them to pass over, Yea, He causeth waters to stand as a heap.
14And leadeth them with a cloud by day, And all the night with a light of fire.
15He cleaveth rocks in a wilderness, And giveth drink — as the great deep.
16And bringeth out streams from a rock, And causeth waters to come down as rivers.
17And they add still to sin against Him, To provoke the Most High in the dry place.
18And they try God in their heart, To ask food for their lust.
19And they speak against God — they said: ‘Is God able to array a table in a wilderness?’
20Lo, He hath smitten a rock, And waters flow, yea, streams overflow. ‘Also — bread [is] He able to give? Doth He prepare flesh for His people?’
21Therefore hath Jehovah heard, And He sheweth Himself wroth, And fire hath been kindled against Jacob, And anger also hath gone up against Israel,
22For they have not believed in God, Nor have they trusted in His salvation.
23And He commandeth clouds from above, Yea, doors of the heavens He hath opened.
24And He raineth on them manna to eat, Yea, corn of heaven He hath given to them.
25Food of the mighty hath each eaten, Venison He sent to them to satiety.
26He causeth an east wind to journey in the heavens, And leadeth by His strength a south wind,
27And He raineth on them flesh as dust, And as sand of the seas — winged fowl,
28And causeth [it] to fall in the midst of His camp, Round about His tabernacles.
29And they eat, and are greatly satisfied, And their desire He bringeth to them.
30They have not been estranged from their desire, Yet [is] their food in their mouth,
31And the anger of God hath gone up against them, And He slayeth among their fat ones, And youths of Israel He caused to bend.
32With all this they have sinned again, And have not believed in His wonders.
33And He consumeth in vanity their days, And their years in trouble.
34If He slew them, then they sought Him, And turned back, and sought God earnestly,
35And they remember that God [is] their rock, And God Most High their redeemer.
36And — they deceive Him with their mouth, And with their tongue do lie to Him,
37And their heart hath not been right with Him, And they have not been stedfast in His covenant.
38And He — the Merciful One, Pardoneth iniquity, and destroyeth not, And hath often turned back His anger, And waketh not up all His fury.
39And He remembereth that they [are] flesh, A wind going on — and it returneth not.
40How often do they provoke Him in the wilderness, Grieve Him in the desolate place?
41Yea, they turn back, and try God, And the Holy One of Israel have limited.
42They have not remembered His hand The day He ransomed them from the adversary.
43When He set His signs in Egypt, And His wonders in the field of Zoan,
44And He turneth to blood their streams, And their floods they drink not.
45He sendeth among them the beetle, and it consumeth them, And the frog, and it destroyeth them,
46And giveth to the caterpillar their increase, And their labour to the locust.
47He destroyeth with hail their vine, And their sycamores with frost,
48And delivereth up to the hail their beasts, And their cattle to the burning flames.
49He sendeth on them the fury of His anger, Wrath, and indignation, and distress — A discharge of evil messengers.
50He pondereth a path for His anger, He kept not back their soul from death, Yea, their life to the pestilence He delivered up.
51And He smiteth every first-born in Egypt, The first-fruit of the strong in tents of Ham.
52And causeth His people to journey as a flock, And guideth them as a drove in a wilderness,
53And He leadeth them confidently, And they have not been afraid, And their enemies hath the sea covered.
54And He bringeth them in unto the border of His sanctuary, This mountain His right hand had got,
55And casteth out nations from before them, And causeth them to fall in the line of inheritance, And causeth the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents,
56And they tempt and provoke God Most High, And His testimonies have not kept.
57And they turn back, And deal treacherously like their fathers, They have been turned like a deceitful bow,
58And make Him angry with their high places, And with their graven images make Him zealous,
59God hath heard, and sheweth Himself wroth. And kicketh exceedingly against Israel.
60And He leaveth the tabernacle of Shiloh, The tent He had placed among men,
61And He giveth His strength to captivity, And His beauty into the hand of an adversary,
62And delivereth up to the sword His people, And with His inheritance shewed Himself angry.
63His young men hath fire consumed, And His virgins have not been praised.
64His priests by the sword have fallen, And their widows weep not.
65And the Lord waketh as a sleeper, As a mighty one crying aloud from wine.
66And He smiteth His adversaries backward, A reproach age-during He hath put on them,
67And He kicketh against the tent of Joseph, And on the tribe of Ephraim hath not fixed.
68And He chooseth the tribe of Judah, With mount Zion that He loved,
69And buildeth His sanctuary as a high place, Like the earth, He founded it to the age.
70And He fixeth on David His servant, And taketh him from the folds of a flock,
71From behind suckling ones He hath brought him in, To rule over Jacob His people, And over Israel His inheritance.
72And he ruleth them according to the integrity of his heart, And by the skilfulness of his hands leadeth them!
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