Psalm 78
A contemplation by Asaph.
Turn your ears to the words of my mouth.
I will utter dark sayings of old,
and our fathers have told us.
telling to the generation to come the praises of Yahweh,
his strength, and his wondrous deeds that he has done.
and appointed a teaching in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers,
that they should make them known to their children;
who should arise and tell their children,
and not forget God’s deeds,
but keep his commandments,
a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation that didn’t make their hearts loyal,
whose spirit was not steadfast with God.
turned back in the day of battle.
and refused to walk in his law.
his wondrous deeds that he had shown them.
in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
He made the waters stand as a heap.
and all night with a light of fire.
and gave them drink abundantly as out of the depths.
and caused waters to run down like rivers.
to rebel against the Most High in the desert.
by asking food according to their desire.
They said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?
and streams overflowed.
Can he give bread also?
Will he provide meat for his people?”
A fire was kindled against Jacob,
anger also went up against Israel,
and didn’t trust in his salvation.
and opened the doors of heaven.
and gave them food from the sky.
He sent them food to the full.
By his power he guided the south wind.
winged birds as the sand of the seas.
around their habitations.
He gave them their own desire.
Their food was yet in their mouths,
killed some of their fattest,
and struck down the young men of Israel.
and didn’t believe in his wondrous works.
and their years in terror.
They returned and sought God earnestly.
the Most High God, their redeemer.
and lied to him with their tongue.
neither were they faithful in his covenant.
Yes, many times he turned his anger away,
and didn’t stir up all his wrath.
a wind that passes away, and doesn’t come again.
and grieved him in the desert!
and provoked the Holy One of Israel.
nor the day when he redeemed them from the adversary;
his wonders in the field of Zoan,
and their streams, so that they could not drink.
and frogs, which destroyed them.
and their labor to the locust.
their sycamore fig trees with frost.
and their flocks to hot thunderbolts.
wrath, indignation, and trouble,
and a band of angels of evil.
He didn’t spare their soul from death,
but gave their life over to the pestilence,
the chief of their strength in the tents of Ham.
and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
to this mountain, which his right hand had taken.
allotted them for an inheritance by line,
and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
and didn’t keep his testimonies,
They were twisted like a deceitful bow.
and moved him to jealousy with their engraved images.
and greatly abhorred Israel,
the tent which he placed among men,
his glory into the adversary’s hand.
and was angry with his inheritance.
Their virgins had no wedding song.
and their widows couldn’t weep.
like a mighty man who shouts by reason of wine.
He put them to a perpetual reproach.
and didn’t choose the tribe of Ephraim,
Mount Zion which he loved.
like the earth which he has established forever.
and took him from the sheepfolds;
he brought him to be the shepherd of Jacob, his people,
and Israel, his inheritance.
and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.