78 Give
ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. 2 I
will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: 3 Which
we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. 4 We
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. 5 For
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: 6 That
the generation to come might know them, even the children which should
be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: 7 That
they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but
keep his commandments: 8 And
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. 9 The
children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the
day of battle. 10 They
kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law; 11 And
forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them. 12 Marvellous
things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in
the field of Zoan. 13 He
divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters
to stand as an heap. 14 In
the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light
of fire. 15 He
clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great
depths. 16 He
brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like
rivers. 17 And
they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness. 18 And
they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust. 19 Yea,
they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? 20 Behold,
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? 21 Therefore
the LORD heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob,
and anger also came up against Israel; 22 Because
they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation: 23 Though
he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, 24 And
had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn
of heaven. 25 Man
did eat angels' food: he sent them meat to the full. 26 He
caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought
in the south wind. 27 He
rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand
of the sea: 28 And
he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations. 29 So
they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire; 30 They
were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their
mouths, 31 The
wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down
the chosen men of Israel. 32 For
all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works. 33 Therefore
their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble. 34 When
he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early
after God. 35 And
they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.
36
Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him
with their tongues. 37 For
their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant. 38 But
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. 39 For
he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh
not again. 40 How
oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert! 41 Yea,
they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. 42 They
remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy. 43 How
he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan. 44 And
had turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, that they could not
drink. 45 He
sent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which
destroyed them. 46 He
gave also their increase unto the caterpiller, and their labour unto the
locust. 47 He
destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycomore trees with frost. 48 He
gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts. 49 He
cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and
trouble, by sending evil angels among them. 50 He
made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their
life over to the pestilence; 51 And
smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles
of Ham: 52 But
made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness
like a flock. 53 And
he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed
their enemies. 54 And
he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which
his right hand had purchased. 55 He
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. 56 Yet
they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies: 57 But
turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned
aside like a deceitful bow. 58 For
they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy
with their graven images. 59 When
God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel: 60 So
that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among
men; 61 And
delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's hand. 62 He
gave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance. 63 The
fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage. 64 Their
priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation. 65 Then
the LORD awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth
by reason of wine. 66 And
he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach. 67 Moreover
he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim: 68 But
chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved. 69 And
he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established
for ever. 70 He
chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: 71 From
following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people,
and Israel his inheritance. 72 So
he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by
the skilfulness of his hands.