|
Psalm 78. Attendite, popule.
HEAR my law, O my people; * incline your ears unto the words
of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth in a parable; * I will declare hard sentences
of old;
3 Which we have heard and known, * and such as our fathers have
told us;
4 That we should not hide them from the children of the generations
to come; * but to show the honour of the LORD, his mighty and
wonderful works that he hath done.
5 He made a covenant with Jacob, and gave Israel a law, * which
he commanded our forefathers to teach their children;
6 That their posterity might know it, * and the children which
were yet unborn;
7 To the intent that when they came up, * they might show their
children the same;
8 That they might put their trust in God; * and not to forget
the works of God, but to keep his commandments;
9 And not to be as their forefathers, a faithless and stubborn
generation; * a generation that set not their heart aright, and
whose spirit clave not stedfastly unto God;
10 Like as the children of Ephraim; * who being harnessed, and
carrying bows, turned themselves back in the day of battle.
11 They kept not the covenant of God, * and would not walk in
his law;
12 But forgat what he had done, * and the wonderful works that
he had showed for them.
13 Marvellous things did he in the sight of our forefathers,
in the land of Egypt, * even in the field of Zoan.
14 He divided the sea, and let them go through; * he made the
waters to stand on an heap.
15 In the day-time also he led them with a cloud, * and all the
night through with a light of fire.
16 He clave the hard rocks in the wilderness, * and gave them
drink thereof, as it had been out of the great depth.
17 He brought waters out of the stony rock, * so that it gushed
out like the rivers.
18 Yet for all this they sinned more against him, * and provoked
the Most Highest in the wilderness.
19 They tempted God in their hearts, * and required meat for
their lust.
20 They spake against God also, saying, * Shall God prepare a
table in the wilderness?
21 He smote the stony rock indeed, that the water gushed out,
and the streams flowed withal; * but can he give bread also,
or provide flesh for his people?
22 When the LORD heard this, he was wroth; * so the fire was
kindled in Jacob, and there came up heavy displeasure against
Israel;
23 Because they believed not in God, * and put not their trust
in his help.
24 So he commanded the clouds above, * and opened the doors of
heaven.
25 He rained down manna also upon them for to eat, * and gave
them food from heaven.
26 So man did eat angels' food; * for he sent them meat enough.
27 He caused the east-wind to blow under heaven; * and through
his power he brought in the southwest-wind.
28 He rained flesh upon them as thick as dust, * and feathered
fowls like as the sand of the sea.
29 He let it fall among their tents, * even round about their
habitation.
30 So they did eat, and were well filled; for he gave them their
own desire: * they were not disappointed of their lust.
31 But while the meat was yet in their mouths, the heavy wrath
of God came upon them, and slew the wealthiest of them; * yea,
and smote down the chosen men that were in Israel.
32 But for all this they sinned yet more, * and believed not
his wondrous works.
33 Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, * and their
years in trouble.
34 When he slew them, they sought him, * and turned them early,
and inquired after God.
35 And they remembered that God was their strength, * and that
the High God was their redeemer.
36 Nevertheless, they did but flatter him with their mouth, *
and dissembled with him in their tongue.
37 For their heart was not whole with him, * neither continued
they stedfast in his covenant.
38 But he was so merciful, that he forgave their misdeeds, *
and destroyed them not.
39 Yea, many a time turned he his wrath away, * and would not
suffer his whole displeasure to arise.
40 For he considered that they were but flesh, * and that they
were even a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.
41 Many a time did they provoke him in the wilderness, * and
grieved him in the desert.
42 They turned back, and tempted God, * and provoked the Holy
One in Israel.
43 They thought not of his hand, * and of the day when he delivered
them from the hand of the enemy;
44 How he had wrought his miracles in Egypt, * and his wonders
in the field of Zoan.
45 He turned their waters into blood, * so that they might not
drink of the rivers.
46 He sent flies among them, and devoured them up; * and frogs
to destroy them.
47 He gave their fruit unto the caterpillar, * and their labour
unto the grasshopper.
48 He destroyed their vines with hailstones, * and their mulberry-trees
with the frost.
49 He smote their cattle also with hailstones, * and their flocks
with hot thunderbolts.
50 He cast upon them the furiousness of his wrath, anger, displeasure,
and trouble: * and sent evil angels among them.
51 He made a way to his indignation, and spared not their soul
from death; * but gave their life over to the pestilence;
52 And smote all the firstborn in Egypt, * the most principal
and mightiest in the dwellings of Ham.
53 But as for his own people, he led them forth like sheep, *
and carried them in the wilderness like a flock.
54 He brought them out safely, that they should not fear, * and
overwhelmed their enemies with the sea.
55 And brought them within the borders of his sanctuary, * even
to this mountain, which he purchased with his right hand.
56 He cast out the heathen also before them, * caused their land
to be divided among them for an heritage, and made the tribes
of Israel to dwell in their tents.
57 Yet they tempted and displeased the Most High God, * and kept
not his testimonies.
58 They turned their backs, and fell away like their forefathers;
* starting aside like a broken bow.
59 For they grieved him with their hill-altars, * and provoked
him to displeasure with their images.
60 When God heard this, he was wroth, * and took sore displeasure
at Israel;
61 So that he forsook the tabernacle in Shiloh, * even the tent
that he had pitched among men.
62 He delivered their power into captivity, * and their beauty
into the enemy's hand
63 He gave his people over also unto the sword, * and was wroth
with his inheritance.
64 The fire consumed their young men, * and their maidens were
not given in marriage.
65 Their priests were slain with the sword, * and there were
no widows to make lamentation.
66 So the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, * and like a giant
refreshed with wine.
67 He drave his enemies backward, * and put them to a perpetual
shame.
68 He refused the tabernacle of Joseph, * and chose not the tribe
of Ephraim;
69 But chose the tribe of Judah, * even the hill of Sion which
he loved.
70 And there he built his temple on high, * and laid the foundation
of it like the ground which he hath made continually.
71 He chose David also his servant, * and took him away from
the sheep-folds:
72 As he was following the ewes with their young he took him,
* that he might feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.
73 So he fed them with a faithful and true heart, * and ruled
them prudently with all his power.
|