1O my people, hear to my law; listen to the words of my mouth. 2I will speak in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, 3Which we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. 4We will not hide them from their children, telling the next generation of the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, and His strength, and His wonderful works that He has done. 5For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, to teach them to their children: 6That the generation to come, the children who should be born, might know them; who in turn shall arise and teach them to their children; 7That they might trust and set their hope in God, and not forget the miracles of God, and keep His commandments: 8And not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that did not set their heart to be faithful and steadfast with God. 9The children of Ephraim, though being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle. 10They did not keep the covenant of God, but refused to walk in His law; 11And forgot His works, and His wonders that He had shown them.

12He did marvelous miracles in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, on the plain of Zoan. 13He divided the sea, and led them through it; and He made the waters to stand up as walls. 14He also led them in the daytime with a cloud, and at night with a light of fire. 15He split the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them abundant water to drink. 16He also brought streams out of the rock, and caused water to run down like rivers.

17And yet they sinned more against Him by provoking the Most High in the wilderness. 18And they tested God in their heart by asking food that they craved. 19Yea, they spoke against God and said, “Can God spread a table in the wilderness? 20True, He struck the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed. But can He also give us food? Can He provide meat for His people?” 21And when the LORD heard this, He was angry; and a fire of anger was kindled against Jacob, and also against Israel, 22Because they distrusted God, and His salvation, 23Though He had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, 24And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the bread of heaven. 25Mankind ate angel’s food; He gave them food to the full. 26He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven; and by His power He brought in the south wind. 27He also rained flesh upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like the sand of the sea; 28And He caused these to fall in their camp, and all around their tents. 29So they ate, and were well filled; because He gave them their own desire. 30They were not deprived of their desire. But while their food was yet in their mouths, 31The wrath of God came upon them, and struck down the strongest of them, the choice men of Israel.

32And for all this they still sinned, and disregarded His wondrous works. 33Therefore He let them spend their days in vanity, and their years in trouble. Therefore, He caused their days to be spent in vanity, and their years in trouble. 34When He slew some of them, then they sought Him; and they returned and diligently inquired after God. 35And they remembered that God was their Rock, and the Most High God was their Redeemer. 36But they flattered and lied to Him with their tongues. 37For their heart was not right with Him, nor were they faithful to His covenant. 38But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and did not destroy them; yea, many a time He turned His anger away, and did not unleash all His wrath. 39For He remembered that they were but flesh; a breath that passes away, and does not return.

40How often did they rebel and provoke Him in the wilderness, and grieve Him in the desert! 41Yea, again and again they tested God, and grieved the Holy One of Israel. 42They did not remember His power, nor the day when He rescued them from their enemy; 43How He had performed His miracles in Egypt, and His wonders in the plain of Zoan, 44And had turned the rivers; and streams of Egypt into blood, that they could not drink. 45He sent swarms sorts of flies among them, which fed on them; and frogs, which devastated them. 46He gave also their crops to the caterpillar, and their labor unto the locust. 47He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycamore-fig trees with frost. 48He also gave over their cattle to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts. 49He unleashed the fierceness of His anger and indignation upon them, and affliction, by sending angels of destruction among them. 50He cleared a path for His anger; He did not spare their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence; 51And struck down all the first-born in Egypt; the first and best of their strength in the tents of Ham; 52But led His Own people like sheep, guiding them in the wilderness like a flock. 53And He led them safely, so that they did not fear; while the sea overwhelmed their enemies. 54And He brought them to the border of His holy land, even to this mountain, which His right hand had purchased. 55By driving out the nations before them, and divided to them an inheritance by their tribes; and allowed those of Israel to dwell in their tents.

56And still they tempted and provoked the Most High God, and did not obey His laws and statutes, 57But, like their fathers, they turned aside, and dealt deceitfully. 58For they provoked Him to anger with their high places (pagan shrines), and their carved images that moved Him to jealousy. 59When God saw this, He was angry, and greatly despised Israel; 60So that He forsook His dwelling place of Shiloh, the tabernacle which He had placed among men, 61And allowed His Ark, and His glory to be captured by the enemy. 62He was angry with His inheritance so He turned His people over to the sword. 63The fire (of war) consumed their young men; and their young women were not given in marriage. 64Their priests also fell by the sword, and their widows could not weep.

65Then the LORD aroused as from sleep, and like a mighty man who shouts from the effects of wine. 66And He drove back His enemies; He put them perpetual humiliation. 67However, He rejected the tent of Joseph, as well as the tribe of Ephraim, 68But instead He chose the tribe of Judah (to lead Israel), and Mount Zion, which He loved. 69And He built His sanctuary as high as the heavens, like the earth which He has established forever. 70He chose David His servant, and took him from the sheepfolds; 71From tending the nursing ewes great with young, He brought him to shepherd Jacob, His people, and Israel, His inheritance. 72So he (David) cared for them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.

A Psalm of Asaph, upon the destruction of the city and temple.