Psalms 78:1-13 ▼

1 Listen, my people, to my instruction. Hear the words of my mouth.

2 I will tell a parable, speaking riddles from long ago—

3 things that we have heard and known and that our ancestors related to us.

4 We will not withhold them from their descendants; we'll declare to the next generation the praises of the LORD— his might and awesome deeds that he has performed.

5 He established a decree in Jacob, and established the Law in Israel, that he commanded our ancestors to reveal to their children

6 in order that the next generation— children yet to be born— will know them and in turn teach them to their children.

7 Then they will put their trust in God and they will not forget his awesome deeds. Instead, they will keep his commandments.

8 They will not be like the rebellious generation of their ancestors, a rebellious generation, whose heart was not steadfast, and whose spirits were unfaithful to God.

9 The descendants of Ephraim were sharp shooters with the bow, but they retreated in the day of battle.

10 They did not keep God's covenant, and refused to live by his Law.

11 They have forgotten what he has done, his awesome deeds that they witnessed.

12 He performed marvelous things in the presence of their ancestors in the land of Egypt— in the fields of Zoan.

13 He divided the sea so that they were able to cross; he caused the water to stand in a single location.