Psalms 78:1-39 ▼

1 GIVE ear, O my people, to my law; incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

2 I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter proverbs of old.

3 That which we have heard and known, and which our fathers have told us,

4 We will not hide from their children, showing to the generation to come the praise of the LORD and his strength and the wonderful works that he has done.

5 For he established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers that they should make 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 steadfast with God.

9 The children of Ephraim, being armed and throwing forth bows, turned back in the day of battle.

10 For they kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law;

11 And forgot his works and his wonders that he had shown them in the sight of their fathers.

12 Marvellous things did he in the land of Egypt and in the fields of Zoan.

13 He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as in skins.

14 In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.

15 He cleaved the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of great depths.

16 He brought forth streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.

17 But the people continued to sin, and to murmur against the most High in their thirst for water.

18 And they tempted God in their hearts by asking food to satisfy their desires.

19 Yea, they complained against God; they said, Can God furnish tables of food 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 food for his people?

21 Therefore the LORD heard this and was angered; 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 for them to eat and had given them of the bread of heaven.

25 Man did eat angels' food; he sent them game in abundance.

26 He caused winds to blow in the skies; and by his power he brought in the south wind.

27 He rained flesh also upon them like dust, and feathered fowls like the sands of the sea:

28 And he let these fall in the midst of their camp, round about their tents.

29 So they did eat and were well filled; for he gave them their own desire.

30 They relinquished not their craving. But while their food was yet in their mouths,

31 The anger of God came upon them and slew the richest of them, and made to bow the chosen men of Israel.

32 Nevertheless they sinned still, and believed not in his wondrous works.

33 Wherefore their days were spent in emptiness, and their years in impatience.

34 When he slew them, then they sought him; and they returned and drew nearer to him.

35 And they remembered that God was their helper, and the high God their Saviour.

36 Nevertheless they loved him with their mouths, and they lied to him with their tongues.

37 For their hearts were not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant.

38 He is merciful, the forgiver of sins, and destroys 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 passes away and comes not again.