Psalms 78:63-72 ▼

63 Fire consumed his chosen young men, and his young women had no wedding songs.

64 His priests fell by the sword, and the widows could not lament.

65 The Lord awoke as if from sleep, like a warrior from the effects of wine.

66 He beat back his foes; he gave them lasting disgrace.

67 He rejected the tent of Joseph and did not choose the tribe of Ephraim.

68 He chose instead the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loved.

69 He built his sanctuary like the heights, like the earth that he established forever.

70 He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens;

71 he brought him from tending ewes to be shepherd over his people Jacob — over Israel, his inheritance.

72 He shepherded them with a pure heart and guided them with his skillful hands.