Psalms 78

1Give ear, O my people, to my law: Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

1A psalm for Asaph. O God, the heathens are come into thy inheritance, they have defiled thy holy temple: they have made Jerusalem as a place to keep fruit.

1An Instruction of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law, Incline your ear to sayings of my mouth.

1 Give ear, O my people, to my law; let your ears be bent down to the words of my mouth.

2I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old,

2They have given the dead bodies of thy servants to be meat for the fowls of the air: the flesh of thy saints for the beasts of the earth.

2I open with a simile my mouth, I bring forth hidden things of old,

2Opening my mouth I will give out a story, even the dark sayings of old times;

3Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us.

3They have poured out their blood as water, round about Jerusalem and there was none to bury them.

3That we have heard and do know, And our fathers have recounted to us.

3Which have come to our hearing and our knowledge, as they were given to us by our fathers.

4We will not hide them from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises of Jehovah, And his strength, and his wondrous works that he hath done.

4We are become a reproach to our neighbours: a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.

4We do not hide from their sons, To a later generation recounting praises of Jehovah, And His strength, and His wonders that He hath done.

4We will not keep them secret from our children; we will make clear to the coming generation the praises of the Lord and his strength, and the great works of wonder which he has done.

5For he established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which he commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children;

5How long, O Lord, wilt thou be angry for ever: shall thy zeal be kindled like a fire?

5And He raiseth up a testimony in Jacob, And a law hath placed in Israel, That He commanded our fathers, To make them known to their sons.

5He put up a witness in Jacob, and made a law in Israel; which he gave to our fathers so that they might give knowledge of them to their children;

6That the generation to come might knowthem, even the children that should be born; Who should arise and tellthemto their children,

6Pour out thy wrath upon the nations that have not known thee: and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.

6So that a later generation doth know, Sons who are born, do rise and recount to their sons,

6So that the generation to come might have knowledge of them, even the children of the future, who would give word of them to their children;

7That they might set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep his commandments,

7Because they have devoured Jacob; and have laid waste his place.

7And place in God their confidence, And forget not the doings of God, But keep His commands.

7So that they might put their hope in God, and not let God's works go out of their minds, but keep his laws;

8And might not be as their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that set not their heart aright, And whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

8Remember not our former iniquities: let thy mercies speedily prevent us, for we are become exceeding poor.

8And they are not like their fathers, A generation apostate and rebellious, A generation! it hath not prepared its heart, Nor stedfast with God <FI>is<Fi> its spirit.

8And not be like their fathers, a stiff-necked and uncontrolled generation; a generation whose heart was hard, whose spirit was not true to God.

9The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, Turned back in the day of battle.

9Help us, O God, our saviour: and for the glory of thy name, O Lord, deliver us: and forgive us our sins for thy name's sake:

9Sons of Ephraim--armed bearers of bow, Have turned in a day of conflict.

9The children of Ephraim, armed with bows, were turned back on the day of the fight.

10They kept not the covenant of God, And refused to walk in his law;

10Lest they should say among the Gentiles: Where is their God? And let him be made known among the nations before our eyes, By the revenging the blood of thy servants, which hath been shed:

10They have not kept the covenant of God, And in His law they have refused to walk,

10They were not ruled by God's word, and they would not go in the way of his law;

11And they forgat his doings, And his wondrous works that he had showed them.

11Let the sighing of the prisoners come in before thee. According to the greatness of thy arm, take possession of the children of them that have been put to death.

11And they forget His doings, And His wonders that He shewed them.

11They let his works go out of their memory, and the wonders which he had made them see.

12Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, In the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.

12And render to our neighbours sevenfold in their bosom: the reproach wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.

12Before their fathers He hath done wonders, In the land of Egypt--the field of Zoan.

12He did great works before the eyes of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan.

13He clave the sea, and caused them to pass through; And he made the waters to stand as a heap.

13But we thy people, and the sheep of thy pasture, will give thanks to thee for ever. We will shew forth thy praise, unto generation and generation.

13He cleft a sea, and causeth them to pass over, Yea, He causeth waters to stand as a heap.

13The sea was cut in two so that they might go through; the waters were massed together on this side and on that.

14In the day-time also he led them with a cloud, And all the night with a light of fire.

14(not in this translation)

14And leadeth them with a cloud by day, And all the night with a light of fire.

14In the daytime he was guiding them in the cloud, and all through the night with a light of fire.

15He clave rocks in the wilderness, And gave them drink abundantly as out of the depths.

15(not in this translation)

15He cleaveth rocks in a wilderness, And giveth drink--as the great deep.

15The rocks of the waste land were broken by his power, and he gave them drink as out of the deep waters.

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

16(not in this translation)

16And bringeth out streams from a rock, And causeth waters to come down as rivers.

16He made streams come out of the rock; and waters came flowing down like rivers.

17Yet went they on still to sin against him, To rebel against the Most High in the desert.

17(not in this translation)

17And they add still to sin against Him, To provoke the Most High in the dry place.

17And they went on sinning against him even more, turning away from the Most High in the waste land;

18And they tempted God in their heart By asking food according to their desire.

18(not in this translation)

18And they try God in their heart, To ask food for their lust.

18Testing God in their hearts, requesting meat for their desire.

19Yea, they spake against God; They said, Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?

19(not in this translation)

19And they speak against God--they said: `Is God able to array a table in a wilderness?'

19They said bitter words against God, saying, Is God able to make ready a table in the waste land?

20Behold, he smote the rock, so that waters gushed out, And streams overflowed; Can he give bread also? Will he provide flesh for his people?

20(not in this translation)

20Lo, He hath smitten a rock, And waters flow, yea, streams overflow. `Also--bread <FI>is<Fi> He able to give? Doth He prepare flesh for His people?'

20See, the rock was cut open by his power, so that the water came rushing out, and overflowing streams; is he able to give us bread? is he able to get meat for his people?

21Therefore Jehovah heard, and was wroth; And a fire was kindled against Jacob, And anger also went up against Israel;

21(not in this translation)

21Therefore hath Jehovah heard, And He sheweth Himself wroth, And fire hath been kindled against Jacob, And anger also hath gone up against Israel,

21So these things came to the Lord's ears, and he was angry; and a fire was lighted against Jacob, and wrath came up against Israel;

22Because they believed not in God, And trusted not in his salvation.

22(not in this translation)

22For they have not believed in God, Nor have they trusted in His salvation.

22Because they had no faith in God, and no hope in his salvation.

23Yet he commanded the skies above, And opened the doors of heaven;

23(not in this translation)

23And He commandeth clouds from above, Yea, doors of the heavens He hath opened.

23And he gave orders to the clouds on high, and the doors of heaven were open;

24And he rained down manna upon them to eat, And gave them food from heaven.

24(not in this translation)

24And He raineth on them manna to eat, Yea, corn of heaven He hath given to them.

24And he sent down manna like rain for their food, and gave them the grain of heaven.

25Man did eat the bread of the mighty: He sent them food to the full.

25(not in this translation)

25Food of the mighty hath each eaten, Venison He sent to them to satiety.

25Man took part in the food of strong ones; he sent them meat in full measure.

26He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens; And by his power he guided the south wind.

26(not in this translation)

26He causeth an east wind to journey in the heavens, And leadeth by His strength a south wind,

26He sent an east wind from heaven, driving on the south wind by his power.

27He rained flesh also upon them as the dust, And winged birds as the sand of the seas:

27(not in this translation)

27And He raineth on them flesh as dust, And as sand of the seas--winged fowl,

27He sent down meat on them like dust, and feathered birds like the sand of the sea,

28And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, Round about their habitations.

28(not in this translation)

28And causeth <FI>it<Fi> to fall in the midst of His camp, Round about His tabernacles.

28And he let it come down into their resting-place, round about their tents.

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

29(not in this translation)

29And they eat, and are greatly satisfied, And their desire He bringeth to them.

29So they had food and were full; for he gave them their desire;

30They were not estranged from that which they desired, Their food was yet in their mouths,

30(not in this translation)

30They have not been estranged from their desire, Yet <FI>is<Fi> their food in their mouth,

30But they were not turned from their desires; and while the food was still in their mouths,

31When the anger of God went up against them, And slew of the fattest of them, And smote down the young men of Israel.

31(not in this translation)

31And the anger of God hath gone up against them, And He slayeth among their fat ones, And youths of Israel He caused to bend.

31The wrath of God came on them, and put to death the fattest of them, and put an end to the young men of Israel.

32For all this they sinned still, And believed not in his wondrous works.

32(not in this translation)

32With all this they have sinned again, And have not believed in His wonders.

32For all this they went on sinning even more, and had no faith in his great wonders.

33Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, And their years in terror.

33(not in this translation)

33And He consumeth in vanity their days, And their years in trouble.

33So their days were wasted like a breath, and their years in trouble.

34When he slew them, then they inquired after him; And they returned and sought God earnestly.

34(not in this translation)

34If He slew them, then they sought Him, And turned back, and sought God earnestly,

34When he sent death on them, then they made search for him; turning to him and looking for him with care;

35And they remembered that God was their rock, And the Most High God their redeemer.

35(not in this translation)

35And they remember that God <FI>is<Fi> their rock, And God Most High their redeemer.

35In the memory that God was their Rock, and the Most High God their saviour.

36But they flattered him with their mouth, And lied unto him with their tongue.

36(not in this translation)

36And--they deceive Him with their mouth, And with their tongue do lie to Him,

36But their lips were false to him, and their tongues were untrue to him;

37For their heart was not right with him, Neither were they faithful in his covenant.

37(not in this translation)

37And their heart hath not been right with Him, And they have not been stedfast in His covenant.

37And their hearts were not right with him, and they did not keep their agreement with him.

38But he, being merciful, forgave theiriniquity, and destroyedthemnot: Yea, many a time turned he his anger away, And did not stir up all his wrath.

38(not in this translation)

38And He--the Merciful One, Pardoneth iniquity, and destroyeth not, And hath often turned back His anger, And waketh not up all His fury.

38But he, being full of pity, has forgiveness for sin, and does not put an end to man: frequently turning back his wrath, and not being violently angry.

39And he remembered that they were but flesh, A wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.

39(not in this translation)

39And He remembereth that they <FI>are<Fi> flesh, A wind going on--and it returneth not.

39So he kept in mind that they were only flesh; a breath which is quickly gone, and will not come again.

40How oft did they rebel against him in the wilderness, And grieve him in the desert!

40(not in this translation)

40How often do they provoke Him in the wilderness, Grieve Him in the desolate place?

40How frequently did they go against him in the waste land, and give him cause for grief in the dry places!

41And they turned again and tempted God, And provoked the Holy One of Israel.

41(not in this translation)

41Yea, they turn back, and try God, And the Holy One of Israel have limited.

41Again they put God to the test, and gave pain to the Holy One of Israel.

42They remembered not his hand, Nor the day when he redeemed them from the adversary;

42(not in this translation)

42They have not remembered His hand The day He ransomed them from the adversary.

42They did not keep in mind the work of his hand, or the day when he took them from the power of their haters;

43How he set his signs in Egypt, And his wonders in the field of Zoan,

43(not in this translation)

43When He set His signs in Egypt, And His wonders in the field of Zoan,

43How he had done his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan;

44And turned their rivers into blood, And their streams, so that they could not drink.

44(not in this translation)

44And He turneth to blood their streams, And their floods they drink not.

44So that their rivers were turned to blood, and they were not able to get drink from their streams.

45He sent among them swarms of flies, which devoured them; And frogs, which destroyed them.

45(not in this translation)

45He sendeth among them the beetle, and it consumeth them, And the frog, and it destroyeth them,

45He sent different sorts of flies among them, poisoning their flesh; and frogs for their destruction.

46He gave also their increase unto the caterpillar, And their labor unto the locust.

46(not in this translation)

46And giveth to the caterpillar their increase, And their labour to the locust.

46He gave the increase of their fields to worms, the fruits of their industry to the locusts.

47He destroyed their vines with hail, And their sycomore-trees with frost.

47(not in this translation)

47He destroyeth with hail their vine, And their sycamores with frost,

47He sent ice for the destruction of their vines; their trees were damaged by the bitter cold.

48He gave over their cattle also to the hail, And their flocks to hot thunderbolts.

48(not in this translation)

48And delivereth up to the hail their beasts, And their cattle to the burning flames.

48Ice was rained down on their cattle; thunderstorms sent destruction among the flocks.

49He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, Wrath, and indignation, and trouble, A band of angels of evil.

49(not in this translation)

49He sendeth on them the fury of His anger, Wrath, and indignation, and distress--A discharge of evil messengers.

49He sent on them the heat of his wrath, his bitter disgust, letting loose evil angels among them.

50He made a path for his anger; He spared not their soul from death, But gave their life over to the pestilence,

50(not in this translation)

50He pondereth a path for His anger, He kept not back their soul from death, Yea, their life to the pestilence He delivered up.

50He let his wrath have its way; he did not keep back their soul from death, but gave their life to disease.

51And smote all the first-born in Egypt, The chief of their strength in the tents of Ham.

51(not in this translation)

51And He smiteth every first-born in Egypt, The first-fruit of the strong in tents of Ham.

51He gave to destruction all the first sons of Egypt; the first-fruits of their strength in the tents of Ham;

52But he led forth his own people like sheep, And guided them in the wilderness like a flock.

52(not in this translation)

52And causeth His people to journey as a flock, And guideth them as a drove in a wilderness,

52But he took his people out like sheep, guiding them in the waste land like a flock.

53And he led them safely, so that they feared not; But the sea overwhelmed their enemies.

53(not in this translation)

53And He leadeth them confidently, And they have not been afraid, And their enemies hath the sea covered.

53He took them on safely so that they had no fear; but their haters were covered by the sea.

54And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, To this mountain, which his right hand had gotten.

54(not in this translation)

54And He bringeth them in unto the border of His sanctuary, This mountain His right hand had got,

54And he was their guide to his holy land, even to the mountain, which his right hand had made his;

55He drove out the nations also before them, And allotted them for an inheritance by line, And made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.

55(not in this translation)

55And casteth out nations from before them, And causeth them to fall in the line of inheritance, And causeth the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents,

55Driving out nations before them, marking out the line of their heritage, and giving the people of Israel their tents for a resting-place.

56Yet they tempted and rebelled against the Most High God, And kept not his testimonies;

56(not in this translation)

56And they tempt and provoke God Most High, And His testimonies have not kept.

56But they were bitter against the Most High God, testing him, and not keeping his laws;

57But turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers: They were turned aside like a deceitful bow.

57(not in this translation)

57And they turn back, And deal treacherously like their fathers, They have been turned like a deceitful bow,

57Their hearts were turned back and untrue like their fathers; they were turned to one side like a twisted bow.

58For they provoked him to anger with their high places, And moved him to jealousy with their graven images.

58(not in this translation)

58And make Him angry with their high places, And with their graven images make Him zealous,

58They made him angry with their high places; moving him to wrath with their images.

59When God heardthis, he was wroth, And greatly abhorred Israel;

59(not in this translation)

59God hath heard, and sheweth Himself wroth. And kicketh exceedingly against Israel.

59When this came to God's ears he was very angry, and gave up Israel completely;

60So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, The tent which he placed among men;

60(not in this translation)

60And He leaveth the tabernacle of Shiloh, The tent He had placed among men,

60So that he went away from the holy place in Shiloh, the tent which he had put among men;

61And delivered his strength into captivity, And his glory into the adversary’s hand.

61(not in this translation)

61And He giveth His strength to captivity, And His beauty into the hand of an adversary,

61And he let his strength be taken prisoner, and gave his glory into the hands of his hater.

62He gave his people over also unto the sword, And was wroth with his inheritance.

62(not in this translation)

62And delivereth up to the sword His people, And with His inheritance shewed Himself angry.

62He gave his people up to the sword, and was angry with his heritage.

63Fire devoured their young men; And their virgins had no marriage-song.

63(not in this translation)

63His young men hath fire consumed, And His virgins have not been praised.

63Their young men were burned in the fire; and their virgins were not praised in the bride-song.

64Their priests fell by the sword; And their widows made no lamentation.

64(not in this translation)

64His priests by the sword have fallen, And their widows weep not.

64Their priests were put to death by the sword, and their widows made no weeping for them.

65Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, Like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.

65(not in this translation)

65And the Lord waketh as a sleeper, As a mighty one crying aloud from wine.

65Then was the Lord like one awaking from sleep, and like a strong man crying out because of wine.

66And he smote his adversaries backward: He put them to a perpetual reproach.

66(not in this translation)

66And He smiteth His adversaries backward, A reproach age-during He hath put on them,

66His haters were turned back by his blows and shamed for ever.

67Moreover he refused the tent of Joseph, And chose not the tribe of Ephraim,

67(not in this translation)

67And He kicketh against the tent of Joseph, And on the tribe of Ephraim hath not fixed.

67And he put the tent of Joseph on one side, and took not the tribe of Ephraim;

68But chose the tribe of Judah, The mount Zion which he loved.

68(not in this translation)

68And He chooseth the tribe of Judah, With mount Zion that He loved,

68But he took the tribe of Judah for himself, and the mountain of Zion, in which he had pleasure.

69And he built his sanctuary like the heights, Like the earth which he hath established for ever.

69(not in this translation)

69And buildeth His sanctuary as a high place, Like the earth, He founded it to the age.

69And he made his holy place like the high heaven, like the earth which is fixed by him for ever.

70He chose David also his servant, And took him from the sheepfolds:

70(not in this translation)

70And He fixeth on David His servant, And taketh him from the folds of a flock,

70He took David to be his servant, taking him from the place of the flocks;

71From following the ewes that have their young he brought him, To be the shepherd of Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.

71(not in this translation)

71From behind suckling ones He hath brought him in, To rule over Jacob His people, And over Israel His inheritance.

71From looking after the sheep which were giving milk, he took him to give food to Jacob his people, and to Israel his heritage.

72So he was their shepherd according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.

72(not in this translation)

72And he ruleth them according to the integrity of his heart, And by the skilfulness of his hands leadeth them!

72So he gave them food with an upright heart, guiding them by the wisdom of his hands.