Psalm 78 – search, read, and compare multiple versions of the Bible
World English Bible Classic
A contemplation by Asaph.
[1] Hear my teaching, my people.Turn your ears to the words of my mouth.
[2] I will open my mouth in a parable.
I will utter dark sayings of old,
[3] which we have heard and known,
and our fathers have told us.
[4] We will not hide them from their children,
telling to the generation to come the praises of Yahweh,
his strength, and his wondrous deeds that he has done.
[5] For he established a covenant in Jacob,
and appointed a teaching in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers,
that they should make them known to their children;
[6] that the generation to come might know, even the children who should be born;
who should arise and tell their children,
[7] that they might set their hope in God,
and not forget God’s deeds,
but keep his commandments,
[8] and might not be as their fathers—
a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation that didn’t make their hearts loyal,
whose spirit was not steadfast with God.
[9] The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows,
turned back in the day of battle.
[10] They didn’t keep God’s covenant,
and refused to walk in his law.
[11] They forgot his doings,
his wondrous deeds that he had shown them.
[12] He did marvelous things in the sight of their fathers,
in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
[13] He split the sea, and caused them to pass through.
He made the waters stand as a heap.
[14] In the daytime he also led them with a cloud,
and all night with a light of fire.
[15] He split rocks in the wilderness,
and gave them drink abundantly as out of the depths.
[16] He brought streams also out of the rock,
and caused waters to run down like rivers.
[17] Yet they still went on to sin against him,
to rebel against the Most High in the desert.
[18] They tempted God in their heart
by asking food according to their desire.
[19] Yes, they spoke against God.
They said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?
[20] Behold, he struck the rock, so that waters gushed out,
and streams overflowed.
Can he give bread also?
Will he provide meat for his people?”
[21] Therefore Yahweh heard, and was angry.
A fire was kindled against Jacob,
anger also went up against Israel,
[22] because they didn’t believe in God,
and didn’t trust in his salvation.
[23] Yet he commanded the skies above,
and opened the doors of heaven.
[24] He rained down manna on them to eat,
and gave them food from the sky.
[25] Man ate the bread of angels.
He sent them food to the full.
[26] He caused the east wind to blow in the sky.
By his power he guided the south wind.
[27] He also rained meat on them as the dust,
winged birds as the sand of the seas.
[28] He let them fall in the middle of their camp,
around their habitations.
[29] So they ate, and were well filled.
He gave them their own desire.
[30] They didn’t turn from their cravings.
Their food was yet in their mouths,
[31] when the anger of God went up against them,
killed some of their strongest,
and struck down the young men of Israel.
[32] For all this they still sinned,
and didn’t believe in his wondrous works.
[33] Therefore he consumed their days in vanity,
and their years in terror.
[34] When he killed them, then they inquired after him.
They returned and sought God earnestly.
[35] They remembered that God was their rock,
the Most High God, their redeemer.
[36] But they flattered him with their mouth,
and lied to him with their tongue.
[37] For their heart was not right with him,
neither were they faithful in his covenant.
[38] But he, being merciful, forgave iniquity, and didn’t destroy them.
Yes, many times he turned his anger away,
and didn’t stir up all his wrath.
[39] He remembered that they were but flesh,
a wind that passes away, and doesn’t come again.
[40] How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness,
and grieved him in the desert!
[41] They turned again and tempted God,
and provoked the Holy One of Israel.
[42] They didn’t remember his hand,
nor the day when he redeemed them from the adversary;
[43] how he set his signs in Egypt,
his wonders in the field of Zoan,
[44] he turned their rivers into blood,
and their streams, so that they could not drink.
[45] He sent among them swarms of flies, which devoured them;
and frogs, which destroyed them.
[46] He also gave their increase to the caterpillar,
and their labor to the locust.
[47] He destroyed their vines with hail,
their sycamore fig trees with frost.
[48] He also gave over their livestock to the hail,
and their flocks to hot thunderbolts.
[49] He threw on them the fierceness of his anger,
wrath, indignation, and trouble,
and a band of angels of evil.
[50] He made a path for his anger.
He didn’t spare their soul from death,
but gave their life over to the pestilence,
[51] and struck all the firstborn in Egypt,
the chief of their strength in the tents of Ham.
[52] But he led out his own people like sheep,
and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
[53] He led them safely, so that they weren’t afraid,
but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
[54] He brought them to the border of his sanctuary,
to this mountain, which his right hand had taken.
[55] He also drove out the nations before them,
allotted them for an inheritance by line,
and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
[56] Yet they tempted and rebelled against the Most High God,
and didn’t keep his testimonies,
[57] but turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers.
They were twisted like a deceitful bow.
[58] For they provoked him to anger with their high places,
and moved him to jealousy with their engraved images.
[59] When God heard this, he was angry,
and greatly abhorred Israel,
[60] so that he abandoned the tent of Shiloh,
the tent which he placed among men,
[61] and delivered his strength into captivity,
his glory into the adversary’s hand.
[62] He also gave his people over to the sword,
and was angry with his inheritance.
[63] Fire devoured their young men.
Their virgins had no wedding song.
[64] Their priests fell by the sword,
and their widows couldn’t weep.
[65] Then the Lord awakened as one out of sleep,
like a mighty man who shouts by reason of wine.
[66] He struck his adversaries backward.
He put them to a perpetual reproach.
[67] Moreover he rejected the tent of Joseph,
and didn’t choose the tribe of Ephraim,
[68] But chose the tribe of Judah,
Mount Zion which he loved.
[69] He built his sanctuary like the heights,
like the earth which he has established forever.
[70] He also chose David his servant,
and took him from the sheepfolds;
[71] from following the ewes that have their young,
he brought him to be the shepherd of Jacob, his people,
and Israel, his inheritance.
[72] So he was their shepherd according to the integrity of his heart,
and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.
King James Version
Maschil H4905 (HiphPtc) of Asaph. H623
[1] Give ear, H238 (HiphImpv) O my people, H5971 to my law: H8451Incline H5186 (HiphImpv) your ears H241 to the words H561 of my mouth. H6310
[2] I will open H6605 (QalImpf) my mouth H6310 in a parable: H4912
I will utter H5042 (HiphImpf) dark sayings H2420 of old: H6924
[3] Which we have heard H8085 (QalPerf) and known, H3045 (QalImpf)
And our fathers H1 have told H5608 (PielPerf) us.
[4] We will not hide H3582 (PielImpf) them from their children, H1121 shewing H5608 (PielPtc) to the generation H1755 to come, H314
The praises H8416 of the Lord, H3068 and his strength, H5807 and his wonderful works H6381 (NiphPtc) that he hath done. H6213 (QalPerf)
[5] For he established H6965 (HiphImpf) a testimony H5715 in Jacob, H3290 and appointed H7760 (QalPerf) a law H8451 in Israel, H3478
Which he commanded H6680 (PielPerf) our fathers, H1 that they should make them known H3045 (HiphInf) to their children: H1121
[6] That the generation H1755 to come H314 might know H3045 (QalImpf) them,
Even the children H1121 which should be born; H3205 (NiphImpf)
Who should arise H6965 (QalImpf)
And declare H5608 (PielImpf) them to their children: H1121
[7] That they might set H7760 (QalImpf) their hope H3689 in God, H430
And not forget H7911 (QalImpf) the works H4611 of God, H410 but keep H5341 (QalImpf) his commandments: H4687
[8] And might not be as their fathers, H1 a stubborn H5637 (QalActPtc) and rebellious H4784 (QalActPtc) generation; H1755
A generation H1755 that set H3559 not their heart H3820 aright, H3559 (HiphPerf)§ and whose spirit H7307 was not stedfast H539 (NiphPerf) with God. H410
[9] The children H1121 of Ephraim, H669 being armed, H5401 (QalActPtc) and carrying§ H7411 (QalActPtc) bows, H7198
Turned back H2015 (QalPerf) in the day H3117 of battle. H7128
[10] They kept H8104 (QalPerf) not the covenant H1285 of God, H430
And refused H3985 (PielPerf) to walk H3212 (QalInf) in his law; H8451
[11] And forgat H7911 (QalImpf) his works, H5949
And his wonders H6381 (NiphPtc) that he had shewed H7200 (HiphPerf) them.
[12] Marvellous things H6382 did H6213 (QalPerf) he in the sight H5048 of their fathers, H1 in the land H776 of Egypt, H4714
In the field H7704 of Zoan. H6814
[13] He divided H1234 (QalPerf) the sea, H3220 and caused them to pass through; H5674 (HiphImpf)
And he made the waters H4325 to stand H5324 (HiphImpf) as an heap. H5067
[14] In the daytime H3119 also he led H5148 (HiphImpf) them with a cloud, H6051
And all the night H3915 with a light H216 of fire. H784
[15] He clave H1234 (PielImpf) the rocks H6697 in the wilderness, H4057
And gave them drink H8248 (HiphImpf) as out of the great H7227 depths. H8415
[16] He brought H3318 (HiphImpf) streams H5140 (QalActPtc) also out of the rock, H5553
And caused waters H4325 to run down H3381 (HiphImpf) like rivers. H5104
[17] And they sinned H2398 (QalInf) yet more H3254 (HiphImpf) against him
By provoking H4784 (HiphInf) the most High H5945 in the wilderness. H6723
[18] And they tempted H5254 (PielImpf) God H410 in their heart H3824
By asking H7592 (QalInf) meat H400 for their lust. H5315
[19] Yea, they spake H1696 (PielImpf) against God; H430
They said, H559 (QalPerf) Can H3201 (QalImpf) God H410 furnish H6186 (QalInf)§ a table H7979 in the wilderness? H4057
[20] Behold, he smote H5221 (HiphPerf) the rock, H6697 that the waters H4325 gushed out, H2100 (QalImpf) and the streams H5158 overflowed; H7857 (QalImpf)
Can H3201 (QalImpf) he give H5414 (QalInf) bread H3899 also? Can H3201 (QalImpf) he provide H3559 (HiphImpf) flesh H7607 for his people? H5971
[21] Therefore the Lord H3068 heard H8085 (QalPerf) this, and was wroth: H5674 (HithImpf)
So a fire H784 was kindled H5400 (NiphPerf) against Jacob, H3290 and anger H639 also came up H5927 (QalPerf) against Israel; H3478
[22] Because they believed H539 (HiphPerf) not in God, H430
And trusted H982 (QalPerf) not in his salvation: H3444
[23] Though he had commanded H6680 (PielImpf) the clouds H7834 from above, H4605
And opened H6605 (QalPerf) the doors H1817 of heaven, H8064
[24] And had rained down H4305 (HiphImpf) manna H4478 upon them to eat, H398 (QalInf)
And had given H5414 (QalPerf) them of the corn H1715 of heaven. H8064
[25] Man H376 did eat H398 (QalPerf) angels’ H47 food: H3899
He sent H7971 (QalPerf) them meat H6720 to the full. H7648
[26] He caused an east wind H6921 to blow H5265 (HiphImpf)§ in the heaven: H8064
And by his power H5797 he brought in H5090 (PielImpf) the south wind. H8486
[27] He rained H4305 (HiphImpf) flesh H7607 also upon them as dust, H6083
And feathered H3671 fowls H5775 like as the sand H2344 of the sea: H3220
[28] And he let it fall H5307 (HiphImpf) in the midst H7130 of their camp, H4264
Round about H5439 their habitations. H4908
[29] So they did eat, H398 (QalImpf) and were well H3966 filled: H7646 (QalImpf) For he gave H935 (HiphImpf) them their own desire; H8378
[30] They were not estranged H2114 (QalPerf) from their lust. H8378
But while their meat H400 was yet in their mouths, H6310
[31] The wrath H639 of God H430 came H5927 (QalPerf) upon them, and slew H2026 (QalImpf) the fattest H4924 of them,
And smote down§ H3766 (HiphPerf) the chosen H970 men§ of Israel. H3478
[32] For all this they sinned H2398 (QalPerf) still,
And believed H539 (HiphPerf) not for his wondrous works. H6381 (NiphPtc)
[33] Therefore their days H3117 did he consume H3615 (PielImpf) in vanity, H1892
And their years H8141 in trouble. H928
[34] When he slew H2026 (QalPerf) them, then they sought H1875 (QalPerf) him:
And they returned H7725 (QalPerf) and enquired early H7836 (PielPerf) after God. H410
[35] And they remembered H2142 (QalImpf) that God H430 was their rock, H6697
And the high H5945 God H410 their redeemer. H1350 (QalActPtc)
[36] Nevertheless they did flatter H6601 (PielImpf) him with their mouth, H6310
And they lied H3576 (PielImpf) unto him with their tongues. H3956
[37] For their heart H3820 was not right H3559 (NiphPtc) with him,
Neither were they stedfast H539 (NiphPerf) in his covenant. H1285
[38] But he, being full of compassion, H7349
Forgave H3722 (PielImpf) their iniquity, H5771 and destroyed H7843 (HiphImpf) them not:
Yea, many a time H7235 (HiphPerf) turned H7725 he his anger H639 away, H7725 (HiphInf)
And did not stir up H5782 (HiphImpf) all his wrath. H2534
[39] For he remembered H2142 (QalImpf) that they were but flesh; H1320
A wind H7307 that passeth away, H1980 (QalActPtc) and cometh not again. H7725 (QalImpf)
[40] How H4100 oft did they provoke H4784 (HiphImpf) him§ in the wilderness, H4057
And grieve H6087 (HiphImpf) him in the desert! H3452
[41] Yea, they turned back H7725 (QalImpf) and tempted H5254 (PielImpf) God, H410
And limited H8428 (HiphPerf) the Holy One H6918 of Israel. H3478
[42] They remembered H2142 (QalPerf) not his hand, H3027
Nor the day H3117 when he delivered H6299 (QalPerf) them from the enemy. H6862§
[43] How he had wrought H7760 (QalPerf)§ his signs H226 in Egypt, H4714
And his wonders H4159 in the field H7704 of Zoan: H6814
[44] And had turned H2015 (QalImpf) their rivers H2975 into blood; H1818
And their floods, H5140 (QalActPtc) that they could not drink. H8354 (QalImpf)
[45] He sent H7971 (PielImpf) divers sorts of flies H6157 among them, which devoured H398 (QalImpf) them;
And frogs, H6854 which destroyed H7843 (HiphImpf) them.
[46] He gave H5414 (QalImpf) also their increase H2981 unto the caterpiller, H2625
And their labour H3018 unto the locust. H697
[47] He destroyed H2026 (QalImpf)§ their vines H1612 with hail, H1259
And their sycomore trees H8256 with frost. H2602§
[48] He gave up H5462 (HiphImpf)§ their cattle H1165 also to the hail, H1259
And their flocks H4735 to hot thunderbolts. H7565§
[49] He cast H7971 (PielImpf) upon them the fierceness H2740 of his anger, H639 wrath, H5678 and indignation, H2195 and trouble, H6869
By sending H4917 evil H7451 angels H4397 among them.
[50] He made H6424 (PielImpf) a way H5410§ to his anger; H639 He spared H2820 (QalPerf) not their soul H5315 from death, H4194
But gave H5462 their life H2416 over H5462 (HiphPerf) to the pestilence; H1698§
[51] And smote H5221 (HiphImpf) all the firstborn H1060 in Egypt; H4714
The chief H7225 of their strength H202 in the tabernacles H168 of Ham: H2526
[52] But made his own people H5971 to go forth H5265 (HiphImpf) like sheep, H6629
And guided H5090 (PielImpf) them in the wilderness H4057 like a flock. H5739
[53] And he led H5148 (HiphImpf) them on safely, H983 so that they feared H6342 (QalPerf) not:
But the sea H3220 overwhelmed H3680 (PielPerf)§ their enemies. H341 (QalActPtc)
[54] And he brought H935 (HiphImpf) them to the border H1366 of his sanctuary, H6944
Even to this mountain, H2022 which his right hand H3225 had purchased. H7069 (QalPerf)
[55] He cast out H1644 (PielImpf) the heathen H1471 also before H6440 them,
And divided H5307 (HiphImpf) them an inheritance H5159 by line, H2256 and made the tribes H7626 of Israel H3478 to dwell H7931 (HiphImpf) in their tents. H168
[56] Yet they tempted H5254 (PielImpf) and provoked H4784 (HiphImpf) the most high H5945 God, H430
And kept H8104 (QalPerf) not his testimonies: H5713
[57] But turned back, H5472 (NiphImpf) and dealt unfaithfully H898 (QalImpf) like their fathers: H1
They were turned aside H2015 (NiphPerf) like a deceitful H7423 bow. H7198
[58] For they provoked him to anger H3707 (HiphImpf) with their high places, H1116
And moved him to jealousy H7065 (HiphImpf) with their graven images. H6456
[59] When God H430 heard H8085 (QalPerf) this, he was wroth, H5674 (HithImpf)
And greatly H3966 abhorred H3988 (QalImpf) Israel: H3478
[60] So that he forsook H5203 (QalImpf) the tabernacle H4908 of Shiloh, H7887
The tent H168 which he placed H7931 (PielPerf) among men; H120
[61] And delivered H5414 (QalImpf) his strength H5797 into captivity, H7628
And his glory H8597 into the enemy’s H6862 hand. H3027
[62] He gave H5462 his people H5971 over H5462 (HiphImpf) also unto the sword; H2719
And was wroth H5674 (HithPerf) with his inheritance. H5159
[63] The fire H784 consumed H398 (QalPerf) their young men; H970
And their maidens H1330 were not given§ to marriage. H1984 (PualPerf)
[64] Their priests H3548 fell H5307 (QalPerf) by the sword; H2719
And their widows H490 made no lamentation. H1058 (QalImpf)
[65] Then the Lord H136 awaked H3364 (QalImpf) as one out of sleep, H3463
And like a mighty man H1368 that shouteth H7442 (HiplPtc) by reason of wine. H3196
[66] And he smote H5221 (HiphImpf) his enemies H6862 in the hinder parts: H268
He put H5414 (QalPerf) them to a perpetual H5769 reproach. H2781
[67] Moreover he refused H3988 (QalImpf) the tabernacle H168 of Joseph, H3130
And chose H977 (QalPerf) not the tribe H7626 of Ephraim: H669
[68] But chose H977 (QalImpf) the tribe H7626 of Judah, H3063
The mount H2022 Zion H6726 which he loved. H157 (QalPerf)
[69] And he built H1129 (QalImpf) his sanctuary H4720 like high H7311 (QalActPtc) palaces,
Like the earth H776 which he hath established H3245 (QalPerf)§ for ever. H5769
[70] He chose H977 (QalImpf) David H1732 also his servant, H5650
And took H3947 (QalImpf) him from the sheepfolds: H4356 [71] From following H310§ the ewes great with young H5763 (QalActPtc) he brought H935 (HiphPerf) him
To feed H7462 (QalInf) Jacob H3290 his people, H5971 and Israel H3478 his inheritance. H5159
[72] So he fed H7462 (HiphImpf) them according to the integrity H8537 of his heart; H3824
And guided H5148 (HiphImpf) them by the skilfulness H8394 of his hands. H3709
Footnotes
- § 78:8 Heb. that prepared not their heart
- § 78:9 Heb. throwing forth
- § 78:19 Heb. order
- § 78:26 Heb. to go
- § 78:31a Heb. made to bow
- § 78:31b Or, young men
- § 78:40 Or, rebel against him
- § 78:42 Or, from affliction
- § 78:43 Heb. set
- § 78:47a Heb. killed
- § 78:47b Or, great hail stones
- § 78:48a Heb. he shut up
- § 78:48b Or, lightnings
- § 78:50a Heb. He weighed a path
- § 78:50b Or, their beasts, to the murreine
- § 78:53 Heb. covered
- § 78:63 Heb. praised
- § 78:69 Heb. founded
- § 78:71 Heb. from after
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