Psalm 78 – read and compare multiple versions of the Bible
World English Bible
Psalm 78 (WEBP)
[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.
Scripture quotations are taken from The World English Bible™ of eBible.org, 2020 stable text edition. It is in the public domain.
King James w/Strong’s #s
Psalm 78 (KJVS)
[1] «Maschil H4905 (8688) of Asaph H623.» Give ear H238 (8685), O my people H5971, [to] my law H8451: incline H5186 (8685) your ears H241 to the words H561 of my mouth H6310.
[2] I will open H6605 (8799) my mouth H6310 in a parable H4912: I will utter H5042 (8686) dark sayings H2420 of old H6924:
[3] Which we have heard H8085 (8804) and known H3045 (8799), and our fathers H1 have told H5608 (8765) us.
[4] We will not hide H3582 (8762) [them] from their children H1121, shewing H5608 (8764) to the generation H1755 to come H314 the praises H8416 of the LORD H3068, and his strength H5807, and his wonderful works H6381 (8737) that he hath done H6213 (8804).
[5] For he established H6965 (8686) a testimony H5715 in Jacob H3290, and appointed H7760 (8804) a law H8451 in Israel H3478, which he commanded H6680 (8765) our fathers H1, that they should make them known H3045 (8687) to their children H1121:
[6] That the generation H1755 to come H314 might know H3045 (8799) [them, even] the children H1121 [which] should be born H3205 (8735); [who] should arise H6965 (8799) and declare H5608 (8762) [them] to their children H1121:
[7] That they might set H7760 (8799) their hope H3689 in God H430, and not forget H7911 (8799) the works H4611 of God H410, but keep H5341 (8799) his commandments H4687:
[8] And might not be as their fathers H1, a stubborn H5637 (8802) and rebellious H4784 (8802) generation H1755; a generation H1755 [that] set H3559 not their heart H3820 aright H3559 (8689), and whose spirit H7307 was not stedfast H539 (8738) with God H410.
[9] The children H1121 of Ephraim H669, [being] armed H5401 (8802), [and] carrying H7411 (8802) bows H7198, turned back H2015 (8804) in the day H3117 of battle H7128.
[10] They kept H8104 (8804) not the covenant H1285 of God H430, and refused H3985 (8765) to walk H3212 (8800) in his law H8451;
[11] And forgat H7911 (8799) his works H5949, and his wonders H6381 (8737) that he had shewed H7200 (8689) them.
[12] Marvellous things H6382 did H6213 (8804) 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 (8804) the sea H3220, and caused them to pass through H5674 (8686); and he made the waters H4325 to stand H5324 (8686) as an heap H5067.
[14] In the daytime H3119 also he led H5148 (8686) them with a cloud H6051, and all the night H3915 with a light H216 of fire H784.
[15] He clave H1234 (8762) the rocks H6697 in the wilderness H4057, and gave [them] drink H8248 (8686) as [out of] the great H7227 depths H8415.
[16] He brought H3318 (8686) streams H5140 (8802) also out of the rock H5553, and caused waters H4325 to run down H3381 (8686) like rivers H5104.
[17] And they sinned H2398 (8800) yet more H3254 (8686) against him by provoking H4784 (8687) the most High H5945 in the wilderness H6723.
[18] And they tempted H5254 (8762) God H410 in their heart H3824 by asking H7592 (8800) meat H400 for their lust H5315.
[19] Yea, they spake H1696 (8762) against God H430; they said H559 (8804), Can H3201 (8799) God H410 furnish H6186 (8800) a table H7979 in the wilderness H4057?
[20] Behold, he smote H5221 (8689) the rock H6697, that the waters H4325 gushed out H2100 (8799), and the streams H5158 overflowed H7857 (8799); can H3201 (8799) he give H5414 (8800) bread H3899 also? can H3201 (8799) he provide H3559 (8686) flesh H7607 for his people H5971?
[21] Therefore the LORD H3068 heard H8085 (8804) [this], and was wroth H5674 (8691): so a fire H784 was kindled H5400 (8738) against Jacob H3290, and anger H639 also came up H5927 (8804) against Israel H3478;
[22] Because they believed H539 (8689) not in God H430, and trusted H982 (8804) not in his salvation H3444:
[23] Though he had commanded H6680 (8762) the clouds H7834 from above H4605, and opened H6605 (8804) the doors H1817 of heaven H8064,
[24] And had rained down H4305 (8686) manna H4478 upon them to eat H398 (8800), and had given H5414 (8804) them of the corn H1715 of heaven H8064.
[25] Man H376 did eat H398 (8804) angels H47’ food H3899: he sent H7971 (8804) them meat H6720 to the full H7648.
[26] He caused an east wind H6921 to blow H5265 (8686) in the heaven H8064: and by his power H5797 he brought in H5090 (8762) the south wind H8486.
[27] He rained H4305 (8686) 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 (8686) in the midst H7130 of their camp H4264, round about H5439 their habitations H4908.
[29] So they did eat H398 (8799), and were well H3966 filled H7646 (8799): for he gave H935 (8686) them their own desire H8378;
[30] They were not estranged H2114 (8804) from their lust H8378. But while their meat H400 [was] yet in their mouths H6310,
[31] The wrath H639 of God H430 came H5927 (8804) upon them, and slew H2026 (8799) the fattest H4924 of them, and smote down H3766 (8689) the chosen H970 [men] of Israel H3478.
[32] For all this they sinned H2398 (8804) still, and believed H539 (8689) not for his wondrous works H6381 (8737).
[33] Therefore their days H3117 did he consume H3615 (8762) in vanity H1892, and their years H8141 in trouble H928.
[34] When he slew H2026 (8804) them, then they sought H1875 (8804) him: and they returned H7725 (8804) and enquired early H7836 (8765) after God H410.
[35] And they remembered H2142 (8799) that God H430 [was] their rock H6697, and the high H5945 God H410 their redeemer H1350 (8802).
[36] Nevertheless they did flatter H6601 (8762) him with their mouth H6310, and they lied H3576 (8762) unto him with their tongues H3956.
[37] For their heart H3820 was not right H3559 (8737) with him, neither were they stedfast H539 (8738) in his covenant H1285.
[38] But he, [being] full of compassion H7349, forgave H3722 (8762) [their] iniquity H5771, and destroyed H7843 (8686) [them] not: yea, many a time H7235 (8689) turned H7725 he his anger H639 away H7725 (8687), and did not stir up H5782 (8686) all his wrath H2534.
[39] For he remembered H2142 (8799) that they [were but] flesh H1320; a wind H7307 that passeth away H1980 (8802), and cometh not again H7725 (8799).
[40] How H4100 oft did they provoke H4784 (8686) him in the wilderness H4057, [and] grieve H6087 (8686) him in the desert H3452!
[41] Yea, they turned back H7725 (8799) and tempted H5254 (8762) God H410, and limited H8428 (8689) the Holy One H6918 of Israel H3478.
[42] They remembered H2142 (8804) not his hand H3027, [nor] the day H3117 when he delivered H6299 (8804) them from the enemy H6862.
[43] How he had wrought H7760 (8804) his signs H226 in Egypt H4714, and his wonders H4159 in the field H7704 of Zoan H6814:
[44] And had turned H2015 (8799) their rivers H2975 into blood H1818; and their floods H5140 (8802), that they could not drink H8354 (8799).
[45] He sent H7971 (8762) divers sorts of flies H6157 among them, which devoured H398 (8799) them; and frogs H6854, which destroyed H7843 (8686) them.
[46] He gave H5414 (8799) also their increase H2981 unto the caterpiller H2625, and their labour H3018 unto the locust H697.
[47] He destroyed H2026 (8799) their vines H1612 with hail H1259, and their sycomore trees H8256 with frost H2602.
[48] He gave up H5462 (8686) their cattle H1165 also to the hail H1259, and their flocks H4735 to hot thunderbolts H7565.
[49] He cast H7971 (8762) 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 (8762) a way H5410 to his anger H639; he spared H2820 (8804) not their soul H5315 from death H4194, but gave H5462 their life H2416 over H5462 (8689) to the pestilence H1698;
[51] And smote H5221 (8686) 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 (8686) like sheep H6629, and guided H5090 (8762) them in the wilderness H4057 like a flock H5739.
[53] And he led H5148 (8686) them on safely H983, so that they feared H6342 (8804) not: but the sea H3220 overwhelmed H3680 (8765) their enemies H341 (8802).
[54] And he brought H935 (8686) them to the border H1366 of his sanctuary H6944, [even to] this mountain H2022, [which] his right hand H3225 had purchased H7069 (8804).
[55] He cast out H1644 (8762) the heathen H1471 also before H6440 them, and divided H5307 (8686) them an inheritance H5159 by line H2256, and made the tribes H7626 of Israel H3478 to dwell H7931 (8686) in their tents H168.
[56] Yet they tempted H5254 (8762) and provoked H4784 (8686) the most high H5945 God H430, and kept H8104 (8804) not his testimonies H5713:
[57] But turned back H5472 (8735), and dealt unfaithfully H898 (8799) like their fathers H1: they were turned aside H2015 (8738) like a deceitful H7423 bow H7198.
[58] For they provoked him to anger H3707 (8686) with their high places H1116, and moved him to jealousy H7065 (8686) with their graven images H6456.
[59] When God H430 heard H8085 (8804) [this], he was wroth H5674 (8691), and greatly H3966 abhorred H3988 (8799) Israel H3478:
[60] So that he forsook H5203 (8799) the tabernacle H4908 of Shiloh H7887, the tent H168 [which] he placed H7931 (8765) among men H120;
[61] And delivered H5414 (8799) 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 (8686) also unto the sword H2719; and was wroth H5674 (8694) with his inheritance H5159.
[63] The fire H784 consumed H398 (8804) their young men H970; and their maidens H1330 were not given to marriage H1984 (8795).
[64] Their priests H3548 fell H5307 (8804) by the sword H2719; and their widows H490 made no lamentation H1058 (8799).
[65] Then the Lord H136 awaked H3364 (8799) as one out of sleep H3463, [and] like a mighty man H1368 that shouteth H7442 (8711) by reason of wine H3196.
[66] And he smote H5221 (8686) his enemies H6862 in the hinder parts H268: he put H5414 (8804) them to a perpetual H5769 reproach H2781.
[67] Moreover he refused H3988 (8799) the tabernacle H168 of Joseph H3130, and chose H977 (8804) not the tribe H7626 of Ephraim H669:
[68] But chose H977 (8799) the tribe H7626 of Judah H3063, the mount H2022 Zion H6726 which he loved H157 (8804).
[69] And he built H1129 (8799) his sanctuary H4720 like high H7311 (8802) [palaces], like the earth H776 which he hath established H3245 (8804) for ever H5769.
[70] He chose H977 (8799) David H1732 also his servant H5650, and took H3947 (8799) him from the sheepfolds H4356 H6629:
[71] From following H310 the ewes great with young H5763 (8802) he brought H935 (8689) him to feed H7462 (8800) Jacob H3290 his people H5971, and Israel H3478 his inheritance H5159.
[72] So he fed H7462 (8686) them according to the integrity H8537 of his heart H3824; and guided H5148 (8686) them by the skilfulness H8394 of his hands H3709.
Young’s Literal Translation
Psalm 78 (YLT)
[1] Give ear, O my people, to my law, Incline your ear to sayings of my mouth.
[2] I open with a simile my mouth, I bring forth hidden things of old,
[3] That we have heard and do know, And our fathers have recounted to us.
[4] We do not hide from their sons, To a later generation recounting praises of Jehovah, And His strength, and His wonders that He hath done.
[5] And 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.
[6] So that a later generation doth know, Sons who are born, do rise and recount to their sons,
[7] And place in God their confidence, And forget not the doings of God, But keep His commands.
[8] And they are not like their fathers, A generation apostate and rebellious, A generation! it hath not prepared its heart, Nor stedfast with God is its spirit.
[9] Sons of Ephraim-armed bearers of bow, Have turned in a day of conflict.
[10] They have not kept the covenant of God, And in His law they have refused to walk,
[11] And they forget His doings, And His wonders that He shewed them.
[12] Before their fathers He hath done wonders, In the land of Egypt-the field of Zoan.
[13] He cleft a sea, and causeth them to pass over, Yea, He causeth waters to stand as a heap.
[14] And leadeth them with a cloud by day, And all the night with a light of fire.
[15] He cleaveth rocks in a wilderness, And giveth drink-as the great deep.
[16] And bringeth out streams from a rock, And causeth waters to come down as rivers.
[17] And they add still to sin against Him, To provoke the Most High in the dry place.
[18] And they try God in their heart, To ask food for their lust.
[19] And they speak against God-they said: ‘Is God able to array a table in a wilderness?’
[20] Lo, He hath smitten a rock, And waters flow, yea, streams overflow. ‘ Also-bread is He able to give? Doth He prepare flesh for His people?’
[21] Therefore hath Jehovah heard, And He sheweth Himself wroth, And fire hath been kindled against Jacob, And anger also hath gone up against Israel,
[22] For they have not believed in God, Nor have they trusted in His salvation.
[23] And He commandeth clouds from above, Yea, doors of the heavens He hath opened.
[24] And He raineth on them manna to eat, Yea, corn of heaven He hath given to them.
[25] Food of the mighty hath each eaten, Venison He sent to them to satiety.
[26] He causeth an east wind to journey in the heavens, And leadeth by His strength a south wind,
[27] And He raineth on them flesh as dust, And as sand of the seas-winged fowl,
[28] And causeth it to fall in the midst of His camp, Round about His tabernacles.
[29] And they eat, and are greatly satisfied, And their desire He bringeth to them.
[30] They have not been estranged from their desire, Yet is their food in their mouth,
[31] And the anger of God hath gone up against them, And He slayeth among their fat ones, And youths of Israel He caused to bend.
[32] With all this they have sinned again, And have not believed in His wonders.
[33] And He consumeth in vanity their days, And their years in trouble.
[34] If He slew them, then they sought Him, And turned back, and sought God earnestly,
[35] And they remember that God is their rock, And God Most High their redeemer.
[36] And-they deceive Him with their mouth, And with their tongue do lie to Him,
[37] And their heart hath not been right with Him, And they have not been stedfast in His covenant.
[38] And He-the Merciful One, Pardoneth iniquity, and destroyeth not, And hath often turned back His anger, And waketh not up all His fury.
[39] And He remembereth that they are flesh, A wind going on-and it returneth not.
[40] How often do they provoke Him in the wilderness, Grieve Him in the desolate place?
[41] Yea, they turn back, and try God, And the Holy One of Israel have limited.
[42] They have not remembered His hand The day He ransomed them from the adversary.
[43] When He set His signs in Egypt, And His wonders in the field of Zoan,
[44] And He turneth to blood their streams, And their floods they drink not.
[45] He sendeth among them the beetle, and it consumeth them, And the frog, and it destroyeth them,
[46] And giveth to the caterpillar their increase, And their labour to the locust.
[47] He destroyeth with hail their vine, And their sycamores with frost,
[48] And delivereth up to the hail their beasts, And their cattle to the burning flames.
[49] He sendeth on them the fury of His anger, Wrath, and indignation, and distress- A discharge of evil messengers.
[50] He pondereth a path for His anger, He kept not back their soul from death, Yea, their life to the pestilence He delivered up.
[51] And He smiteth every first-born in Egypt, The first-fruit of the strong in tents of Ham.
[52] And causeth His people to journey as a flock, And guideth them as a drove in a wilderness,
[53] And He leadeth them confidently, And they have not been afraid, And their enemies hath the sea covered.
[54] And He bringeth them in unto the border of His sanctuary, This mountain His right hand had got,
[55] And 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,
[56] And they tempt and provoke God Most High, And His testimonies have not kept.
[57] And they turn back, And deal treacherously like their fathers, They have been turned like a deceitful bow,
[58] And make Him angry with their high places, And with their graven images make Him zealous,
[59] God hath heard, and sheweth Himself wroth. And kicketh exceedingly against Israel.
[60] And He leaveth the tabernacle of Shiloh, The tent He had placed among men,
[61] And He giveth His strength to captivity, And His beauty into the hand of an adversary,
[62] And delivereth up to the sword His people, And with His inheritance shewed Himself angry.
[63] His young men hath fire consumed, And His virgins have not been praised.
[64] His priests by the sword have fallen, And their widows weep not.
[65] And the Lord waketh as a sleeper, As a mighty one crying aloud from wine.
[66] And He smiteth His adversaries backward, A reproach age-during He hath put on them,
[67] And He kicketh against the tent of Joseph, And on the tribe of Ephraim hath not fixed.
[68] And He chooseth the tribe of Judah, With mount Zion that He loved,
[69] And buildeth His sanctuary as a high place, Like the earth, He founded it to the age.
[70] And He fixeth on David His servant, And taketh him from the folds of a flock,
[71] From behind suckling ones He hath brought him in, To rule over Jacob His people, And over Israel His inheritance.
[72] And he ruleth them according to the integrity of his heart, And by the skilfulness of his hands leadeth them!