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Psalm chapter 78

English Standard Version

1 Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth! 2 I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, 3things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. 4We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. 5He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, 6that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, 7so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; 8and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God. 9The Ephraimites, armed with the bow, turned back on the day of battle. 10They did not keep God 's covenant, but refused to walk according to his law. 11They forgot his works and the wonders that he had shown them. 12In the sight of their fathers he performed wonders in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan. 13He divided the sea and let them pass through it, and made the waters stand like a heap. 14 In the daytime he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a fiery light. 15He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep. 16He made streams come out of the rock and caused waters to flow down like rivers. 17Yet they sinned still more against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert. 18They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved. 19They spoke against God, saying, "Can God spread a table in the wilderness? 20 He struck the rock so that water gushed out and streams overflowed. Can he also give bread or provide meat for his people?" 21Therefore, when the Lord heard, he was full of wrath; a fire was kindled against Jacob; his anger rose against Israel, 22because they did not believe in God and did not trust his saving power. 23Yet he commanded the skies above and opened the doors of heaven, 24and he rained down on them manna to eat and gave them the grain of heaven. 25Man ate of the bread of the angels; he sent them food in abundance. 26He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens, and by his power he led out the south wind; 27he rained meat on them like dust, winged birds like the sand of the seas; 28he let them fall in the midst of their camp, all around their dwellings. 29And they ate and were well filled, for he gave them what they craved. 30But before they had satisfied their craving, while the food was still in their mouths, 31the anger of God rose against them, and he killed the strongest of them and laid low the young men of Israel. 32In spite of all this, they still sinned; despite his wonders, they did not believe. 33So he made their days vanish like a breath, and their years in terror. 34When he killed them, they sought him; they repented and sought God earnestly. 35They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God their redeemer. 36But they flattered him with their mouths; they lied to him with their tongues. 37Their heart was not steadfast toward him; they were not faithful to his covenant. 38Yet he, being compassionate, atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often and did not stir up all his wrath. 39He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes and comes not again. 40How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness and grieved him in the desert! 41They tested God again and again and provoked the Holy One of Israel. 42They did not remember his power or the day when he redeemed them from the foe, 43 when he performed his signs in Egypt and his marvels in the fields of Zoan. 44He turned their rivers to blood, so that they could not drink of their streams. 45He sent among them swarms of flies, which devoured them, and frogs, which destroyed them. 46He gave their crops to the destroying locust and the fruit of their labor to the locust. 47He destroyed their vines with hail and their sycamores with frost. 48He gave over their cattle to the hail and their flocks to thunderbolts. 49He let loose on them his burning anger, wrath, indignation, and distress, a company of destroying angels. 50He made a path for his anger; he did not spare them from death, but gave their lives over to the plague. 51He struck down every firstborn in Egypt, the firstfruits of their strength in the tents of Ham. 52Then he led out his people like sheep and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. 53 He led them in safety, so that they were not afraid, but the sea overwhelmed their enemies. 54And he brought them to his holy land, to the mountain which his right hand had won. 55He drove out nations before them; he apportioned them for a possession and settled the tribes of Israel in their tents. 56Yet they tested and rebelled against the Most High God and did not keep his testimonies, 57but turned away and acted treacherously like their fathers; they twisted like a deceitful bow. 58For they provoked him to anger with their high places; they moved him to jealousy with their idols. 59When God heard, he was full of wrath, and he utterly rejected Israel. 60He forsook his dwelling at Shiloh, the tent where he dwelt among mankind, 61and delivered his power to captivity, his glory to the hand of the foe. 62He gave his people over to the sword and vented his wrath on his heritage. 63 Fire devoured their young men, and their young women had no marriage song. 64Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows made no lamentation. 65Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, like a strong man shouting because of wine. 66And he put his adversaries to rout; he put them to everlasting shame. 67He rejected the tent of Joseph; he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim, 68but he chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loves. 69He built his sanctuary like the high heavens, like the earth, which he has founded forever. 70He chose David his servant and took him from the sheepfolds; 71from following the nursing ewes he brought him to shepherd Jacob his people, Israel his inheritance. 72With upright heart he shepherded them and guided them with his skillful hand.
New International Version

1A maskil of Asaph. My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. 2I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old— 3things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us. 4We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done. 5He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children, 6so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. 7Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.
8They would not be like their ancestors— a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to him. 9The men of Ephraim, though armed with bows, turned back on the day of battle; 10they did not keep God’s covenant and refused to live by his law. 11They forgot what he had done, the wonders he had shown them. 12He did miracles in the sight of their ancestors in the land of Egypt, in the region of Zoan. 13He divided the sea and led them through; he made the water stand up like a wall. 14He guided them with the cloud by day and with light from the fire all night. 15He split the rocks in the wilderness and gave them water as abundant as the seas;
16he brought streams out of a rocky crag and made water flow down like rivers. 17But they continued to sin against him, rebelling in the wilderness against the Most High. 18They willfully put God to the test by demanding the food they craved. 19They spoke against God; they said, "Can God really spread a table in the wilderness? 20True, he struck the rock, and water gushed out, streams flowed abundantly, but can he also give us bread? Can he supply meat for his people?" 21When the Lord heard them, he was furious; his fire broke out against Jacob, and his wrath rose against Israel, 22for they did not believe in God or trust in his deliverance. 23Yet he gave a command to the skies above and opened the doors of the heavens; 24he rained down manna for the people to eat, he gave them the grain of heaven. 25Human beings ate the bread of angels; he sent them all the food they could eat. 26He let loose the east wind from the heavens and by his power made the south wind blow. 27He rained meat down on them like dust, birds like sand on the seashore. 28He made them come down inside their camp, all around their tents. 29They ate till they were gorged— he had given them what they craved. 30But before they turned from what they craved, even while the food was still in their mouths,
31God’s anger rose against them; he put to death the sturdiest among them, cutting down the young men of Israel. 32In spite of all this, they kept on sinning; in spite of his wonders, they did not believe. 33So he ended their days in futility and their years in terror. 34Whenever God slew them, they would seek him; they eagerly turned to him again. 35They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer. 36But then they would flatter him with their mouths, lying to him with their tongues; 37their hearts were not loyal to him, they were not faithful to his covenant. 38Yet he was merciful; he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them. Time after time he restrained his anger and did not stir up his full wrath.
39He remembered that they were but flesh, a passing breeze that does not return. 40How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness and grieved him in the wasteland! 41Again and again they put God to the test; they vexed the Holy One of Israel. 42They did not remember his power— the day he redeemed them from the oppressor, 43the day he displayed his signs in Egypt, his wonders in the region of Zoan. 44He turned their river into blood; they could not drink from their streams. 45He sent swarms of flies that devoured them, and frogs that devastated them. 46He gave their crops to the grasshopper, their produce to the locust. 47He destroyed their vines with hail and their sycamore-figs with sleet. 48He gave over their cattle to the hail, their livestock to bolts of lightning. 49He unleashed against them his hot anger, his wrath, indignation and hostility— a band of destroying angels. 50He prepared a path for his anger; he did not spare them from death but gave them over to the plague. 51He struck down all the firstborn of Egypt, the firstfruits of manhood in the tents of Ham. 52But he brought his people out like a flock; he led them like sheep through the wilderness. 53He guided them safely, so they were unafraid; but the sea engulfed their enemies. 54And so he brought them to the border of his holy land, to the hill country his right hand had taken.
55He drove out nations before them and allotted their lands to them as an inheritance; he settled the tribes of Israel in their homes. 56But they put God to the test and rebelled against the Most High; they did not keep his statutes. 57Like their ancestors they were disloyal and faithless, as unreliable as a faulty bow. 58They angered him with their high places; they aroused his jealousy with their idols. 59When God heard them, he was furious; he rejected Israel completely. 60He abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent he had set up among humans. 61He sent the ark of his might into captivity, his splendor into the hands of the enemy. 62He gave his people over to the sword; he was furious with his inheritance. 63Fire consumed their young men, and their young women had no wedding songs;
64their priests were put to the sword, and their widows could not weep. 65Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, as a warrior wakes from the stupor of wine. 66He beat back his enemies; he put them to everlasting shame. 67Then he rejected the tents of Joseph, he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim; 68but he chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loved. 69He built his sanctuary like the heights, like the earth that he established forever. 70He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; 71from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance. 72And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.
New American Standard Bible

1 Listen, my people, to my instruction; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. 2I will open my mouth in a parable; I will tell riddles of old, 3Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us. 4We will not conceal them from their children, But we will tell the generation to come the praises of the Lord, And His power and His wondrous works that He has done. 5For He established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers That they were to teach them to their children, 6So that the generation to come would know, the children yet to be born, That they would arise and tell them to their children, 7So that they would put their confidence in God And not forget the works of God, But comply with His commandments, 8And not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not prepare its heart And whose spirit was not faithful to God. 9The sons of Ephraim were archers equipped with bows, Yet they turned back on the day of battle. 10They did not keep the covenant of God And refused to walk in His Law; 11They forgot His deeds And His miracles that He had shown them. 12He performed wonders before their fathers In the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. 13He divided the sea and caused them to pass through, And He made the waters stand up like a heap. 14Then He led them with the cloud by day And all the night with a light of fire. 15He split the rocks in the wilderness And gave them plenty to drink like the ocean depths. 16He brought forth streams from the rock And made waters run down like rivers. 17Yet they still continued to sin against Him, To rebel against the Most High in the desert. 18And in their heart they put God to the test By asking for food that suited their taste. 19Then they spoke against God; They said, 'Can God prepare a table in the wilderness? 20Behold, He struck the rock so that waters gushed out, And streams were overflowing; Can He also provide bread? Will He prepare meat for His people?' 21Therefore the Lord heard and was full of wrath; And a fire was kindled against Jacob, And anger also mounted against Israel, 22Because they did not believe in God And did not trust in His salvation. 23Yet He commanded the clouds above And opened the doors of heaven; 24He rained down manna upon them to eat, And gave them food from heaven. 25Man ate the bread of angels; He sent them food in abundance. 26He made the east wind blow in the sky And by His power He directed the south wind. 27When He rained meat upon them like the dust, Even winged fowl like the sand of the seas, 28He let them fall in the midst of their camp, All around their dwellings. 29So they ate and were well filled, And He satisfied their longing. 30 Yet before they had abandoned their longing, While their food was in their mouths, 31The anger of God rose against them And killed some of their strongest ones, And subdued the choice men of Israel. 32In spite of all this they still sinned And did not believe in His wonderful works. 33So He brought their days to an end in futility, And their years to an end in sudden terror. 34When He killed them, then they sought Him, And they returned and searched diligently for God; 35And they remembered that God was their rock, And the Most High God their Redeemer. 36But they flattered Him with their mouth And lied to Him with their tongue. 37For their heart was not steadfast toward Him, Nor were they faithful with His covenant. 38But He, being compassionate, forgave their wrongdoing and did not destroy them; And often He restrained His anger And did not stir up all His wrath. 39So He remembered that they were only flesh, A wind that passes and does not return. 40How often they rebelled against Him in the wilderness And grieved Him in the desert! 41Again and again they tempted God, And pained the Holy One of Israel. 42They did not remember His power, The day when He redeemed them from the enemy, 43When He performed His signs in Egypt And His marvels in the field of Zoan, 44And turned their rivers to blood, And their streams, so that they could not drink. 45He sent swarms of flies among them that devoured them, And frogs that destroyed them. 46He also gave their crops to the grasshopper And the product of their labor to the locust. 47He destroyed their vines with hailstones And their sycamore trees with frost. 48He also turned their cattle over to the hailstones, And their herds to bolts of lightning. 49He sent His burning anger upon them, Fury and indignation and trouble, A band of destroying angels. 50He leveled a path for His anger; He did not spare their souls from death, But turned their lives over to the plague, 51And struck all the firstborn in Egypt, The first and best of their vigor in the tents of Ham. 52But He led His own people out like sheep, And guided them in the wilderness like a flock; 53He led them safely, so that they did not fear; But the sea engulfed their enemies. 54So He brought them to His holy land, To this hill country which His right hand had gained. 55He also drove out the nations from them And apportioned them as an inheritance by measurement, And had the tribes of Israel dwell in their tents. 56Yet they tempted and rebelled against the Most High God And did not keep His testimonies, 57But turned back and acted treacherously like their fathers; They turned aside like a treacherous bow. 58For they provoked Him with their high places And moved Him to jealousy with their carved images. 59When God heard them, He was filled with wrath And He utterly rejected Israel; 60So that He abandoned the dwelling place at Shiloh, The tent which He had pitched among people, 61And He gave up His strength to captivity And His glory into the hand of the enemy. 62He also turned His people over to the sword, And was filled with wrath at His inheritance. 63Fire devoured His young men, And His virgins had no wedding songs. 64 His priests fell by the sword, And His widows could not weep. 65Then the Lord awoke as if from sleep, Like a warrior overcome by wine. 66He drove His adversaries backward; He put on them an everlasting disgrace. 67He also rejected the tent of Joseph, And did not choose the tribe of Ephraim, 68But chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which He loved. 69And He built His sanctuary like the heights, Like the earth which He has established forever. 70He also chose His servant David And took him from the sheepfolds; 71From the care of the ewes with nursing lambs He brought him To shepherd Jacob His people, And Israel His inheritance. 72So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them with his skillful hands.
Christian Standard Bible

1A of Asaph. My people, hear my instruction; listen to the words from my mouth. 2I will declare wise sayings; I will speak mysteries from the past — 3things we have heard and known and that our fathers have passed down to us. 4We will not hide them from their children, but will tell a future generation the praiseworthy acts of the Lord, his might, and the wondrous works he has performed. 5He established a testimony in Jacob and set up a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children 6so that a future generation— children yet to be born—might know. They were to rise and tell their children 7so that they might put their confidence in God and not forget God’s works, but keep his commands.
8Then they would not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not loyal and whose spirit was not faithful to God. 9The Ephraimite archers turned back on the day of battle. 10They did not keep God’s covenant and refused to live by his law. 11They forgot what he had done, the wondrous works he had shown them. 12He worked wonders in the sight of their fathers in the land of Egypt, the territory of Zoan. 13He split the sea and brought them across; the water stood firm like a wall. 14He led them with a cloud by day and with a fiery light throughout the night. 15He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink as abundant as the depths.
16He brought streams out of the stone and made water flow down like rivers. 17But they continued to sin against him, rebelling in the desert against the Most High. 18They deliberately tested God, demanding the food they craved. 19They spoke against God, saying, "Is God able to provide food in the wilderness? 20Look! He struck the rock and water gushed out; torrents overflowed. But can he also provide bread or furnish meat for his people?" 21Therefore, the Lord heard and became furious; then fire broke out against Jacob, and anger flared up against Israel 22because they did not believe God or rely on his salvation. 23He gave a command to the clouds above and opened the doors of heaven. 24He rained manna for them to eat; he gave them grain from heaven. 25People ate the bread of angels. He sent them an abundant supply of food. 26He made the east wind blow in the skies and drove the south wind by his might. 27He rained meat on them like dust, and winged birds like the sand of the seas. 28He made them fall in the camp, all around the tents. 29The people ate and were completely satisfied, for he gave them what they craved. 30Before they had turned from what they craved, while the food was still in their mouths,
31God’s anger flared up against them, and he killed some of their best men. He struck down Israel’s fit young men. 32Despite all this, they kept sinning and did not believe his wondrous works. 33He made their days end in futility, their years in sudden disaster. 34When he killed some of them, the rest began to seek him; they repented and searched for God. 35They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God, their Redeemer. 36But they deceived him with their mouths, they lied to him with their tongues, 37their hearts were insincere toward him, and they were unfaithful to his covenant. 38Yet he was compassionate; he atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them. He often turned his anger aside and did not unleash all his wrath.
39He remembered that they were only flesh, a wind that passes and does not return. 40How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness and grieved him in the desert. 41They constantly tested God and provoked the Holy One of Israel. 42They did not remember his power shown on the day he redeemed them from the foe, 43when he performed his miraculous signs in Egypt and his wonders in the territory of Zoan. 44He turned their rivers into blood, and they could not drink from their streams. 45He sent among them swarms of flies, which fed on them, and frogs, which devastated them. 46He gave their crops to the caterpillar and the fruit of their labor to the locust. 47He killed their vines with hail and their sycamore fig trees with a flood. 48He handed over their livestock to hail and their cattle to lightning bolts. 49He sent his burning anger against them: fury, indignation, and calamity— a band of deadly messengers. 50He cleared a path for his anger. He did not spare them from death but delivered their lives to the plague. 51He struck all the firstborn in Egypt, the first progeny of the tents of Ham. 52He led his people out like sheep and guided them like a flock in the wilderness. 53He led them safely, and they were not afraid; but the sea covered their enemies. 54He brought them to his holy territory, to the mountain his right hand acquired.
55He drove out nations before them. He apportioned their inheritance by lot and settled the tribes of Israel in their tents. 56But they rebelliously tested the Most High God, for they did not keep his decrees. 57They treacherously turned away like their fathers; they became warped like a faulty bow. 58They enraged him with their high places and provoked his jealousy with their carved images. 59God heard and became furious; he completely rejected Israel. 60He abandoned the tabernacle at Shiloh, the tent where he resided among mankind. 61He gave up his strength to captivity and his splendor to the hand of a foe. 62He surrendered his people to the sword because he was enraged with his heritage. 63Fire consumed his chosen young men, and his young women had no wedding songs.
64His priests fell by the sword, and the widows could not lament. 65The Lord awoke as if from sleep, like a warrior from the effects of wine. 66He beat back his foes; he gave them lasting disgrace. 67He rejected the tent of Joseph and did not choose the tribe of Ephraim. 68He chose instead the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loved. 69He built his sanctuary like the heights, like the earth that he established forever. 70He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; 71he brought him from tending ewes to be shepherd over his people Jacob— over Israel, his inheritance. 72He shepherded them with a pure heart and guided them with his skillful hands.
New Living Translation

1 O my people, listen to my instructions. Open your ears to what I am saying, 2for I will speak to you in a parable. I will teach you hidden lessons from our past — 3stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us. 4We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders. 5For he issued his laws to Jacob; he gave his instructions to Israel. He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children, 6so the next generation might know them — even the children not yet born — and they in turn will teach their own children. 7So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands. 8Then they will not be like their ancestors — stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God.
9The warriors of Ephraim, though armed with bows, turned their backs and fled on the day of battle. 10They did not keep God’s covenant and refused to live by his instructions. 11They forgot what he had done — the great wonders he had shown them, 12the miracles he did for their ancestors on the plain of Zoan in the land of Egypt. 13For he divided the sea and led them through, making the water stand up like walls! 14In the daytime he led them by a cloud, and all night by a pillar of fire. 15He split open the rocks in the wilderness to give them water, as from a gushing spring. 16He made streams pour from the rock, making the waters flow down like a river!
17Yet they kept on sinning against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert. 18They stubbornly tested God in their hearts, demanding the foods they craved. 19They even spoke against God himself, saying, 'God can’t give us food in the wilderness. 20Yes, he can strike a rock so water gushes out, but he can’t give his people bread and meat.' 21When the Lord heard them, he was furious. The fire of his wrath burned against Jacob. Yes, his anger rose against Israel, 22for they did not believe God or trust him to care for them. 23But he commanded the skies to open; he opened the doors of heaven. 24He rained down manna for them to eat; he gave them bread from heaven. 25They ate the food of angels! God gave them all they could hold. 26He released the east wind in the heavens and guided the south wind by his mighty power. 27He rained down meat as thick as dust — birds as plentiful as the sand on the seashore! 28He caused the birds to fall within their camp and all around their tents. 29The people ate their fill. He gave them what they craved. 30But before they satisfied their craving, while the meat was yet in their mouths, 31the anger of God rose against them, and he killed their strongest men. He struck down the finest of Israel’s young men.
32But in spite of this, the people kept sinning. Despite his wonders, they refused to trust him. 33So he ended their lives in failure, their years in terror. 34When God began killing them, they finally sought him. They repented and took God seriously. 35Then they remembered that God was their rock, that God Most High was their redeemer. 36But all they gave him was lip service; they lied to him with their tongues. 37Their hearts were not loyal to him. They did not keep his covenant. 38Yet he was merciful and forgave their sins and did not destroy them all. Many times he held back his anger and did not unleash his fury! 39For he remembered that they were merely mortal, gone like a breath of wind that never returns.
40Oh, how often they rebelled against him in the wilderness and grieved his heart in that dry wasteland. 41Again and again they tested God’s patience and provoked the Holy One of Israel. 42They did not remember his power and how he rescued them from their enemies. 43They did not remember his miraculous signs in Egypt, his wonders on the plain of Zoan. 44For he turned their rivers into blood, so no one could drink from the streams. 45He sent vast swarms of flies to consume them and hordes of frogs to ruin them. 46He gave their crops to caterpillars; their harvest was consumed by locusts. 47He destroyed their grapevines with hail and shattered their sycamore-figs with sleet. 48He abandoned their cattle to the hail, their livestock to bolts of lightning. 49He loosed on them his fierce anger — all his fury, rage, and hostility. He dispatched against them a band of destroying angels. 50He turned his anger against them; he did not spare the Egyptians’ lives but ravaged them with the plague. 51He killed the oldest son in each Egyptian family, the flower of youth throughout the land of Egypt. 52But he led his own people like a flock of sheep, guiding them safely through the wilderness. 53He kept them safe so they were not afraid; but the sea covered their enemies. 54He brought them to the border of his holy land, to this land of hills he had won for them. 55He drove out the nations before them; he gave them their inheritance by lot. He settled the tribes of Israel into their homes.
56But they kept testing and rebelling against God Most High. They did not obey his laws. 57They turned back and were as faithless as their parents. They were as undependable as a crooked bow. 58They angered God by building shrines to other gods; they made him jealous with their idols. 59When God heard them, he was very angry, and he completely rejected Israel. 60Then he abandoned his dwelling at Shiloh, the Tabernacle where he had lived among the people. 61He allowed the Ark of his might to be captured; he surrendered his glory into enemy hands. 62He gave his people over to be butchered by the sword, because he was so angry with his own people — his special possession. 63Their young men were killed by fire; their young women died before singing their wedding songs. 64Their priests were slaughtered, and their widows could not mourn their deaths.
65Then the Lord rose up as though waking from sleep, like a warrior aroused from a drunken stupor. 66He routed his enemies and sent them to eternal shame. 67But he rejected Joseph’s descendants; he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim. 68He chose instead the tribe of Judah, and Mount Zion, which he loved. 69There he built his sanctuary as high as the heavens, as solid and enduring as the earth. 70He chose his servant David, calling him from the sheep pens. 71He took David from tending the ewes and lambs and made him the shepherd of Jacob’s descendants — God’s own people, Israel. 72He cared for them with a true heart and led them with skillful hands.
King James Version

1Maschil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
3Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.
4We will not hide them from their children, showing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath 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:
6That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:
7That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:
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 steadfast with God.
9The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.
10They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law;
11And forgot his works, and his wonders that he had showed them.
12Marvelous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
13He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as a heap.
14In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.
15He cleaved the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths.
16He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.
17And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness.
18And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.
19Yea, they spoke against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?
20Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?
21Therefore the Lord heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel;
22Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation:
23Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,
24And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.
25Man did eat angels' food: he sent them meat to the full.
26He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind.
27He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea:
28And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations.
29So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire;
30They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths,
31The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.
32For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.
33Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.
34When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and inquired early after God.
35And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.
36Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.
37For their heart was not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant.
38But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.
39For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.
40How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!
41Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.
42They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy.
43How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan:
44And had turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, that they could not drink.
45He sent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them.
46He gave also their increase unto the caterpillar, and their labor unto the locust.
47He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycamore trees with frost.
48He gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts.
49He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.
50He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence;
51And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:
52But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
53And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
54And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased.
55He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
56Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies:
57But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.
58For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.
59When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel:
60So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men;
61And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's hand.
62He gave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance.
63The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage.
64Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation.
65Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.
66And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach.
67Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim:
68But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved.
69And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established forever.
70He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:
71From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.
72So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.
New King James Version

1{A Contemplation of Asaph.} Give ear, O my people, to my law; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. 2I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, 3Which 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 the Lord, And His strength and His wonderful works that 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; 6 That the generation to come might know them, The children who would be born, That they may arise and declare them to their children, 7That they may set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments; 8And may not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not set its heart aright, And whose spirit was not faithful to God. 9The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, Turned back in the day of battle. 10 They did not keep the covenant of God; They refused to walk in His law, 11And forgot His works And His wonders that He had shown them. 12 Marvelous things He did in the sight of their fathers, In the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. 13 He divided the sea and caused them to pass through; And He made the waters stand up like a heap. 14 In the daytime also He led them with the cloud, And all the night with a light of fire. 15 He split the rocks in the wilderness, And gave them drink in abundance like the depths. 16He also brought streams out of the rock, And caused waters to run down like rivers. 17But they sinned even more against Him By rebelling against the Most High in the wilderness. 18And they tested God in their heart By asking for the food of their fancy. 19 Yes, they spoke against God: They said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness? 20 Behold, He struck the rock, So that the waters gushed out, And the streams overflowed. Can He give bread also? Can He provide meat for His people?” 21Therefore the Lord heard this and was furious; So a fire was kindled against Jacob, And anger also came up against Israel, 22Because they did not believe in God, And did not trust in His salvation. 23Yet He had commanded the clouds above, And opened the doors of heaven, 24 Had rained down manna on them to eat, And given them of the bread of heaven. 25Men ate angels’ food; He sent them food to the full. 26 He caused an east wind to blow in the heavens; And by His power He brought in the south wind. 27He also rained meat on them like the dust, Feathered fowl like the sand of the seas; 28And He let them fall in the midst of their camp, All around their dwellings. 29 So they ate and were well filled, For He gave them their own desire. 30They were not deprived of their craving; But while their food was still in their mouths, 31The wrath of God came against them, And slew the stoutest of them, And struck down the choice men of Israel. 32In spite of this they still sinned, And did not believe in His wondrous works. 33 Therefore their days He consumed in futility, And their years in fear. 34 When He slew them, then they sought Him; And they returned and sought earnestly for God. 35Then they remembered that God was their rock, And the Most High God their Redeemer. 36Nevertheless they flattered Him with their mouth, And they lied to Him with their tongue; 37For their heart was not steadfast with Him, Nor were they faithful in His covenant. 38 But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, And did not destroy them. Yes, many a time He turned His anger away, And did not stir up all His wrath; 39For He remembered that they were but flesh, A breath that passes away and does not come again. 40How often they provoked Him in the wilderness, And grieved Him in the desert! 41Yes, again and again they tempted God, And limited the Holy One of Israel. 42They did not remember His power: The day when He redeemed them from the enemy, 43When He worked His signs in Egypt, And His wonders in the field of Zoan; 44 Turned their rivers into blood, And their streams, that they could not drink. 45 He sent swarms of flies among them, which devoured them, And frogs, which destroyed them. 46He also gave their crops to the caterpillar, And their labor to the locust. 47 He destroyed their vines with hail, And their sycamore trees with frost. 48He also gave up their cattle to the hail, And their flocks to fiery lightning. 49He cast on them the fierceness of His anger, Wrath, indignation, and trouble, By sending angels of destruction among them. 50He made a path for His anger; He did not spare their soul from death, But gave their life over to the plague, 51And destroyed all the firstborn in Egypt, The first of their strength in the tents of Ham. 52But He made His own people go forth like sheep, And guided them in the wilderness like a flock; 53And He led them on safely, so that they did not fear; But the sea overwhelmed their enemies. 54And He brought them to His holy border, This mountain which His right hand had acquired. 55 He also drove out the nations before them, Allotted them an inheritance by survey, And made the tribes of Israel dwell in their tents. 56 Yet they tested and provoked the Most High God, And did not keep His testimonies, 57But turned back and acted unfaithfully like their fathers; They were turned aside like a deceitful bow. 58 For they provoked Him to anger with their high places, And moved Him to jealousy with their carved images. 59When God heard this, He was furious, And greatly abhorred Israel, 60 So that He forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, The tent He had placed among men, 61 And delivered His strength into captivity, And His glory into the enemy’s hand. 62 He also gave His people over to the sword, And was furious with His inheritance. 63The fire consumed their young men, And their maidens were not given in marriage. 64 Their priests fell by the sword, And their widows made no lamentation. 65Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, Like a mighty man who shouts because of wine. 66And He beat back His enemies; He put them to a perpetual reproach. 67Moreover He rejected the tent of Joseph, And did not choose the tribe of Ephraim, 68But chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which He loved. 69And 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; 71From following the ewes that had young He brought him, To shepherd Jacob His people, And Israel His inheritance. 72So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.

What does Psalm chapter 78 mean?

Asaph's psalms often start with expressions of deep resentment (Psalm 73:2–3; 74:1; 77:2–3; 79:5) which are overcome by reassurance about God's nature (Psalm 73:16–18; 74:12; 77:10–11; 79:13). This psalm is a resource which encourages that very process. This makes the use of the term maskiyl appropriate. Maskiyl is used for thoughtful, reflective psalms (Psalm 32; 52; 89).

Israel was always meant to remember what God had done for them (Exodus 10:2). These stories were passed from generation to generation (Psalm 44:1). Asaph commits to teaching his era's children about all the Lord's incredible work on behalf of Israel. This is both an encouragement to trust God and a warning about those who failed to honor Him (Psalm 78:1–8).

An example of failure is the Ephraimites. No context is given for the remark about them losing heart and turning away from God. Some interpreters believe this is a prophetic comment. Others suggest it symbolizes some spiritual failure which led to Judah, not Ephraim, becoming dominant over the twelve tribes. Still another view is that this refers to a literal event which is not recorded elsewhere in the Bible (Psalm 78:9–11).

The most spectacular examples of the Lord's power and love for Israel came during the exodus from Egypt. God brought intense plagues on Egypt, breaking the nation's power and showing the Lord's supremacy (Exodus 3:19–20; 6:6–8; 7:15). This led to the parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21–22), which sealed Israel's rescue from slavery. God's power was evident day and night (Exodus 13:21–22). He even provided plentiful fresh water in a desert wilderness (Exodus 15:23–25). But Israel continued to complain, even as God miraculously provided food and water. Rather than gratitude for earlier miracles, the people became entitled and doubtful (Psalm 78:12–20).

God responded to Israel's disrespect and arrogance with a display of fiery power (Numbers 11:1–3). Then, mercifully, He provided food in the form of bread and meat (Exodus 16:12–15). Even then, the people were not satisfied, so God struck them (Numbers 11:33) with a plague (Psalm 78:21–31).

This pattern of forgetfulness and complaining continued for Israel's entire journey through the wilderness and into their settlement in Canaan. No matter how often the Lord intervened, the people fell back into disobedience. Rather than destroying them outright, God chose to be merciful. This patience is amazing, considering all the intense disasters which God brought onto the people of Egypt (Exodus 3:20). Asaph describes the ten plagues (Exodus 7—12); this included the death of Egypt's firstborn (Exodus 12:29–30) and the first Passover (Exodus 12:12–14). Then God brought His people safely across the Red Sea, drowning their enemies (Exodus 14:26–29). He then empowered the people to overcome depraved Canaanite nations to settle in the Promised Land (Psalm 78:32–55).

After entering Canaan, Israel continued to fall into sin and rejection of their Lord God (Judges 2:16–19). As promised (Deuteronomy 11:26–28), God responded by allowing other nations to oppress and even conquer Israel (Deuteronomy 28:15–25). Among the most embarrassing of these defeats was a battlefield loss to the Philistines (1 Samuel 4:10), who temporarily captured the ark of the covenant (1 Samuel 4:11). Some of Israel's leading priests were killed in that event (Psalm 78:56–64).

Through all these events, the Lord was still working for Israel's benefit. The lessons and experiences in Sinai and Canaan led to the rise of David (1 Samuel 16:1–13; 2 Samuel 1:4). He established his capital on mount Zion, which became the city of Jerusalem. Though David was not Israel's first king (1 Samuel 10:21–24), he was its greatest ruler (Psalm 78:65–72).

These highlights cover Israel's history from slavery in Egypt to a kingdom under the rule of David. Asaph's purpose is to support the idea that no matter how far Israel fell, God was still with them. He has always rewarded those who are faithful to Him.
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