[1] Maschil. Of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law; let your ears be
bent down to the words of my mouth. [2] Opening my mouth I will give out a
story, even the dark sayings of old times; [3] Which have come to our
hearing and our knowledge, as they were given to us by our fathers. [4] We
will not keep them secret from our children; we will make clear to the
coming generation the praises of the Lord and his strength, and the great
works of wonder which he has done. [5] He put up a witness in Jacob, and
made a law in Israel; which he gave to our fathers so that they might give
knowledge of them to their children; [6] So that the generation to come
might have knowledge of them, even the children of the future, who would
give word of them to their children; [7] So that they might put their hope
in God, and not let God's works go out of their minds, but keep his laws;
[8] And not be like their fathers, a stiff-necked and uncontrolled
generation; a generation whose heart was hard, whose spirit was not true to
God. [9] The children of Ephraim, armed with bows, were turned back on the
day of the fight. [10] They were not ruled by God's word, and they would
not go in the way of his law; [11] They let his works go out of their
memory, and the wonders which he had made them see. [12] He did great works
before the eyes of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the fields of
Zoan. [13] The sea was cut in two so that they might go through; the waters
were massed together on this side and on that. [14] In the daytime he was
guiding them in the cloud, and all through the night with a light of fire.
[15] The rocks of the waste land were broken by his power, and he gave them
drink as out of the deep waters. [16] He made streams come out of the rock;
and waters came flowing down like rivers. [17] And they went on sinning
against him even more, turning away from the Most High in the waste land;
[18] Testing God in their hearts, requesting meat for their desire. [19]
They said bitter words against God, saying, Is God able to make ready a
table in the waste land? [20] See, the rock was cut open by his power, so
that the water came rushing out, and overflowing streams; is he able to
give us bread? is he able to get meat for his people? [21] So these things
came to the Lord's ears, and he was angry; and a fire was lighted against
Jacob, and wrath came up against Israel; [22] Because they had no faith in
God, and no hope in his salvation. [23] And he gave orders to the clouds on
high, and the doors of heaven were open; [24] And he sent down manna like
rain for their food, and gave them the grain of heaven. [25] Man took part
in the food of strong ones; he sent them meat in full measure. [26] He sent
an east wind from heaven, driving on the south wind by his power. [27] He
sent down meat on them like dust, and feathered birds like the sand of the
sea, [28] And he let it come down into their resting-place, round about
their tents. [29] So they had food and were full; for he gave them their
desire; [30] But they were not turned from their desires; and while the
food was still in their mouths, [31] The wrath of God came on them, and put
to death the fattest of them, and put an end to the young men of Israel.
[32] For all this they went on sinning even more, and had no faith in his
great wonders. [33] So their days were wasted like a breath, and their
years in trouble. [34] When he sent death on them, then they made search
for him; turning to him and looking for him with care; [35] In the memory
that God was their Rock, and the Most High God their saviour. [36] But
their lips were false to him, and their tongues were untrue to him; [37]
And their hearts were not right with him, and they did not keep their
agreement with him. [38] But he, being full of pity, has forgiveness for
sin, and does not put an end to man: frequently turning back his wrath, and
not being violently angry. [39] So he kept in mind that they were only
flesh; a breath which is quickly gone, and will not come again. [40] How
frequently did they go against him in the waste land, and give him cause
for grief in the dry places! [41] Again they put God to the test, and gave
pain to the Holy One of Israel. [42] They did not keep in mind the work of
his hand, or the day when he took them from the power of their haters; [43]
How he had done his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan;
[44] So that their rivers were turned to blood, and they were not able to
get drink from their streams. [45] He sent different sorts of flies among
them, poisoning their flesh; and frogs for their destruction. [46] He gave
the increase of their fields to worms, the fruits of their industry to the
locusts. [47] He sent ice for the destruction of their vines; their trees
were damaged by the bitter cold. [48] Ice was rained down on their cattle;
thunderstorms sent destruction among the flocks. [49] He sent on them the
heat of his wrath, his bitter disgust, letting loose evil angels among
them. [50] He let his wrath have its way; he did not keep back their soul
from death, but gave their life to disease. [51] He gave to destruction all
the first sons of Egypt; the first-fruits of their strength in the tents of
Ham; [52] But he took his people out like sheep, guiding them in the waste
land like a flock. [53] He took them on safely so that they had no fear;
but their haters were covered by the sea. [54] And he was their guide to
his holy land, even to the mountain, which his right hand had made his;
[55] Driving out nations before them, marking out the line of their
heritage, and giving the people of Israel their tents for a resting-place.
[56] But they were bitter against the Most High God, testing him, and not
keeping his laws; [57] Their hearts were turned back and untrue like their
fathers; they were turned to one side like a twisted bow. [58] They made
him angry with their high places; moving him to wrath with their images.
[59] When this came to God's ears he was very angry, and gave up Israel
completely; [60] So that he went away from the holy place in Shiloh, the
tent which he had put among men; [61] And he let his strength be taken
prisoner, and gave his glory into the hands of his hater. [62] He gave his
people up to the sword, and was angry with his heritage. [63] Their young
men were burned in the fire; and their virgins were not praised in the
bride-song. [64] Their priests were put to death by the sword, and their
widows made no weeping for them. [65] Then was the Lord like one awaking
from sleep, and like a strong man crying out because of wine. [66] His
haters were turned back by his blows and shamed for ever. [67] And he put
the tent of Joseph on one side, and took not the tribe of Ephraim; [68] But
he took the tribe of Judah for himself, and the mountain of Zion, in which
he had pleasure. [69] And he made his holy place like the high heaven, like
the earth which is fixed by him for ever. [70] He took David to be his
servant, taking him from the place of the flocks; [71] From looking after
the sheep which were giving milk, he took him to give food to Jacob his
people, and to Israel his heritage. [72] So he gave them food with an
upright heart, guiding them by the wisdom of his hands.