Psalm 78
A Maskil of Asaph.
My people, give ear to my words of instruction,
and listen intently to what I impart.
I'll give you a parable as introduction,
revealing the secrets and lore from the start.
We've all heard and known about this information
that passes from father to daughter and son.
We'll not hide these truths from the next generation
that tell of the LORD's works and wonders he's done.
To Jacob, God's laws and decrees have been handed,
his rules were established within Israel.
Then, to our ancestors he also commanded
that fathers train each of their children as well,
so, they would all know — even those yet begotten,
and they'd teach their own children these things one day.
Then all would trust God and would not have forgotten
his infinite deeds and commands to obey.
And they would not act like their fathers before them,
rebellious and stubborn throughout all their days.
Unfaithful, they shunned God and chose to ignore him,
refusing to give God their hearts and their ways.
The Ephraimites, armed with bows for the mayhem,
turned back from the battle and fled on that day.
They kept not God's promise, refused to obey him;
forgot what he'd done and his works on display.
He did mighty things in the sight of our fathers,
in Egypt near Zoan, the banks of the Nile.
Dividing the sea, they walked through the walled waters
that stood on both sides that he stacked on a pile.
By day they were led by a cloud that they followed,
by night, while they slept was a pillar of flame.
Split rocks in the desert spilled water they swallowed;
abundantly flowing as seas, water came.
The streams from the rock flowing out like a river,
yet they sinned still more and provoked the Most High.
They pressed God, demanding choice food be delivered:
Can God's table feed us in places this dry?
When he struck the rock, water gushed forth and flowed out.
But can he give bread and provide us with meat?
But when the LORD heard this, his anger left no doubt:
fire burned against Jacob, and Israel, heat.
They did not believe God nor trust in his power;
yet he opened heaven's doors, letting it rain —
he rained on them manna to eat with that shower;
providing them bread made with heavenly grain.
The bread of the angels to humans was given;
much more than they ever could force in their mouth.
He caused an east wind to start blowing from heaven,
and by his great might drove the wind from the south.
He rained on them meat, thick as dust — even thicker;
and plenty of birds — like the sand on the shore!
Birds quickly filled camp, but the people were quicker
and gathered them up near their tents by the score.
They ate and they gorged till their bellies were sated —
he'd given the thing they had craved for so long.
And yet before their lust had fully abated,
before they could finish, with food on their tongue,
God's anger flared up and some great men were killed;
the lives of their choicest and best men were stilled.
In spite of all this, they continued their sinning;
his wonders meant nothing to their unbelief.
Their days were consumed in futility, spinning:
their years finally ending in terror and grief.
Whenever God slew them, they'd finally surrender;
repenting, they sought him and earnestly prayed.
Recalling that God was their rock and defender,
redeemer and savior who came to their aid.
But then they deceived him with mouths meant to flatter;
their tongues promised lies and their words were untrue.
Their hearts were disloyal till he did not matter;
their part of the covenant, broken in two.
Yet he still forgave them with loving compassion,
when he could have slain and destroyed them for good.
And time after time the LORD's anger was rationed
so, he did not vent all his rage like he could.
Remembering they were mere flesh and he made them;
a breeze passing by that is lost in the air.
How oft in the desert had they disobeyed him,
and moved him to wrath in the wilderness there.
They tested God seemingly hour by hour,
declaring which signs that the Holy One show.
They did not remember his strength nor his power
that day he redeemed them from their mighty foe,
when Egypt was stunned at his signs he was showing,
in fields, there in Zoan, his wonders were seen.
For he turned their rivers to blood that were flowing,
so, no one could drink from the putrefied streams.
He sent swarms of flies that consumed and annoyed them;
then wrecked them with frogs who raised havoc non-stop.
He gave to the grasshoppers fields who destroyed them,
and locusts were given their harvested crop.
The grapes of their vineyards, by hail stones, were shattered,
their sycamore fig trees were covered in frost.
He handed their cattle to hail to be battered;
when lightning bolts struck them, their livestock were lost.
He loosed on them anger — his rage, fierce and flaring,
dispatching a band of his angels of death.
His wrath cleared the way throughout Egypt, not sparing
their souls from the plague that took their final breath.
The firstborn of Egypt were struck down in sleep then;
the first and the best of descendants of Ham.
He led his own people like sheep from a sheep pen
out into the wilderness safe with each lamb.
He led them in safety where nothing was scary;
their foes were engulfed by the sea and were drowned.
They came to the edge of the LORD's sanctuary,
to Zion, where his right hand purchased the ground.
He drove out the nations where homes had been plotted,
he drove out the heathen who had no defense;
the land was divided, and homes were allotted,
the tribes taking over their enemy's tents.
They still tested God on victorious soil,
refusing to keep both his statutes and laws.
They turned like their fathers — they, too, were disloyal;
as treacherous as a warped bow with its flaws.
They angered their God with the shrines they erected;
they made the LORD jealous with idols of stone.
On hearing it, God became wroth and rejected —
completely rejecting his people, his own.
Abandoning Shiloh, his home there forsaken;
the tent where he dwelt on the earth among man.
Allowing the Ark of his might to be taken;
surrendering glory to enemy hands.
Delivered his people to sword and to power;
enraged by his nation, his heirloom and pride.
Their chosen young men, flames consumed and devoured;
their maidens would never, therefore, become brides.
Their priests, by the sword-edge, were slaughtered in numbers;
their widows could not weep nor show their distress.
The LORD then arose as if waking from slumber;
like warriors aroused by their wine of excess.
He beat back his enemies — those he selected,
and put them forever and ever to shame.
Descendants of Joseph, he also rejected;
and Ephraim's tribe was not chosen by name.
Instead, he chose Judah, the tribe he chose solely;
the mountain of Zion, where he loved to reign.
He built there his temple in heights that were holy;
like earth, he's established to ever remain.
He also chose David his servant, attending
his ewes and his lambs — the LORD chose him, alone.
He brought him to shepherd the people descending
from Jacob, his people, his nation, God's own.
So, David, their shepherd, with heart that was pure,
would guide them with hands that were skillful and sure.
My people, give ear to my words of instruction,
and listen intently to what I impart.
I'll give you a parable as introduction,
revealing the secrets and lore from the start.
We've all heard and known about this information
that passes from father to daughter and son.
We'll not hide these truths from the next generation
that tell of the LORD's works and wonders he's done.
To Jacob, God's laws and decrees have been handed,
his rules were established within Israel.
Then, to our ancestors he also commanded
that fathers train each of their children as well,
so, they would all know — even those yet begotten,
and they'd teach their own children these things one day.
Then all would trust God and would not have forgotten
his infinite deeds and commands to obey.
And they would not act like their fathers before them,
rebellious and stubborn throughout all their days.
Unfaithful, they shunned God and chose to ignore him,
refusing to give God their hearts and their ways.
The Ephraimites, armed with bows for the mayhem,
turned back from the battle and fled on that day.
They kept not God's promise, refused to obey him;
forgot what he'd done and his works on display.
He did mighty things in the sight of our fathers,
in Egypt near Zoan, the banks of the Nile.
Dividing the sea, they walked through the walled waters
that stood on both sides that he stacked on a pile.
By day they were led by a cloud that they followed,
by night, while they slept was a pillar of flame.
Split rocks in the desert spilled water they swallowed;
abundantly flowing as seas, water came.
The streams from the rock flowing out like a river,
yet they sinned still more and provoked the Most High.
They pressed God, demanding choice food be delivered:
Can God's table feed us in places this dry?
When he struck the rock, water gushed forth and flowed out.
But can he give bread and provide us with meat?
But when the LORD heard this, his anger left no doubt:
fire burned against Jacob, and Israel, heat.
They did not believe God nor trust in his power;
yet he opened heaven's doors, letting it rain —
he rained on them manna to eat with that shower;
providing them bread made with heavenly grain.
The bread of the angels to humans was given;
much more than they ever could force in their mouth.
He caused an east wind to start blowing from heaven,
and by his great might drove the wind from the south.
He rained on them meat, thick as dust — even thicker;
and plenty of birds — like the sand on the shore!
Birds quickly filled camp, but the people were quicker
and gathered them up near their tents by the score.
They ate and they gorged till their bellies were sated —
he'd given the thing they had craved for so long.
And yet before their lust had fully abated,
before they could finish, with food on their tongue,
God's anger flared up and some great men were killed;
the lives of their choicest and best men were stilled.
In spite of all this, they continued their sinning;
his wonders meant nothing to their unbelief.
Their days were consumed in futility, spinning:
their years finally ending in terror and grief.
Whenever God slew them, they'd finally surrender;
repenting, they sought him and earnestly prayed.
Recalling that God was their rock and defender,
redeemer and savior who came to their aid.
But then they deceived him with mouths meant to flatter;
their tongues promised lies and their words were untrue.
Their hearts were disloyal till he did not matter;
their part of the covenant, broken in two.
Yet he still forgave them with loving compassion,
when he could have slain and destroyed them for good.
And time after time the LORD's anger was rationed
so, he did not vent all his rage like he could.
Remembering they were mere flesh and he made them;
a breeze passing by that is lost in the air.
How oft in the desert had they disobeyed him,
and moved him to wrath in the wilderness there.
They tested God seemingly hour by hour,
declaring which signs that the Holy One show.
They did not remember his strength nor his power
that day he redeemed them from their mighty foe,
when Egypt was stunned at his signs he was showing,
in fields, there in Zoan, his wonders were seen.
For he turned their rivers to blood that were flowing,
so, no one could drink from the putrefied streams.
He sent swarms of flies that consumed and annoyed them;
then wrecked them with frogs who raised havoc non-stop.
He gave to the grasshoppers fields who destroyed them,
and locusts were given their harvested crop.
The grapes of their vineyards, by hail stones, were shattered,
their sycamore fig trees were covered in frost.
He handed their cattle to hail to be battered;
when lightning bolts struck them, their livestock were lost.
He loosed on them anger — his rage, fierce and flaring,
dispatching a band of his angels of death.
His wrath cleared the way throughout Egypt, not sparing
their souls from the plague that took their final breath.
The firstborn of Egypt were struck down in sleep then;
the first and the best of descendants of Ham.
He led his own people like sheep from a sheep pen
out into the wilderness safe with each lamb.
He led them in safety where nothing was scary;
their foes were engulfed by the sea and were drowned.
They came to the edge of the LORD's sanctuary,
to Zion, where his right hand purchased the ground.
He drove out the nations where homes had been plotted,
he drove out the heathen who had no defense;
the land was divided, and homes were allotted,
the tribes taking over their enemy's tents.
They still tested God on victorious soil,
refusing to keep both his statutes and laws.
They turned like their fathers — they, too, were disloyal;
as treacherous as a warped bow with its flaws.
They angered their God with the shrines they erected;
they made the LORD jealous with idols of stone.
On hearing it, God became wroth and rejected —
completely rejecting his people, his own.
Abandoning Shiloh, his home there forsaken;
the tent where he dwelt on the earth among man.
Allowing the Ark of his might to be taken;
surrendering glory to enemy hands.
Delivered his people to sword and to power;
enraged by his nation, his heirloom and pride.
Their chosen young men, flames consumed and devoured;
their maidens would never, therefore, become brides.
Their priests, by the sword-edge, were slaughtered in numbers;
their widows could not weep nor show their distress.
The LORD then arose as if waking from slumber;
like warriors aroused by their wine of excess.
He beat back his enemies — those he selected,
and put them forever and ever to shame.
Descendants of Joseph, he also rejected;
and Ephraim's tribe was not chosen by name.
Instead, he chose Judah, the tribe he chose solely;
the mountain of Zion, where he loved to reign.
He built there his temple in heights that were holy;
like earth, he's established to ever remain.
He also chose David his servant, attending
his ewes and his lambs — the LORD chose him, alone.
He brought him to shepherd the people descending
from Jacob, his people, his nation, God's own.
So, David, their shepherd, with heart that was pure,
would guide them with hands that were skillful and sure.
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