Psalms 78:43-68

43He did powerful miracles in Egypt, in the region of Zoan.

44He caused the Egyptians' rivers to become blood, so that they could not drink water from them.

45He sent large numbers of flies to bite them. He sent frogs that destroyed their land.

46He caused locusts to eat their crops, and everything that grew in their fields.

47He destroyed their vines with hail. He destroyed their fig trees with frost.

48He sent hail to kill their cows. He sent lightning to kill their other animals.

49He was so angry with them, that he sent terrible things to punish them. Great trouble came to them, like an army of his angels that bring death.

50Nothing could stop his anger. He did not save them from death. He let bad disease kill them.

51He killed all the firstborn sons in Egypt. The strongest men of Ham's descendants died.

52But God led his own people safely out of Egypt. But took them through the wilderness, like a shepherd leads his sheep.

53They were safe with him as their guide, and they were not afraid. But their enemies drowned in the sea.

54He brought his people to the edge of his holy land. It was land with the mountain that he had taken with his power.

55He chased away the nations that were living there. He gave to each tribe their own piece of land, so that Israel's tribes could live there.

56But the Israelites continued to test the Most High God, and they turned against him. They did not obey his commands.

57They turned away from him and they deceived him, as their ancestors had done. They were useless, like a bow that would not shoot straight!

58The places where they worshipped their idols made God very angry.

59God heard what they were doing, and he became very angry. He turned against the Israelite people.

60He went away from his home at Shiloh. That was the tent where he lived among people.

61He let Israel's enemies take away the Covenant Box, that showed his power and his glory.

62He was so angry with his own people, he let their enemies kill them in battle.

63Fire killed their young men in war. There was nobody for the young women to marry.

64Their priests died in battle. Their widows had no chance to weep.

65Then the Lord woke up, like someone had woken him from sleep. He shouted loudly, like a soldier who has drunk a lot of wine.

66He chased his enemies away. He caused them to be ashamed for ever.

67He chose not to live among Joseph's descendants. He did not choose the tribe of Ephraim.

68Instead, he chose the tribe of Judah. He chose Mount Zion, the place which he loves.