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Psalms 78
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New American Standard Bible 2020

Psalms 78

God’s Guidance of His People in Spite of Their Unfaithfulness.

A Possibly, Contemplative; or Didactic; or Skillful PsalmMaskil of Asaph.

11Listen, my people, to my 2instruction; 3Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.2I will 4open my mouth in a parable; I will tell 5riddles of old,3Which we have heard and known, And 6our fathers have told us.4We will 7not conceal them from their children, But we will 8tell the generation to come the praises of the Lord, And His power and His 9wondrous works that He has done.

5For He established a 10testimony in Jacob, And appointed a 11law in Israel, Which He 12commanded our fathers That they were to 1314teach them to their children,615So that the generation to come would know, 16the children yet to be born, That they would arise and 17tell them to their children,7So that they would put their confidence in God And 18not forget the works of God, But 19comply with His commandments,8And 20not be like their fathers, A 21stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that 22did not 23prepare its heart And whose spirit was not 24faithful to God.

9The sons of Ephraim 25were 26archers equipped with bows, Yet 27they turned back on the day of battle.10They 28did not keep the covenant of God And refused to 29walk in His Law;11They 30forgot His deeds And His 31miracles that He had shown them.1232He performed wonders before their fathers In the land of Egypt, in the 33field of Zoan.13He 34divided the sea and caused them to pass through, And He made the waters stand 35up like a heap.14Then He led them with the cloud by 36day And all the night with a 37light of fire.15He 38split the rocks in the wilderness And gave them plenty to drink like the ocean depths.16He 39brought forth streams from the rock And made waters run down like rivers.

17Yet they still continued to sin against Him, To 40rebel against the Most High in the desert.18And in their heart they 41put God to the test By asking for 42food 43that suited their taste.19Then they spoke against God; They said, “44Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?20Behold, He 45struck the rock so that waters gushed out, And streams were overflowing; Can He also provide bread? Will He prepare 46meat for His people?”

21Therefore the Lord heard and 47was 48full of wrath; And a fire was kindled against Jacob, And anger also mounted against Israel,22Because they 49did not believe in God And did not trust in His salvation.23Yet He commanded the clouds above And 50opened the doors of heaven;24He 51rained down manna upon them to eat, And gave them 5253food from heaven.25Man ate the bread of 54angels; He sent them 55food 5657in abundance.26He 58made the east wind blow in the sky And by His 59power He directed the south wind.27When He rained meat upon them like the dust, Even 60winged fowl like the sand of the seas,28He let them fall in the midst of 61their camp, All around their dwellings.29So they 62ate and were well filled, And He 63satisfied their longing.3064Yet before they had abandoned their longing, 65While their food was in their mouths,31The 66anger of God rose against them And killed 67some of their 68strongest ones, And 69subdued the choice men of Israel.32In spite of all this they 70still sinned And 71did not believe in His wonderful works.33So He brought 72their days to an end in futility, And their years to an end in sudden terror.

34When He killed them, then they 73sought Him, And they returned and searched 74diligently for God;35And they remembered that God was their 75rock, And the Most High God their 76Redeemer.36But they 77flattered Him with their mouth And 78lied to Him with their tongue.37For their heart was not 79steadfast toward Him, Nor were they faithful with His covenant.38But He, being 80compassionate, 8182forgave their wrongdoing and did not destroy them; And often He 8384restrained His anger And did not stir up all His wrath.39So 85He remembered that they were only 86flesh, A 8788wind that passes and does not return.

40How often they 89rebelled against Him in the wilderness And 90grieved Him in the 91desert!41Again and again they 9293tempted God, And pained the 94Holy One of Israel.42They 95did not remember 96His 97power, The day when He 98redeemed them from the enemy,43When He performed His 99signs in Egypt And His 100marvels in the field of Zoan,44And 101turned their rivers to blood, And their streams, so that they could not drink.45He sent swarms of 102flies among them that devoured them, And 103frogs that destroyed them.46He also gave their crops to the 104grasshopper And the product of their labor to the 105locust.47He 106destroyed their vines with 107hailstones And their sycamore trees with frost.48He also turned their 108cattle over to the hailstones, And their herds to bolts of lightning.49He 109sent His burning anger upon them, Fury and indignation and trouble, A band of 110destroying angels.50He leveled a path for His anger; He did not spare their souls from death, But 111turned their lives over to the plague,51And 112struck all the firstborn in Egypt, The 113first and best of their vigor in the tents of 114Ham.52But He 115led His own people out like sheep, And guided them in the wilderness 116like a flock;53He led them 117safely, so that they did not fear; But 118the sea engulfed their enemies.

54So 119He brought them to His holy 120land, To this 121122hill country 123which His right hand had gained.55He also 124drove out the nations from them And 125apportioned them as an inheritance by measurement, And had the tribes of Israel dwell in their tents.56Yet they 126127tempted and 128rebelled against the Most High God And did not keep His testimonies,57But turned back and 129acted treacherously like their fathers; They 130turned aside like a treacherous bow.58For they 131provoked Him with their 132high places And 133moved Him to jealousy with their 134carved images.59When God heard them, He 135was filled with 136wrath And He utterly 137rejected Israel;60So that He 138abandoned the 139dwelling place at Shiloh, The tent 140which He had pitched among people,61And He gave up His 141strength to captivity And His glory 142into the hand of the enemy.62He also 143turned His people over to the sword, And 144was filled with wrath at His inheritance.63145Fire devoured 146His young men, And 147His 148virgins had no wedding songs.64149His 150priests fell by the sword, And 151His 152widows could not weep.

65Then the Lord 153awoke as if from sleep, Like a 154warrior 155overcome by wine.66He 156157drove His adversaries backward; He put on them an everlasting disgrace.67He also 158rejected the tent of Joseph, And did not choose the tribe of Ephraim,68But chose the tribe of Judah, Mount 159Zion, which He loved.69And He 160built His sanctuary like the heights, Like the earth which He has established forever.70He also 161chose His servant David And took him from the sheepfolds;71From 162163the care of the 164ewes 165with nursing lambs He brought him To 166shepherd Jacob His people, And Israel 167His inheritance.72So he shepherded them according to the 168integrity of his heart, And guided them with his skillful hands.

Notes

  1. 1. Psalms 78:1 Is 51:4 ↩
  2. 2. Psalms 78:1 Or law, teaching ↩
  3. 3. Psalms 78:1 Is 55:3 ↩
  4. 4. Psalms 78:2 Ps 49:4; Matt 13:35 ↩
  5. 5. Psalms 78:2 Prov 1:6 ↩
  6. 6. Psalms 78:3 Ps 44:1 ↩
  7. 7. Psalms 78:4 Ex 12:26; Deut 6:7; 11:19; Job 15:18; Ps 145:4; Is 38:19; Joel 1:3 ↩
  8. 8. Psalms 78:4 Ex 13:8, 14; Ps 22:30 ↩
  9. 9. Psalms 78:4 Job 37:16; Ps 26:7; 71:17 ↩
  10. 10. Psalms 78:5 Ps 19:7; 81:5; Is 8:20 ↩
  11. 11. Psalms 78:5 Ps 147:19 ↩
  12. 12. Psalms 78:5 Deut 6:4-9 ↩
  13. 13. Psalms 78:5 Lit make them known ↩
  14. 14. Psalms 78:5 Deut 4:9 ↩
  15. 15. Psalms 78:6 Ps 102:18 ↩
  16. 16. Psalms 78:6 Ps 22:31 ↩
  17. 17. Psalms 78:6 Deut 11:19 ↩
  18. 18. Psalms 78:7 Deut 4:9; 6:12; 8:14 ↩
  19. 19. Psalms 78:7 Deut 4:2; 5:1, 29; 27:1; Josh 22:5 ↩
  20. 20. Psalms 78:8 2 Kin 17:14; 2 Chr 30:7; Ezek 20:18 ↩
  21. 21. Psalms 78:8 Ex 32:9; Deut 9:7, 24; 31:27; Judg 2:19; Is 30:9 ↩
  22. 22. Psalms 78:8 Job 11:13; Ps 78:37 ↩
  23. 23. Psalms 78:8 Or put right ↩
  24. 24. Psalms 78:8 Ps 51:10 ↩
  25. 25. Psalms 78:9 Or being ↩
  26. 26. Psalms 78:9 1 Chr 12:2 ↩
  27. 27. Psalms 78:9 Judg 20:39; Ps 78:57 ↩
  28. 28. Psalms 78:10 Judg 2:20; 1 Kin 11:11; 2 Kin 17:15; 18:12 ↩
  29. 29. Psalms 78:10 Ps 119:1; Jer 32:23; 44:10, 23 ↩
  30. 30. Psalms 78:11 Ps 106:13 ↩
  31. 31. Psalms 78:11 Or wonderful works ↩
  32. 32. Psalms 78:12 Ex chs 7-12; Ps 106:22 ↩
  33. 33. Psalms 78:12 Num 13:22; Ps 78:43; Is 19:11; 30:4; Ezek 30:14 ↩
  34. 34. Psalms 78:13 Ex 14:21; Ps 74:13; 136:13 ↩
  35. 35. Psalms 78:13 Ex 15:8; Ps 33:7 ↩
  36. 36. Psalms 78:14 Ex 13:21; Ps 105:39 ↩
  37. 37. Psalms 78:14 Ex 14:24 ↩
  38. 38. Psalms 78:15 Ex 17:6; Num 20:11; Ps 105:41; 114:8; Is 48:21; 1 Cor 10:4 ↩
  39. 39. Psalms 78:16 Num 20:8, 10, 11 ↩
  40. 40. Psalms 78:17 Deut 9:22; Is 63:10; Heb 3:16 ↩
  41. 41. Psalms 78:18 Ex 17:6; Deut 6:16; Ps 78:41, 56; 95:9; 106:14; 1 Cor 10:9 ↩
  42. 42. Psalms 78:18 Num 11:4 ↩
  43. 43. Psalms 78:18 Lit to their soul ↩
  44. 44. Psalms 78:19 Ex 16:3; Num 11:4; 20:3; 21:5; Ps 23:5 ↩
  45. 45. Psalms 78:20 Num 20:11; Ps 78:15, 16 ↩
  46. 46. Psalms 78:20 Num 11:18 ↩
  47. 47. Psalms 78:21 Or became infuriated ↩
  48. 48. Psalms 78:21 Num 11:1 ↩
  49. 49. Psalms 78:22 Deut 1:32; 9:23; Heb 3:18 ↩
  50. 50. Psalms 78:23 Gen 7:11; Mal 3:10 ↩
  51. 51. Psalms 78:24 Ex 16:4 ↩
  52. 52. Psalms 78:24 Lit grain ↩
  53. 53. Psalms 78:24 Ps 105:40; John 6:31 ↩
  54. 54. Psalms 78:25 Lit mighty ones ↩
  55. 55. Psalms 78:25 Or provision ↩
  56. 56. Psalms 78:25 Lit to satiation ↩
  57. 57. Psalms 78:25 Ex 16:3 ↩
  58. 58. Psalms 78:26 Num 11:31 ↩
  59. 59. Psalms 78:26 Or strength ↩
  60. 60. Psalms 78:27 Ex 16:13; Ps 105:40 ↩
  61. 61. Psalms 78:28 Lit His ↩
  62. 62. Psalms 78:29 Num 11:19, 20 ↩
  63. 63. Psalms 78:29 Lit brought to them their ↩
  64. 64. Psalms 78:30 Lit They did not turn away from their ↩
  65. 65. Psalms 78:30 Num 11:33 ↩
  66. 66. Psalms 78:31 Num 11:33, 34; Job 20:23 ↩
  67. 67. Psalms 78:31 Lit among their fat ones ↩
  68. 68. Psalms 78:31 Is 10:16 ↩
  69. 69. Psalms 78:31 Lit caused to bow down ↩
  70. 70. Psalms 78:32 Num chs 14, 16, 17 ↩
  71. 71. Psalms 78:32 Num 14:11; Ps 78:11 ↩
  72. 72. Psalms 78:33 Num 14:29, 35 ↩
  73. 73. Psalms 78:34 Num 21:7; Hos 5:15 ↩
  74. 74. Psalms 78:34 Ps 63:1 ↩
  75. 75. Psalms 78:35 Deut 32:4 ↩
  76. 76. Psalms 78:35 Ex 15:13; Deut 9:26; Ps 74:2; Is 41:14 ↩
  77. 77. Psalms 78:36 Ex 24:7, 8; Ezek 33:31 ↩
  78. 78. Psalms 78:36 Ex 32:7, 8; Is 57:11 ↩
  79. 79. Psalms 78:37 Ps 51:10; 78:8; Acts 8:21 ↩
  80. 80. Psalms 78:38 Ex 34:6 ↩
  81. 81. Psalms 78:38 Lit covered over, atoned for ↩
  82. 82. Psalms 78:38 Num 14:18-20 ↩
  83. 83. Psalms 78:38 Lit turned away ↩
  84. 84. Psalms 78:38 Is 48:9 ↩
  85. 85. Psalms 78:39 Job 10:9; Ps 103:14 ↩
  86. 86. Psalms 78:39 Gen 6:3 ↩
  87. 87. Psalms 78:39 Or breath ↩
  88. 88. Psalms 78:39 Job 7:7, 16; Ps 103:14; James 4:14 ↩
  89. 89. Psalms 78:40 Ps 95:8, 9; 106:43; 107:11; Heb 3:16 ↩
  90. 90. Psalms 78:40 Ps 95:10; Is 63:10; Eph 4:30 ↩
  91. 91. Psalms 78:40 Ps 106:14 ↩
  92. 92. Psalms 78:41 Or put God to the test ↩
  93. 93. Psalms 78:41 Num 14:22 ↩
  94. 94. Psalms 78:41 2 Kin 19:22; Ps 89:18 ↩
  95. 95. Psalms 78:42 Judg 8:34 ↩
  96. 96. Psalms 78:42 Ps 44:3 ↩
  97. 97. Psalms 78:42 Lit hand ↩
  98. 98. Psalms 78:42 Ps 106:10 ↩
  99. 99. Psalms 78:43 Ps 105:27 ↩
  100. 100. Psalms 78:43 Ex 4:21; 7:3 ↩
  101. 101. Psalms 78:44 Ex 7:20; Ps 105:29 ↩
  102. 102. Psalms 78:45 Ex 8:24; Ps 105:31 ↩
  103. 103. Psalms 78:45 Ex 8:6; Ps 105:30 ↩
  104. 104. Psalms 78:46 1 Kin 8:37; Ps 105:34 ↩
  105. 105. Psalms 78:46 Ex 10:14 ↩
  106. 106. Psalms 78:47 Lit was killing ↩
  107. 107. Psalms 78:47 Ex 9:23-25; Ps 105:32 ↩
  108. 108. Psalms 78:48 Ex 9:19 ↩
  109. 109. Psalms 78:49 Ex 15:7 ↩
  110. 110. Psalms 78:49 Lit angels of evil ones; another reading is evil angels ↩
  111. 111. Psalms 78:50 Ex 12:29, 30 ↩
  112. 112. Psalms 78:51 Ex 12:29; Ps 105:36; 135:8; 136:10 ↩
  113. 113. Psalms 78:51 Gen 49:3 ↩
  114. 114. Psalms 78:51 Ps 105:23, 27; 106:22 ↩
  115. 115. Psalms 78:52 Ex 15:22 ↩
  116. 116. Psalms 78:52 Ps 77:20 ↩
  117. 117. Psalms 78:53 Ex 14:19, 20 ↩
  118. 118. Psalms 78:53 Ex 14:27, 28; Ps 106:11 ↩
  119. 119. Psalms 78:54 Ex 15:17 ↩
  120. 120. Psalms 78:54 Lit border, territory ↩
  121. 121. Psalms 78:54 Or mountain ↩
  122. 122. Psalms 78:54 Ps 68:16; Is 11:9 ↩
  123. 123. Psalms 78:54 Ps 44:3 ↩
  124. 124. Psalms 78:55 Josh 11:16-23; Ps 44:2 ↩
  125. 125. Psalms 78:55 Josh 13:7; 23:4; Ps 105:11; 135:12 ↩
  126. 126. Psalms 78:56 Or put to the test ↩
  127. 127. Psalms 78:56 Ps 78:18 ↩
  128. 128. Psalms 78:56 Judg 2:11-13; Ps 78:40 ↩
  129. 129. Psalms 78:57 Ezek 20:27, 28 ↩
  130. 130. Psalms 78:57 Hos 7:16 ↩
  131. 131. Psalms 78:58 Deut 4:25; Judg 2:12; 1 Kin 14:9; Is 65:3 ↩
  132. 132. Psalms 78:58 Lev 26:30; 1 Kin 3:2; 2 Kin 16:4; Jer 17:3 ↩
  133. 133. Psalms 78:58 Deut 32:16, 21; 1 Kin 14:22 ↩
  134. 134. Psalms 78:58 Ex 20:4; Lev 26:1; Deut 4:25 ↩
  135. 135. Psalms 78:59 Or became infuriated ↩
  136. 136. Psalms 78:59 Deut 1:34; 9:19; Ps 106:40 ↩
  137. 137. Psalms 78:59 Lev 26:30; Deut 32:19; Amos 6:8 ↩
  138. 138. Psalms 78:60 1 Sam 4:11; Ps 78:67; Jer 7:12, 14; 26:6 ↩
  139. 139. Psalms 78:60 Josh 18:1 ↩
  140. 140. Psalms 78:60 Some ancient versions where He dwelt ↩
  141. 141. Psalms 78:61 Ps 63:2; 132:8 ↩
  142. 142. Psalms 78:61 1 Sam 4:17 ↩
  143. 143. Psalms 78:62 Judg 20:21; 1 Sam 4:10 ↩
  144. 144. Psalms 78:62 Or became infuriated ↩
  145. 145. Psalms 78:63 Num 11:1; 21:28; Is 26:11; Jer 48:45 ↩
  146. 146. Psalms 78:63 Or their ↩
  147. 147. Psalms 78:63 Or their ↩
  148. 148. Psalms 78:63 Jer 7:34; 16:9; Lam 2:21 ↩
  149. 149. Psalms 78:64 Or their ↩
  150. 150. Psalms 78:64 1 Sam 4:17; 22:18 ↩
  151. 151. Psalms 78:64 Or their ↩
  152. 152. Psalms 78:64 Job 27:15; Ezek 24:23 ↩
  153. 153. Psalms 78:65 Ps 44:23; 73:20 ↩
  154. 154. Psalms 78:65 Is 42:13 ↩
  155. 155. Psalms 78:65 Or sobered up from ↩
  156. 156. Psalms 78:66 Lit struck ↩
  157. 157. Psalms 78:66 1 Sam 5:6 ↩
  158. 158. Psalms 78:67 Ps 78:60 ↩
  159. 159. Psalms 78:68 Ps 87:2; 132:13 ↩
  160. 160. Psalms 78:69 1 Kin 6:1-38 ↩
  161. 161. Psalms 78:70 1 Sam 16:11, 12 ↩
  162. 162. Psalms 78:71 Lit following ↩
  163. 163. Psalms 78:71 2 Sam 7:8; Is 40:11 ↩
  164. 164. Psalms 78:71 Lit ewes that wet-nurse, He ↩
  165. 165. Psalms 78:71 Gen 33:13 ↩
  166. 166. Psalms 78:71 2 Sam 5:2; 1 Chr 11:2; Ps 28:9 ↩
  167. 167. Psalms 78:71 1 Sam 10:1 ↩
  168. 168. Psalms 78:72 1 Kin 9:4 ↩

Commentaries on Psalms 78

New American Standard Bible 2020 — © 1960–2020 The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.