Psalms 78:43-68

43when He displayed His signs in Egypt and His wonders in the plain of Zoan.

44He turned their rivers into blood, so they could not drink from their streams.

45He sent on them flies to devour them, and frogs to devastate them,

46and gave their crops to the grasshopper, and their labor to the locust.

47He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycamore trees with frost,

48and gave over their cattle to the hail, and their flocks to fiery bolts.

49He sent on them the fury of His anger —wrath and indignation and trouble— a band of evil angels.

50He cleared a path for His anger. He spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the plague.

51He struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, the firstfruits of their strength in the tents of Ham.

52But He brought His people out like sheep, and led them in the wilderness like a flock.

53He led them to safety, so they did not fear, but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.

54Then He brought them to His holy territory, to the mountain His right hand had gotten.

55He drove out nations before them, and allotted them an inheritance. He settled the tribes of Israel in their tents.

56Yet they tested and rebelled against El Elyon, and did not keep His decrees.

57Like their fathers they turned and were treacherous. They turned aside like a faulty bow.

58For they provoked Him with their high places, so they aroused His jealousy with their graven images.

59God heard and was furious, and He greatly detested Israel.

60He abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent He pitched among men.

61He gave up His strength into captivity, and His glory into the adversary’s hand.

62He gave His people over to the sword, when He was angry at His inheritance.

63Fire consumed their young men, and their virgins had no wedding songs.

64Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows could not weep.

65Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, as a warrior shaking off wine.

66He beat back His foes, putting them to lasting scorn.

67Then He detested Joseph’s tent and chose not the tribe of Ephraim.

68Instead He chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which He loved.