Psalms

Psalm 78

1An exhortation both to learn and to preach the law of God. 9The story of God's wrath against the incredulous and disobedient. 67The Israelites being rejected, God chose Judah, Zion, and David.


01Maschil of Asaph.

1Or, A psalm for Asaph to give instruction. Ps. 74, title.

1GIVE aear, O bmy people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

a De. 32.29. Ps. 49.1,3. Is. 51.4. b 2Ki. 11.17. Je. 9.2.

2I cwill open my mouth in a parable: I will utter ddark sayings of old:

c Ps. 49.4. Mat. 13.13,35; 5.2. 1Co. 10.11. d Pr. 1.6.

3Which ewe have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.

e Ps. 44.1; 48.8; 145.4. Is. 38.19. De. 6.7.

4We fwill not hide them from their children, gshewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.

f Ex. 13.8,14. De. 4.9. Joel 1.3. Jn. 3.11. Is. 63.7-14. Ps. 105.1,2; 48.13; 145.5,6; 135; 136. g Ex. 12.26.

5For hhe established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, ithat they should make them known to their children:

h Ps. 81.5; 147.19,20. Is. 8.20. Ro. 3.2. De. 4.45; 6.7; 11.19. i De. 4.9. Is. 38.19. Ep. 6.4.

6That jthe generation to come might know them , even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:

j Ps. 102.18; 145.4; 44.1. De. 4.9. Is. 38.19; 59.21.

7That kthey might set their hope in God, and lnot forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:

k Ps. 130.7,8; 115.9-11. Job 31.24. l Ps. 77.10-12. Ju. 2.7,10,11. Jn. 14.15,21,23.

8And might not be mas their fathers, na stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation 2that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

2Heb. that prepared not their heart. 2Ch. 20.33.

m Eze. 20.18; 2.3-8. Ex. 32.9; 33.5; 34.9. De. 9.6,13; 31.27. 2Ki. 17.14. Mal. 3.7. Ac. 7.51. n De. 21.18,20. Je. 5.23.

9The children of Ephraim, being armed, and 3carrying bows, oturned back in the day of battle.

3Heb. throwing forth.

o De. 1.41-44. 1Sa. 4.10; 31.1.

10They pkept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law;

p Ju. 2.10-12. 2Ki. 17.14,15. Ne. 9.26,29. De. 31.16,20.

11And qforgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them.

q Ps. 106.13. De. 32.15,18. Je. 2.32. Is. 17.10.

12rMarvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field sof Zoan.

r Ex. 7-12. De. 4.34; 6.22. Ne. 9.10. v.42-50. Ps. 105.24-41; 106.7; 135.9. s Nu. 13.22. Is. 19.11,13.

13He tdivided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap.

t Ex. 14.21,29; 15.8. Ne. 9.11. Is. 63.11-13. Ps. 66.6.

14In uthe daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.

u Ex. 13.21,22; 14.24. Ne. 9.12,19. Ps. 105.39.

15He v*clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths.

*clave-split.

v Ex. 17.6. Nu. 20.11. Ps. 105.41. 1Co. 10.3,4.

16He brought wstreams also out of xthe rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.

w De. 9.21. Ps. 105.41. x Nu. 20.8,10,11.

17And ythey sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness.

y De. 9.22. He. 3.16-19. Ps. 95.8-10; 106.7-32. Ex. 15-17; 32. Nu. 11; 14.

18And zthey tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.

z Ex. 16.2. Nu. 11.4. Ja. 4.2,3. 1Co. 10.9.

19Yea, they spake against God; they said, aCan God 4furnish a table in the wilderness?

4Heb. order.

a Nu. 11.4,21,22. Ex. 16.3.

20bBehold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?

b Ex. 17.6. Nu. 20.11.

21Therefore the LORD heard this , and cwas *wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel;

*wroth-angry.

c Nu. 11.1,10,33. v.31. De. 32.22. Is. 27.4. 1Co. 10.5,22.

22Because dthey believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation:

d Ps. 106.24. Mat. 13.58. He. 3.12,17-19; 2.3. 1Jn. 5.10. 2Ch. 20.12.

23Though he ehad commanded the clouds from above, and opened the fdoors of heaven,

e Ps. 33.9; 148.5,6,8. f 2Ki. 7.2,19. Ge. 7.11. Mal. 3.10.

24And ghad rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.

g Ex. 16.4,14,16. Ps. 105.40. Jn. 6.31. 1Co. 10.3. Ne. 9.15,20. De. 8.3.

255Man did eat angels' food: he sent them *meat hto the full.

5Or, Every one did eat the bread of the mighty. Ps. 103.20; 147.5.

*meat-food of any kind.

h Ex. 16.3.

26He icaused an east wind 6to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind.

6Heb. to go.

i Ps. 135.7. Nu. 11.18,31,32.

27He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and 7feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea:

7Heb. fowl of wing.

28And jhe let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations.

j Ex. 16.13.

29So kthey did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire;

k Nu. 11.13,18-20. Ps. 106.14,15. De. 8.3.

30They lwere not estranged from their mlust. But while their *meat was yet in their mouths,

*meat-food of any kind.

l Ps. 106.14,15. Nu. 11.33. m Nu. 11.4,34.

31The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the nfattest of them, and 8smote down the 9chosen men of Israel.

8Heb. made to bow.

9Or, young men. Is. 40.30,31.

n Ps. 22.29.

32For oall this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.

o Nu. 14; 16; 17; 25. De. 9.6,7. Ne. 9.16,17. Eze. 20.13. Ps. 106.16-29.

33Therefore ptheir days did he consume in qvanity, and their years in trouble.

p Nu. 14.29,33,35. Ps. 90.7-9. Eze. 20.15. q Ps. 39.5.

34When rhe slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God.

r Is. 26.16. Ho. 5.15. Je. 22.23. Ju. 3.9,15; 4.3; 10.10.

35And they remembered sthat God was their rock, and the high God ttheir redeemer.

s De. 32.4,15,31. Ex. 6.6. Is. 63.9; 48.17. t Ps. 74.2.

36Nevertheless uthey did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.

u De. 5.28,29. Eze. 33.31. Ho. 11.12. Is. 29.13.

37For vtheir heart was not right with him, neither were they wstedfast in his covenant.

v Je. 17.9. v.8,10,57. w Ps. 108.1; 112.7,8; 44.17-19.

38But he, being xfull of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yyea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.

x Ex. 34.6,7,9. Nu. 14.18,20. Ps. 86.15; 112.4; 130.7,8. Is. 44.22. Mi. 7.18,19. y 1Ki. 21.29. Is. 48.9. Eze. 20.

39For zhe remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.

z Job 7.7,16. Ps. 103.14-16. Ge. 6.3. Jn. 3.6. Ja. 4.14.

40How aoft did they 10provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!

10Or, rebel against him.

a Nu. 14.11. Ps. 95.8-10. Is. 63.10. Ep. 4.30.

41Yea, bthey turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.

b 2Pe. 2.20. Nu. 14.22. Ps. 95.9. De. 6.16. v.19,20.

42They remembered not chis hand, nor the day when he delivered them 11from the enemy.

11Or, from affliction.

c Ex. 6.6; 7-14. Ps. 136.10-12. Je. 32.21.

43How dhe had 12wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan:

12Heb. set.

d Ex. 7-14. De. 4.34; 6.22. Ne. 9.10. Ps. 135.9; 105.27. v.12.

44And ehad turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, that they could not drink.

e Ex. 7.17,20. Ps. 105.29.

45He fsent *divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and gfrogs, which destroyed them.

*divers-various.

f Ex. 8.21-24; 6. Ps. 105.31. g Ex. 8.2-14. Ps. 105.30.

46He hgave also their increase unto the caterpiller, and their labour unto the locust.

h Ex. 10.12-15. Ps. 105.34,35.

47He 13destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycomore trees with 14frost.

13Or, killed. Ex. 9.23-25. Ps. 105.32,33.

14Or, great hailstones.

48He 15gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to 16hot thunderbolts.

15Heb. shut up. Ex. 9.24,25.

16Or, lightnings.

49He icast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.

i v.47,48. Ps. 105.27,28. Ex. 7.4. Ro. 2.8,9.

5017He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave 18their life over to the pestilence;

17Heb. he weighed a path.

18Or, their beasts to the murrain. Ex. 9.3-6.

51And jsmote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the *tabernacles of kHam:

*tabernacles-tents, dwellings.

j Ex. 12.29. Ps. 105.36; 135.8; 136.10. k Ge. 9.22,25. Ps. 105.23; 106.22.

52But lmade his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.

l Ex. 12.37. Ps. 77.20; 136.11,12,16; 105.37. Ne. 9.12. Is. 63.9-14. Je. 32.21.

53And mhe led them on safely, so that they feared not: but nthe sea 19overwhelmed their enemies.

19Heb. covered.

m Ex. 14; 15. n Ex. 14.27,28; 15.10. Ps. 136.15.

54And he brought them oto the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased.

o Ex. 15.13,17. De. 32.10-12; 11.11. Ps. 44.3. Ne. 9.22-25. Is. 11.9.

55He pcast out the heathen also before them, and qdivided them an inheritance by rline, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.

p Jos. 6-21. Nu. 21. De. 32.13,14. Ps. 135.10-13; 136.17-22; 105.44. Ne. 9.22-25. Ex. 3.8; 23.23-31. q Jos. 23.4. r Ps. 105.11.

56Yet sthey tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies:

s Is. 26.10. Ne. 9.26. Eze. 20.28; 16.15,26. Ps. 106.34-39. 2Ki. 17.7-17. De. 31.16,20; 32.15-19.

57But tturned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside ulike a deceitful bow.

t Ju. 2.11-13,19; 3.5-7,12; 4.1; 6.1; 10.6. u Ho. 7.16. Ju. 2.19. v.8,10,37. Ps. 106.43.

58For vthey provoked him to anger with their whigh places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.

v Ju. 2.12,20. De. 31.16; 32.16,21. v.56,57. w Le. 26.30. 1Ki. 11.7.

59When God xheard this , he ywas *wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel:

*wroth-angry.

x Ps. 14.2-4; 11.5. He. 4.13. y Le. 26.14-39. De. 28.15-68; 29.18-28; 31.17; 32.19-26.

60So zthat he forsook the *tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men;

*tabernacle-tent, dwelling.

z 1Sa. 4.11. Je. 7.12,14; 26.6,9. Jos. 18.1.

61And delivered ahis strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's hand.

a Ps. 105.4; 132.8.

62He bgave his people over also unto the sword; and was *wroth with his inheritance.

*wroth-angry.

b 1Sa. 4.2,10,11.

63The cfire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not 20given to marriage.

20Heb. praised. Is. 4.1. Je. 7.34; 16.9; 25.10.

c v.21. De. 32.22; 29.20.

64Their dpriests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation.

d 1Sa. 4.11,19. Job 27.15. Eze. 24.23.

65Then ethe Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.

e Ps. 7.6; 44.23,26; 83.1. Is. 42.13,14; 51.9.

66And he fsmote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach.

f 1Sa. 5.6-12; 6.4,11; 14.20. Ex. 18.11. Job 40.12.

67Moreover ghe refused the *tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim:

*tabernacle-tent, dwelling.

g Je. 7.12,14; 26.6,9.

68But hchose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved.

h Ge. 49.10. Ps. 132.6,12,14; 48.1,2; 87.2. 2Ch. 6.6.

69And ihe built his sanctuary like high palaces , like the earth which he hath 21established for ever.

21Heb. founded.

i 1Ki. 6-8; 9.1-8.

70He jchose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:

j 1Sa. 16.11,12. 2Sa. 7.8; 12.7. Ps. 89.3,4,15-20.

7122From following the kewes great with young he brought him lto feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.

22Heb. From after.

k Ge. 33.13. Is. 40.11. l 2Sa. 5.2. 2Ch. 11.2. Ps. 75.6,7; 113.7,8. Ac. 13.22,36.

72So mhe fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.

m 1Ki. 9.4. Ps. 75.2; 101.3-8. 2Sa. 8.15. 1Ki. 15.5. Ac. 13.22. Is. 52.13; 11.2-4.