Listen, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:

I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:

Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.

Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.

We will not hide them from their children, showing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he has done.

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

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

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

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

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

That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:

That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:

And might not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that did not set their heart aright, and whose spirit was not steadfast with God.

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

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

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

They did not keep the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law;

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

And forgot his works, and his wonders that he had shown them.

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

Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.

Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.

He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as a heap.

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

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

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

He split the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as from the great depths.

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

He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.

He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.

And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the Most High in the wilderness.

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

And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their desire.

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

Yes, they spoke against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?

Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?

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

Behold, 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?

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

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

Because they did not believe in God, and did not trust in his salvation:

Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation:

Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,

Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,

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

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

Man did eat angels' food: he sent them meat to the full.

Man did eat angels' food: he sent them meat to the full.

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

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

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

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

And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, all around their habitations.

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

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

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

They were not estranged from their desire. But while their meat was yet in their mouths,

They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths,

The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and struck down the chosen men of Israel.

The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.

For all this they sinned still, and did not believe for his wondrous works.

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

Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.

Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.

When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and sought diligently after God.

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

And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.

And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.

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

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

For their heart was not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant.

For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.

But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and did not destroy them: yes, many a time he turned away his anger, and did not stir up all his wrath.

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

For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passes away, and comes not again.

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

How often did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!

How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!

Yes, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.

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

They did not remember his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy.

They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy.

How he had worked his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan:

How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan:

And had turned their rivers into blood; and their streams, that they could not drink.

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

He sent various sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them.

He sent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them.

He gave also their increase unto the caterpillar, and their labor unto the locust.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And struck all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the dwellings of Ham:

And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:

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

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

And he led them on safely, so that they did not fear: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.

And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.

And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, to this mountain, which his right hand had acquired.

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

He cast out the nations also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.

He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.

Yet they tempted and provoked the Most High God, and did not keep his testimonies:

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

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

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

For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their carved images.

For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.

When God heard this, he was angry, and greatly abhorred Israel:

When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel:

So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men;

So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men;

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

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

He gave his people over also to the sword; and was angry with his inheritance.

He gave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance.

The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given in marriage.

The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage.

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

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

Then the Lord awoke as one out of sleep, like a mighty man who shouts because of wine.

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

And he struck his enemies in the rear: he put them to a perpetual reproach.

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

Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and did not choose the tribe of Ephraim:

Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim:

But chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which he loved.

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

And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he has established forever.

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

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

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

From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.

From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.

So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.

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