Maschil{H4905}{H8688)} of Asaph{H623}. Give ear{H238}{H8685)}, O my people{H5971}, to my law{H8451}: incline{H5186}{H8685)} your ears{H241} to the words{H561} of my mouth{H6310}.

I will open{H6605}{H8799)} my mouth{H6310} in a parable{H4912}: I will utter{H5042}{H8686)} dark sayings{H2420} of old{H6924}:

Which we have heard{H8085}{H8804)} and known{H3045}{H8799)}, and our fathers{H1} have told{H5608}{H8765)} us.

We will not hide{H3582}{H8762)} them from their children{H1121}, shewing{H5608}{H8764)} to the generation{H1755} to come{H314} the praises{H8416} of the LORD{H3068}, and his strength{H5807}, and his wonderful works{H6381}{H8737)} that he hath done{H6213}{H8804)}.

For he established{H6965}{H8686)} a testimony{H5715} in Jacob{H3290}, and appointed{H7760}{H8804)} a law{H8451} in Israel{H3478}, which he commanded{H6680}{H8765)} our fathers{H1}, that they should make them known{H3045}{H8687)} to their children{H1121}:

That the generation{H1755} to come{H314} might know{H3045}{H8799)} them, even the children{H1121} which should be born{H3205}{H8735)}; who should arise{H6965}{H8799)} and declare{H5608}{H8762)} them to their children{H1121}:

That they might set{H7760}{H8799)} their hope{H3689} in God{H430}, and not forget{H7911}{H8799)} the works{H4611} of God{H410}, but keep{H5341}{H8799)} his commandments{H4687}:

And might not be as their fathers{H1}, a stubborn{H5637}{H8802)} and rebellious{H4784}{H8802)} generation{H1755}; a generation{H1755} that set{H3559} not their heart{H3820} aright{H3559}{H8689)}, and whose spirit{H7307} was not stedfast{H539}{H8738)} with God{H410}.

The children{H1121} of Ephraim{H669}, being armed{H5401}{H8802)}, and carrying{H7411}{H8802)} bows{H7198}, turned back{H2015}{H8804)} in the day{H3117} of battle{H7128}.

They kept{H8104}{H8804)} not the covenant{H1285} of God{H430}, and refused{H3985}{H8765)} to walk{H3212}{H8800)} in his law{H8451};

And forgat{H7911}{H8799)} his works{H5949}, and his wonders{H6381}{H8737)} that he had shewed{H7200}{H8689)} them.

Marvellous things{H6382} did{H6213}{H8804)} he in the sight{H5048} of their fathers{H1}, in the land{H776} of Egypt{H4714}, in the field{H7704} of Zoan{H6814}.

He divided{H1234}{H8804)} the sea{H3220}, and caused them to pass through{H5674}{H8686)}; and he made the waters{H4325} to stand{H5324}{H8686)} as an heap{H5067}.

In the daytime{H3119} also he led{H5148}{H8686)} them with a cloud{H6051}, and all the night{H3915} with a light{H216} of fire{H784}.

He clave{H1234}{H8762)} the rocks{H6697} in the wilderness{H4057}, and gave them drink{H8248}{H8686)} as out of the great{H7227} depths{H8415}.

He brought{H3318}{H8686)} streams{H5140}{H8802)} also out of the rock{H5553}, and caused waters{H4325} to run down{H3381}{H8686)} like rivers{H5104}.

And they sinned{H2398}{H8800)} yet more{H3254}{H8686)} against him by provoking{H4784}{H8687)} the most High{H5945} in the wilderness{H6723}.

And they tempted{H5254}{H8762)} God{H410} in their heart{H3824} by asking{H7592}{H8800)} meat{H400} for their lust{H5315}.

Yea, they spake{H1696}{H8762)} against God{H430}; they said{H559}{H8804)}, Can{H3201}{H8799)} God{H410} furnish{H6186}{H8800)} a table{H7979} in the wilderness{H4057}?

Behold, he smote{H5221}{H8689)} the rock{H6697}, that the waters{H4325} gushed out{H2100}{H8799)}, and the streams{H5158} overflowed{H7857}{H8799)}; can{H3201}{H8799)} he give{H5414}{H8800)} bread{H3899} also? can{H3201}{H8799)} he provide{H3559}{H8686)} flesh{H7607} for his people{H5971}?

Therefore the LORD{H3068} heard{H8085}{H8804)} this, and was wroth{H5674}{H8691)}: so a fire{H784} was kindled{H5400}{H8738)} against Jacob{H3290}, and anger{H639} also came up{H5927}{H8804)} against Israel{H3478};

Because they believed{H539}{H8689)} not in God{H430}, and trusted{H982}{H8804)} not in his salvation{H3444}:

Though he had commanded{H6680}{H8762)} the clouds{H7834} from above{H4605}, and opened{H6605}{H8804)} the doors{H1817} of heaven{H8064},

And had rained down{H4305}{H8686)} manna{H4478} upon them to eat{H398}{H8800)}, and had given{H5414}{H8804)} them of the corn{H1715} of heaven{H8064}.

Man{H376} did eat{H398}{H8804)} angels{H47}' food{H3899}: he sent{H7971}{H8804)} them meat{H6720} to the full{H7648}.

He caused an east wind{H6921} to blow{H5265}{H8686)} in the heaven{H8064}: and by his power{H5797} he brought in{H5090}{H8762)} the south wind{H8486}.

He rained{H4305}{H8686)} flesh{H7607} also upon them as dust{H6083}, and feathered{H3671} fowls{H5775} like as the sand{H2344} of the sea{H3220}:

And he let it fall{H5307}{H8686)} in the midst{H7130} of their camp{H4264}, round about{H5439} their habitations{H4908}.

So they did eat{H398}{H8799)}, and were well{H3966} filled{H7646}{H8799)}: for he gave{H935}{H8686)} them their own desire{H8378};

They were not estranged{H2114}{H8804)} from their lust{H8378}. But while their meat{H400} was yet in their mouths{H6310},

The wrath{H639} of God{H430} came{H5927}{H8804)} upon them, and slew{H2026}{H8799)} the fattest{H4924} of them, and smote down{H3766}{H8689)} the chosen{H970} men of Israel{H3478}.

For all this they sinned{H2398}{H8804)} still, and believed{H539}{H8689)} not for his wondrous works{H6381}{H8737)}.

Therefore their days{H3117} did he consume{H3615}{H8762)} in vanity{H1892}, and their years{H8141} in trouble{H928}.

When he slew{H2026}{H8804)} them, then they sought{H1875}{H8804)} him: and they returned{H7725}{H8804)} and enquired early{H7836}{H8765)} after God{H410}.

And they remembered{H2142}{H8799)} that God{H430} was their rock{H6697}, and the high{H5945} God{H410} their redeemer{H1350}{H8802)}.

Nevertheless they did flatter{H6601}{H8762)} him with their mouth{H6310}, and they lied{H3576}{H8762)} unto him with their tongues{H3956}.

For their heart{H3820} was not right{H3559}{H8737)} with him, neither were they stedfast{H539}{H8738)} in his covenant{H1285}.

But he, being full of compassion{H7349}, forgave{H3722}{H8762)} their iniquity{H5771}, and destroyed{H7843}{H8686)} them not: yea, many a time{H7235}{H8689)} turned{H7725} he his anger{H639} away{H7725}{H8687)}, and did not stir up{H5782}{H8686)} all his wrath{H2534}.

For he remembered{H2142}{H8799)} that they were but flesh{H1320}; a wind{H7307} that passeth away{H1980}{H8802)}, and cometh not again{H7725}{H8799)}.

How{H4100} oft did they provoke{H4784}{H8686)} him in the wilderness{H4057}, and grieve{H6087}{H8686)} him in the desert{H3452}!

Yea, they turned back{H7725}{H8799)} and tempted{H5254}{H8762)} God{H410}, and limited{H8428}{H8689)} the Holy One{H6918} of Israel{H3478}.

They remembered{H2142}{H8804)} not his hand{H3027}, nor the day{H3117} when he delivered{H6299}{H8804)} them from the enemy{H6862}.

How he had wrought{H7760}{H8804)} his signs{H226} in Egypt{H4714}, and his wonders{H4159} in the field{H7704} of Zoan{H6814}:

And had turned{H2015}{H8799)} their rivers{H2975} into blood{H1818}; and their floods{H5140}{H8802)}, that they could not drink{H8354}{H8799)}.

He sent{H7971}{H8762)} divers sorts of flies{H6157} among them, which devoured{H398}{H8799)} them; and frogs{H6854}, which destroyed{H7843}{H8686)} them.

He gave{H5414}{H8799)} also their increase{H2981} unto the caterpiller{H2625}, and their labour{H3018} unto the locust{H697}.

He destroyed{H2026}{H8799)} their vines{H1612} with hail{H1259}, and their sycomore trees{H8256} with frost{H2602}.

He gave up{H5462}{H8686)} their cattle{H1165} also to the hail{H1259}, and their flocks{H4735} to hot thunderbolts{H7565}.

He cast{H7971}{H8762)} upon them the fierceness{H2740} of his anger{H639}, wrath{H5678}, and indignation{H2195}, and trouble{H6869}, by sending{H4917} evil{H7451} angels{H4397} among them.

He made{H6424}{H8762)} a way{H5410} to his anger{H639}; he spared{H2820}{H8804)} not their soul{H5315} from death{H4194}, but gave{H5462} their life{H2416} over{H5462}{H8689)} to the pestilence{H1698};

And smote{H5221}{H8686)} all the firstborn{H1060} in Egypt{H4714}; the chief{H7225} of their strength{H202} in the tabernacles{H168} of Ham{H2526}:

But made his own people{H5971} to go forth{H5265}{H8686)} like sheep{H6629}, and guided{H5090}{H8762)} them in the wilderness{H4057} like a flock{H5739}.

And he led{H5148}{H8686)} them on safely{H983}, so that they feared{H6342}{H8804)} not: but the sea{H3220} overwhelmed{H3680}{H8765)} their enemies{H341}{H8802)}.

And he brought{H935}{H8686)} them to the border{H1366} of his sanctuary{H6944}, even to this mountain{H2022}, which his right hand{H3225} had purchased{H7069}{H8804)}.

He cast out{H1644}{H8762)} the heathen{H1471} also before{H6440} them, and divided{H5307}{H8686)} them an inheritance{H5159} by line{H2256}, and made the tribes{H7626} of Israel{H3478} to dwell{H7931}{H8686)} in their tents{H168}.

Yet they tempted{H5254}{H8762)} and provoked{H4784}{H8686)} the most high{H5945} God{H430}, and kept{H8104}{H8804)} not his testimonies{H5713}:

But turned back{H5472}{H8735)}, and dealt unfaithfully{H898}{H8799)} like their fathers{H1}: they were turned aside{H2015}{H8738)} like a deceitful{H7423} bow{H7198}.

For they provoked him to anger{H3707}{H8686)} with their high places{H1116}, and moved him to jealousy{H7065}{H8686)} with their graven images{H6456}.

When God{H430} heard{H8085}{H8804)} this, he was wroth{H5674}{H8691)}, and greatly{H3966} abhorred{H3988}{H8799)} Israel{H3478}:

So that he forsook{H5203}{H8799)} the tabernacle{H4908} of Shiloh{H7887}, the tent{H168} which he placed{H7931}{H8765)} among men{H120};

And delivered{H5414}{H8799)} his strength{H5797} into captivity{H7628}, and his glory{H8597} into the enemy's{H6862} hand{H3027}.

He gave{H5462} his people{H5971} over{H5462}{H8686)} also unto the sword{H2719}; and was wroth{H5674}{H8694)} with his inheritance{H5159}.

The fire{H784} consumed{H398}{H8804)} their young men{H970}; and their maidens{H1330} were not given to marriage{H1984}{H8795)}.

Their priests{H3548} fell{H5307}{H8804)} by the sword{H2719}; and their widows{H490} made no lamentation{H1058}{H8799)}.

Then the Lord{H136} awaked{H3364}{H8799)} as one out of sleep{H3463}, and like a mighty man{H1368} that shouteth{H7442}{H8711)} by reason of wine{H3196}.

And he smote{H5221}{H8686)} his enemies{H6862} in the hinder parts{H268}: he put{H5414}{H8804)} them to a perpetual{H5769} reproach{H2781}.

Moreover he refused{H3988}{H8799)} the tabernacle{H168} of Joseph{H3130}, and chose{H977}{H8804)} not the tribe{H7626} of Ephraim{H669}:

But chose{H977}{H8799)} the tribe{H7626} of Judah{H3063}, the mount{H2022} Zion{H6726} which he loved{H157}{H8804)}.

And he built{H1129}{H8799)} his sanctuary{H4720} like high{H7311}{H8802)} palaces, like the earth{H776} which he hath established{H3245}{H8804)} for ever{H5769}.

He chose{H977}{H8799)} David{H1732} also his servant{H5650}, and took{H3947}{H8799)} him from the sheepfolds{H4356}{H6629}:

From following{H310} the ewes great with young{H5763}{H8802)} he brought{H935}{H8689)} him to feed{H7462}{H8800)} Jacob{H3290} his people{H5971}, and Israel{H3478} his inheritance{H5159}.

So he fed{H7462}{H8686)} them according to the integrity{H8537} of his heart{H3824}; and guided{H5148}{H8686)} them by the skilfulness{H8394} of his hands{H3709}.