¹ My people, hear my teaching;^(A)
    listen to the words of my mouth.
² I will open my mouth with a parable;^(B)
    I will utter hidden things, things from of old—
³ things we have heard and known,
    things our ancestors have told us.^(C)
4 We will not hide them from their descendants;^(D)
    we will tell the next generation^(E)
the praiseworthy deeds^(F) of the Lord,
    his power, and the wonders^(G) he has done.
⁵ He decreed statutes^(H) for Jacob^(I)
    and established the law in Israel,
which he commanded our ancestors
    to teach their children,
⁶ so the next generation would know them,
    even the children yet to be born,^(J)
    and they in turn would tell their children.
⁷ Then they would put their trust in God
    and would not forget^(K) his deeds
    but would keep his commands.^(L)
8 They would not be like their ancestors^(M)—
    a stubborn^(N) and rebellious^(O) generation,
whose hearts were not loyal to God,
    whose spirits were not faithful to him.