Psalm 78:19-40

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

²¹ Therefore, when the Lord heard, he was full of rage;
    a fire was kindled against Jacob,
    his anger mounted against Israel,^(C)
22 because they had no faith in God
    and did not trust his saving power.^(D)
23 Yet he commanded the skies above
    and opened the doors of heaven;^(E)
24 he rained down on them manna to eat
    and gave them the grain of heaven.^(F)
25 Mortals ate of the bread of angels;
    he sent them food in abundance.
²⁶ He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens,
    and by his power he led out the south wind;^(G)
27 he rained flesh upon them like dust,
    winged birds like the sand of the seas;^(H)
28 he let them fall within their camp,
    all around their dwellings.
²⁹ And they ate and were well filled,
    for he gave them what they craved.^(I)
30 But before they had satisfied their craving,
    while the food was still in their mouths,
³¹ the anger of God rose against them,
    and he killed the strongest of them
    and laid low the flower of Israel.^(J)

³² In spite of all this they still sinned;
    they did not believe in his wonders.^(K)
33 So he made their days vanish like a breath
    and their years in terror.^(L)
34 When he killed them, they searched for him;
    they repented and sought God earnestly.^(M)
35 They remembered that God was their rock,
    the Most High God their redeemer.^(N)
36 But they flattered him with their mouths;
    they lied to him with their tongues.^(O)
37 Their heart was not steadfast toward him;
    they were not true to his covenant.
³⁸ Yet he, being compassionate,
    forgave their iniquity
    and did not destroy them;
often he restrained his anger
    and did not stir up all his wrath.^(P)
39 He remembered that they were but flesh,
    a wind that passes and does not come again.^(Q)
40 How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness
    and grieved him in the desert!^(R)