Psalm 78:5-89:41

New International Version

⁹ The men of Ephraim, though armed with bows,^(I)
    turned back on the day of battle;^(J)
10 they did not keep God’s covenant^(K)
    and refused to live by his law.^(L)
11 They forgot what he had done,^(M)
    the wonders he had shown them.
¹² He did miracles^(N) in the sight of their ancestors
    in the land of Egypt,^(O) in the region of Zoan.^(P)
13 He divided the sea^(Q) and led them through;
    he made the water stand up like a wall.^(R)
14 He guided them with the cloud by day
    and with light from the fire all night.^(S)
15 He split the rocks^(T) in the wilderness
    and gave them water as abundant as the seas;
¹⁶ he brought streams out of a rocky crag
    and made water flow down like rivers.

¹⁷ But they continued to sin^(U) against him,
    rebelling in the wilderness against the Most High.
¹⁸ They willfully put God to the test^(V)
    by demanding the food they craved.^(W)
19 They spoke against God;^(X)
    they said, “Can God really
    spread a table in the wilderness?
²⁰ True, he struck the rock,
    and water gushed out,^(Y)
    streams flowed abundantly,
but can he also give us bread?
    Can he supply meat^(Z) for his people?”
²¹ When the Lord heard them, he was furious;
    his fire broke out^(AA) against Jacob,
    and his wrath rose against Israel,
²² for they did not believe in God
    or trust^(AB) in his deliverance.
²³ Yet he gave a command to the skies above
    and opened the doors of the heavens;^(AC)
24 he rained down manna^(AD) for the people to eat,
    he gave them the grain of heaven.
²⁵ Human beings ate the bread of angels;
    he sent them all the food they could eat.
²⁶ He let loose the east wind^(AE) from the heavens
    and by his power made the south wind blow.
²⁷ He rained meat down on them like dust,
    birds^(AF) like sand on the seashore.
²⁸ He made them come down inside their camp,
    all around their tents.
²⁹ They ate till they were gorged—^(AG)
    he had given them what they craved.
³⁰ But before they turned from what they craved,
    even while the food was still in their mouths,^(AH)
31 God’s anger rose against them;
    he put to death the sturdiest^(AI) among them,
    cutting down the young men of Israel.

³² In spite of all this, they kept on sinning;^(AJ)
    in spite of his wonders,^(AK) they did not believe.^(AL)
33 So he ended their days in futility^(AM)
    and their years in terror.
³⁴ Whenever God slew them, they would seek^(AN) him;
    they eagerly turned to him again.
³⁵ They remembered that God was their Rock,^(AO)
    that God Most High was their Redeemer.^(AP)
36 But then they would flatter him with their mouths,^(AQ)
    lying to him with their tongues;
³⁷ their hearts were not loyal^(AR) to him,
    they were not faithful to his covenant.
³⁸ Yet he was merciful;^(AS)
    he forgave^(AT) their iniquities^(AU)
    and did not destroy them.
Time after time he restrained his anger^(AV)
    and did not stir up his full wrath.
³⁹ He remembered that they were but flesh,^(AW)
    a passing breeze^(AX) that does not return.

⁴⁰ How often they rebelled^(AY) against him in the wilderness^(AZ)
    and grieved him^(BA) in the wasteland!
⁴¹ Again and again they put God to the test;^(BB)
    they vexed the Holy One of Israel.^(BC)
42 They did not remember^(BD) his power—
    the day he redeemed them from the oppressor,^(BE)
43 the day he displayed his signs^(BF) in Egypt,
    his wonders^(BG) in the region of Zoan.
⁴⁴ He turned their river into blood;^(BH)
    they could not drink from their streams.
⁴⁵ He sent swarms of flies^(BI) that devoured them,
    and frogs^(BJ) that devastated them.
⁴⁶ He gave their crops to the grasshopper,^(BK)
    their produce to the locust.^(BL)
47 He destroyed their vines with hail^(BM)
    and their sycamore-figs with sleet.
⁴⁸ He gave over their cattle to the hail,
    their livestock^(BN) to bolts of lightning.
⁴⁹ He unleashed against them his hot anger,^(BO)
    his wrath, indignation and hostility—
    a band of destroying angels.^(BP)
50 He prepared a path for his anger;
    he did not spare them from death
    but gave them over to the plague.
⁵¹ He struck down all the firstborn of Egypt,^(BQ)
    the firstfruits of manhood in the tents of Ham.^(BR)
52 But he brought his people out like a flock;^(BS)
    he led them like sheep through the wilderness.
⁵³ He guided them safely, so they were unafraid;
    but the sea engulfed^(BT) their enemies.^(BU)
54 And so he brought them to the border of his holy land,
    to the hill country his right hand^(BV) had taken.
⁵⁵ He drove out nations^(BW) before them
    and allotted their lands to them as an inheritance;^(BX)
    he settled the tribes of Israel in their homes.

⁵⁶ But they put God to the test
    and rebelled against the Most High;
    they did not keep his statutes.
⁵⁷ Like their ancestors^(BY) they were disloyal and faithless,
    as unreliable as a faulty bow.^(BZ)
58 They angered him^(CA) with their high places;^(CB)
    they aroused his jealousy with their idols.^(CC)
59 When God heard^(CD) them, he was furious;^(CE)
    he rejected Israel^(CF) completely.
⁶⁰ He abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh,^(CG)
    the tent he had set up among humans.^(CH)
61 He sent the ark of his might^(CI) into captivity,^(CJ)
    his splendor into the hands of the enemy.
⁶² He gave his people over to the sword;^(CK)
    he was furious with his inheritance.^(CL)
63 Fire consumed^(CM) their young men,
    and their young women had no wedding songs;^(CN)
64 their priests were put to the sword,^(CO)
    and their widows could not weep.

⁶⁵ Then the Lord awoke as from sleep,^(CP)
    as a warrior wakes from the stupor of wine.
⁶⁶ He beat back his enemies;
    he put them to everlasting shame.^(CQ)
67 Then he rejected the tents of Joseph,
    he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim;^(CR)
68 but he chose the tribe of Judah,^(CS)
    Mount Zion,^(CT) which he loved.
⁶⁹ He built his sanctuary^(CU) like the heights,
    like the earth that he established forever.
⁷⁰ He chose David^(CV) his servant
    and took him from the sheep pens;
⁷¹ from tending the sheep^(CW) he brought him
    to be the shepherd^(CX) of his people Jacob,
    of Israel his inheritance.
⁷² And David shepherded them with integrity of heart;^(CY)
    with skillful hands he led them.

⁵ How long,^(DI) Lord? Will you be angry^(DJ) forever?
    How long will your jealousy burn like fire?^(DK)
6 Pour out your wrath^(DL) on the nations
    that do not acknowledge^(DM) you,
on the kingdoms
    that do not call on your name;^(DN)
7 for they have devoured^(DO) Jacob
    and devastated his homeland.

⁸ Do not hold against us the sins of past generations;^(DP)
    may your mercy come quickly to meet us,
    for we are in desperate need.^(DQ)
9 Help us,^(DR) God our Savior,
    for the glory of your name;
deliver us and forgive our sins
    for your name’s sake.^(DS)
10 Why should the nations say,
    “Where is their God?”^(DT)

Before our eyes, make known among the nations
    that you avenge^(DU) the outpoured blood^(DV) of your servants.
¹¹ May the groans of the prisoners come before you;
    with your strong arm preserve those condemned to die.
¹² Pay back into the laps^(DW) of our neighbors seven times^(DX)
    the contempt they have hurled at you, Lord.
¹³ Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture,^(DY)
    will praise you forever;^(DZ)
from generation to generation
    we will proclaim your praise.

³ Restore^(EF) us,^(EG) O God;
    make your face shine on us,
    that we may be saved.^(EH)

⁴ How long,^(EI) Lord God Almighty,
    will your anger smolder^(EJ)
    against the prayers of your people?
⁵ You have fed them with the bread of tears;^(EK)
    you have made them drink tears by the bowlful.^(EL)
6 You have made us an object of derision^[b] to our neighbors,
    and our enemies mock us.^(EM)

⁷ Restore us, God Almighty;
    make your face shine on us,
    that we may be saved.^(EN)

⁸ You transplanted a vine^(EO) from Egypt;
    you drove out^(EP) the nations and planted^(EQ) it.
⁹ You cleared the ground for it,
    and it took root and filled the land.
¹⁰ The mountains were covered with its shade,
    the mighty cedars with its branches.
¹¹ Its branches reached as far as the Sea,^[c]
    its shoots as far as the River.^[d](ER)

¹² Why have you broken down its walls^(ES)
    so that all who pass by pick its grapes?
¹³ Boars from the forest ravage^(ET) it,
    and insects from the fields feed on it.
¹⁴ Return to us, God Almighty!
    Look down from heaven and see!^(EU)
Watch over this vine,
¹⁵     the root your right hand has planted,
    the son^[e] you have raised up for yourself.

¹⁶ Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire;^(EV)
    at your rebuke^(EW) your people perish.
¹⁷ Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand,
    the son of man^(EX) you have raised up for yourself.
¹⁸ Then we will not turn away from you;
    revive^(EY) us, and we will call on your name.

¹⁹ Restore us, Lord God Almighty;
    make your face shine on us,
    that we may be saved.

³ Sound the ram’s horn^(FD) at the New Moon,^(FE)
    and when the moon is full, on the day of our festival;
⁴ this is a decree for Israel,
    an ordinance of the God of Jacob.^(FF)
5 When God went out against Egypt,^(FG)
    he established it as a statute for Joseph.

I heard an unknown voice say:^(FH)

⁶ “I removed the burden^(FI) from their shoulders;^(FJ)
    their hands were set free from the basket.
⁷ In your distress you called^(FK) and I rescued you,
    I answered^(FL) you out of a thundercloud;
    I tested you at the waters of Meribah.^[h](FM)
8 Hear me, my people,^(FN) and I will warn you—
    if you would only listen to me, Israel!
⁹ You shall have no foreign god^(FO) among you;
    you shall not worship any god other than me.
¹⁰ I am the Lord your God,
    who brought you up out of Egypt.^(FP)
Open^(FQ) wide your mouth and I will fill^(FR) it.

¹¹ “But my people would not listen to me;
    Israel would not submit to me.^(FS)
12 So I gave them over^(FT) to their stubborn hearts
    to follow their own devices.

¹³ “If my people would only listen to me,^(FU)
    if Israel would only follow my ways,
¹⁴ how quickly I would subdue^(FV) their enemies
    and turn my hand against^(FW) their foes!
¹⁵ Those who hate the Lord would cringe^(FX) before him,
    and their punishment would last forever.
¹⁶ But you would be fed with the finest of wheat;^(FY)
    with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

² “How long will you^[i] defend the unjust
    and show partiality^(GB) to the wicked?^[j](GC)
3 Defend the weak and the fatherless;^(GD)
    uphold the cause of the poor^(GE) and the oppressed.
⁴ Rescue the weak and the needy;
    deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

⁵ “The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing.^(GF)
    They walk about in darkness;^(GG)
    all the foundations^(GH) of the earth are shaken.

⁶ “I said, ‘You are “gods”;^(GI)
    you are all sons of the Most High.’
⁷ But you will die^(GJ) like mere mortals;
    you will fall like every other ruler.”

⁸ Rise up,^(GK) O God, judge^(GL) the earth,
    for all the nations are your inheritance.^(GM)

⁵ With one mind they plot together;^(GV)
    they form an alliance against you—
⁶ the tents of Edom^(GW) and the Ishmaelites,
    of Moab^(GX) and the Hagrites,^(GY)
7 Byblos,^(GZ) Ammon^(HA) and Amalek,^(HB)
    Philistia,^(HC) with the people of Tyre.^(HD)
8 Even Assyria^(HE) has joined them
    to reinforce Lot’s descendants.^[l](HF)

⁹ Do to them as you did to Midian,^(HG)
    as you did to Sisera^(HH) and Jabin^(HI) at the river Kishon,^(HJ)
10 who perished at Endor^(HK)
    and became like dung^(HL) on the ground.
¹¹ Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,^(HM)
    all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,^(HN)
12 who said, “Let us take possession^(HO)
    of the pasturelands of God.”

¹³ Make them like tumbleweed, my God,
    like chaff^(HP) before the wind.
¹⁴ As fire consumes the forest
    or a flame sets the mountains ablaze,^(HQ)
15 so pursue them with your tempest^(HR)
    and terrify them with your storm.^(HS)
16 Cover their faces with shame,^(HT) Lord,
    so that they will seek your name.

¹⁷ May they ever be ashamed and dismayed;^(HU)
    may they perish in disgrace.^(HV)
18 Let them know that you, whose name is the Lord^(HW)—
    that you alone are the Most High^(HX) over all the earth.^(HY)

⁵ Blessed are those whose strength^(IG) is in you,
    whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.^(IH)
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
    they make it a place of springs;^(II)
    the autumn^(IJ) rains also cover it with pools.^[p]
7 They go from strength to strength,^(IK)
    till each appears^(IL) before God in Zion.^(IM)

⁸ Hear my prayer,^(IN) Lord God Almighty;
    listen to me, God of Jacob.
⁹ Look on our shield,^[q](IO) O God;
    look with favor on your anointed one.^(IP)

¹⁰ Better is one day in your courts
    than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper^(IQ) in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
¹¹ For the Lord God is a sun^(IR) and shield;^(IS)
    the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold^(IT)
    from those whose walk is blameless.

¹² Lord Almighty,
    blessed^(IU) is the one who trusts in you.

⁴ Restore^(JA) us again, God our Savior,^(JB)
    and put away your displeasure toward us.
⁵ Will you be angry with us forever?^(JC)
    Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
⁶ Will you not revive^(JD) us again,
    that your people may rejoice^(JE) in you?
⁷ Show us your unfailing love,^(JF) Lord,
    and grant us your salvation.^(JG)

⁸ I will listen to what God the Lord says;
    he promises peace^(JH) to his people, his faithful servants—
    but let them not turn to folly.^(JI)
9 Surely his salvation^(JJ) is near those who fear him,
    that his glory^(JK) may dwell in our land.

¹⁰ Love and faithfulness^(JL) meet together;
    righteousness^(JM) and peace kiss each other.
¹¹ Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
    and righteousness^(JN) looks down from heaven.
¹² The Lord will indeed give what is good,^(JO)
    and our land will yield^(JP) its harvest.
¹³ Righteousness goes before him
    and prepares the way for his steps.

⁵ You, Lord, are forgiving and good,
    abounding in love^(JV) to all who call to you.
⁶ Hear my prayer, Lord;
    listen to my cry^(JW) for mercy.
⁷ When I am in distress,^(JX) I call^(JY) to you,
    because you answer^(JZ) me.

⁸ Among the gods^(KA) there is none like you,^(KB) Lord;
    no deeds can compare with yours.
⁹ All the nations you have made
    will come^(KC) and worship^(KD) before you, Lord;
    they will bring glory^(KE) to your name.
¹⁰ For you are great^(KF) and do marvelous deeds;^(KG)
    you alone^(KH) are God.

¹¹ Teach me your way,^(KI) Lord,
    that I may rely on your faithfulness;^(KJ)
give me an undivided^(KK) heart,
    that I may fear^(KL) your name.
¹² I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;^(KM)
    I will glorify your name forever.
¹³ For great is your love toward me;
    you have delivered me^(KN) from the depths,
    from the realm of the dead.^(KO)

¹⁴ Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God;
    ruthless people are trying to kill me—
    they have no regard for you.^(KP)
15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious^(KQ) God,
    slow to anger,^(KR) abounding^(KS) in love and faithfulness.^(KT)
16 Turn to me^(KU) and have mercy^(KV) on me;
    show your strength^(KW) in behalf of your servant;
save me, because I serve you
    just as my mother did.^(KX)
17 Give me a sign^(KY) of your goodness,
    that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
    for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

³ Glorious things are said of you,
    city of God:^[t](LB)
4 “I will record Rahab^[u](LC) and Babylon
    among those who acknowledge me—
Philistia^(LD) too, and Tyre^(LE), along with Cush^[v]—
    and will say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’”^[w](LF)
5 Indeed, of Zion it will be said,
    “This one and that one were born in her,
    and the Most High himself will establish her.”
⁶ The Lord will write in the register^(LG) of the peoples:
    “This one was born in Zion.”

⁷ As they make music^(LH) they will sing,
    “All my fountains^(LI) are in you.”

³ I am overwhelmed with troubles^(LL)
    and my life draws near to death.^(LM)
4 I am counted among those who go down to the pit;^(LN)
    I am like one without strength.^(LO)
5 I am set apart with the dead,
    like the slain who lie in the grave,
whom you remember no more,
    who are cut off^(LP) from your care.

⁶ You have put me in the lowest pit,
    in the darkest depths.^(LQ)
7 Your wrath^(LR) lies heavily on me;
    you have overwhelmed me with all your waves.^[aa](LS)
8 You have taken from me my closest friends^(LT)
    and have made me repulsive to them.
I am confined^(LU) and cannot escape;^(LV)
9     my eyes^(LW) are dim with grief.

I call^(LX) to you, Lord, every day;
    I spread out my hands^(LY) to you.
¹⁰ Do you show your wonders to the dead?
    Do their spirits rise up and praise you?^(LZ)
11 Is your love declared in the grave,
    your faithfulness^(MA) in Destruction^[ab]?
¹² Are your wonders known in the place of darkness,
    or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?

¹³ But I cry to you for help,^(MB) Lord;
    in the morning^(MC) my prayer comes before you.^(MD)
14 Why, Lord, do you reject^(ME) me
    and hide your face^(MF) from me?

¹⁵ From my youth^(MG) I have suffered^(MH) and been close to death;
    I have borne your terrors^(MI) and am in despair.^(MJ)
16 Your wrath^(MK) has swept over me;
    your terrors^(ML) have destroyed me.
¹⁷ All day long they surround me like a flood;^(MM)
    they have completely engulfed me.
¹⁸ You have taken from me friend^(MN) and neighbor—
    darkness is my closest friend.

⁵ The heavens^(MS) praise your wonders, Lord,
    your faithfulness too, in the assembly^(MT) of the holy ones.
⁶ For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord?
    Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?^(MU)
7 In the council^(MV) of the holy ones^(MW) God is greatly feared;
    he is more awesome than all who surround him.^(MX)
8 Who is like you,^(MY) Lord God Almighty?^(MZ)
    You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.

⁹ You rule over the surging sea;
    when its waves mount up, you still them.^(NA)
10 You crushed Rahab^(NB) like one of the slain;
    with your strong arm you scattered^(NC) your enemies.
¹¹ The heavens are yours,^(ND) and yours also the earth;^(NE)
    you founded the world and all that is in it.^(NF)
12 You created the north and the south;
    Tabor^(NG) and Hermon^(NH) sing for joy^(NI) at your name.
¹³ Your arm is endowed with power;
    your hand is strong, your right hand exalted.^(NJ)

¹⁴ Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;^(NK)
    love and faithfulness go before you.^(NL)
15 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,
    who walk^(NM) in the light^(NN) of your presence, Lord.
¹⁶ They rejoice in your name^(NO) all day long;
    they celebrate your righteousness.
¹⁷ For you are their glory and strength,^(NP)
    and by your favor you exalt our horn.^[af](NQ)
18 Indeed, our shield^[ag](NR) belongs to the Lord,
    our king^(NS) to the Holy One of Israel.

¹⁹ Once you spoke in a vision,
    to your faithful people you said:
“I have bestowed strength on a warrior;
    I have raised up a young man from among the people.
²⁰ I have found David^(NT) my servant;^(NU)
    with my sacred oil^(NV) I have anointed^(NW) him.
²¹ My hand will sustain him;
    surely my arm will strengthen him.^(NX)
22 The enemy will not get the better of him;^(NY)
    the wicked will not oppress^(NZ) him.
²³ I will crush his foes before him^(OA)
    and strike down his adversaries.^(OB)
24 My faithful love will be with him,^(OC)
    and through my name his horn^[ah] will be exalted.
²⁵ I will set his hand over the sea,
    his right hand over the rivers.^(OD)
26 He will call out to me, ‘You are my Father,^(OE)
    my God, the Rock^(OF) my Savior.’^(OG)
27 And I will appoint him to be my firstborn,^(OH)
    the most exalted^(OI) of the kings^(OJ) of the earth.
²⁸ I will maintain my love to him forever,
    and my covenant with him will never fail.^(OK)
29 I will establish his line forever,
    his throne as long as the heavens endure.^(OL)

³⁰ “If his sons forsake my law
    and do not follow my statutes,
³¹ if they violate my decrees
    and fail to keep my commands,
³² I will punish their sin with the rod,
    their iniquity with flogging;^(OM)
33 but I will not take my love from him,^(ON)
    nor will I ever betray my faithfulness.
³⁴ I will not violate my covenant
    or alter what my lips have uttered.^(OO)
35 Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness—
    and I will not lie to David—
³⁶ that his line will continue forever
    and his throne endure before me like the sun;^(OP)
37 it will be established forever like the moon,
    the faithful witness in the sky.”^(OQ)

³⁸ But you have rejected,^(OR) you have spurned,
    you have been very angry with your anointed one.
³⁹ You have renounced the covenant with your servant
    and have defiled his crown in the dust.^(OS)
40 You have broken through all his walls^(OT)
    and reduced his strongholds^(OU) to ruins.
⁴¹ All who pass by have plundered^(OV) him;
    he has become the scorn of his neighbors.^(OW)