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Psalm 78:18-41
English Standard Version
Psalm 78:18-41
English Standard Version
18 They (A)tested God in their heart
by demanding the food they craved.
19 They spoke against God, saying,
(B)“Can God (C)spread a table in the wilderness?
20 (D)He struck the rock so that water gushed out
and streams overflowed.
Can he also give bread
or provide meat for his people?”
21 Therefore, when the Lord heard, he was full of wrath;
(E)a fire was kindled against Jacob;
his anger rose against Israel,
22 because they (F)did not believe in God
and did not trust his saving power.
23 Yet he commanded the skies above
and (G)opened the doors of heaven,
24 and he (H)rained down on them manna to eat
and gave them (I)the grain of heaven.
25 Man ate of the bread of (J)the angels;
he sent them food (K)in abundance.
26 He (L)caused the east wind to blow in the heavens,
and by his power he led out the south wind;
27 he rained meat on them like (M)dust,
winged birds like (N)the sand of the seas;
28 he (O)let them fall in the midst of their camp,
all around their dwellings.
29 And they (P)ate and were well filled,
for he gave them what they (Q)craved.
30 But before they had satisfied their craving,
(R)while the food was still in their mouths,
31 the anger of God rose against them,
and he killed (S)the strongest of them
and laid low (T)the young men of Israel.
32 In spite of all this, they (U)still sinned;
(V)despite his wonders, they did not believe.
33 So he made (W)their days (X)vanish like[a] a breath,[b]
and their years in terror.
34 When he killed them, they (Y)sought him;
they repented and sought God earnestly.
35 They remembered that God was their (Z)rock,
the Most High God their (AA)redeemer.
36 But they (AB)flattered him with their mouths;
they (AC)lied to him with their tongues.
37 Their (AD)heart was not (AE)steadfast toward him;
they were not faithful to his covenant.
38 Yet he, being (AF)compassionate,
(AG)atoned for their iniquity
and did not destroy them;
he restrained his anger often
and did not stir up all his wrath.
39 He (AH)remembered that they were but (AI)flesh,
(AJ)a wind that passes and comes not again.
40 How often they (AK)rebelled against him in the wilderness
and (AL)grieved him in (AM)the desert!
41 They (AN)tested God again and again
and provoked (AO)the Holy One of Israel.
Footnotes
- Psalm 78:33 Hebrew in
- Psalm 78:33 Or vapor
Psalm 78:18-41
New International Version
Psalm 78:18-41
New International Version
18 They willfully put God to the test(A)
by demanding the food they craved.(B)
19 They spoke against God;(C)
they said, “Can God really
spread a table in the wilderness?
20 True, he struck the rock,
and water gushed out,(D)
streams flowed abundantly,
but can he also give us bread?
Can he supply meat(E) for his people?”
21 When the Lord heard them, he was furious;
his fire broke out(F) against Jacob,
and his wrath rose against Israel,
22 for they did not believe in God
or trust(G) in his deliverance.
23 Yet he gave a command to the skies above
and opened the doors of the heavens;(H)
24 he rained down manna(I) 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(J) from the heavens
and by his power made the south wind blow.
27 He rained meat down on them like dust,
birds(K) 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—(L)
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,(M)
31 God’s anger rose against them;
he put to death the sturdiest(N) among them,
cutting down the young men of Israel.
32 In spite of all this, they kept on sinning;(O)
in spite of his wonders,(P) they did not believe.(Q)
33 So he ended their days in futility(R)
and their years in terror.
34 Whenever God slew them, they would seek(S) him;
they eagerly turned to him again.
35 They remembered that God was their Rock,(T)
that God Most High was their Redeemer.(U)
36 But then they would flatter him with their mouths,(V)
lying to him with their tongues;
37 their hearts were not loyal(W) to him,
they were not faithful to his covenant.
38 Yet he was merciful;(X)
he forgave(Y) their iniquities(Z)
and did not destroy them.
Time after time he restrained his anger(AA)
and did not stir up his full wrath.
39 He remembered that they were but flesh,(AB)
a passing breeze(AC) that does not return.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.