Psalm 78

Elberfelder Bibel

von SCM Verlag

Psalm 78

1 Ein Maskil. Von Asaf. Höre, mein Volk, auf meine Weisung! Neigt euer Ohr zu den Worten meines Mundes! (Ps 50,1; Spr 22,17) 

2 Ich will meinen Mund öffnen zu einem Spruch, will hervorbringen Rätsel aus der Vorzeit. (Ps 49,5; Mt 13,35) 

3 Was wir gehört und erfahren und unsere Väter uns erzählt haben, (1Joh 1,1) 

4 wollen wir nicht verhehlen ihren Söhnen und der künftigen Generation erzählen die Ruhmestaten des HERRN und seine Macht und seine Wunder, die er getan hat. (2Mo 13,14; 5Mo 4,9; Jos 4,6; Ps 71,18; Ps 145,4; Jes 38,19) 

5 Denn er hat ein Zeugnis aufgerichtet in Jakob und ein Gesetz aufgestellt in Israel und gebot unseren Vätern, sie ihren Söhnen kundzutun, (5Mo 6,7) 

6 damit die künftige Generation sie kenne, die Söhne, die geboren werden sollten, und ⟨auch⟩ sie aufständen und sie ihren Söhnen erzählten. (2Mo 10,2) 

7 Damit sie auf Gott ihr Vertrauen setzten und die Taten Gottes nicht vergäßen und seine Gebote befolgten. (5Mo 6,21; Ps 105,45) 

8 Damit sie nicht würden wie ihre Väter, eine widersetzliche und widerspenstige Generation, eine Generation, deren Herz nicht fest war und deren Geist nicht treu war gegen Gott, (5Mo 31,27; Hes 20,8; Lk 9,41) 

9 ⟨wie⟩ die Söhne Ephraim, gerüstete Bogenschützen, sich wendeten am Tag des Kampfes. 

10 Sie hielten nicht den Bund Gottes und weigerten sich, nach seinem Gesetz zu wandeln. (2Kön 17,15; Hes 20,21; Hebr 8,9) 

11 Sie vergaßen seine Taten und seine Wunder, die er sie hatte schauen lassen. (Ps 106,13) 

12 Er tat Wunder vor ihren Vätern im Lande Ägypten, dem Gebiet Zoans. (5Mo 4,34; Jos 9,9; Ps 78,43; Ps 135,9) 

13 Er spaltete das Meer und ließ sie hindurchgehen, er ließ das Wasser stehen wie einen Damm. (2Mo 15,8; Jos 3,16; Ps 136,13; Jes 63,12) 

14 Er leitete sie des Tages mit der Wolke und die ganze Nacht mit dem Licht eines Feuers. (2Mo 13,21) 

15 Er spaltete Felsen in der Wüste und tränkte sie reichlich, wie mit Fluten. (2Mo 17,6; 4Mo 20,11; 1Kor 10,4) 

16 Er ließ Bäche hervorkommen aus dem Felsen und Wasser herablaufen wie Flüsse. (Ps 105,41; Ps 107,35; Ps 114,7) 

17 Doch sie fuhren weiter fort, gegen ihn zu sündigen, sich gegen den Höchsten widerspenstig zu zeigen in der Wüste. (5Mo 31,27; Hes 20,8; Lk 9,41) 

18 Sie stellten in ihrem Herzen Gott auf die Probe, indem sie Speise forderten für ihr Gelüste. (2Mo 17,7; 4Mo 11,4; Ps 106,14) 

19 Und sie redeten gegen Gott; sie sprachen: Sollte Gott imstande sein, ⟨uns⟩ in der Wüste einen Tisch zu bereiten? (2Mo 16,3) 

20 Siehe, den Felsen hat er ⟨zwar⟩ geschlagen, und Wasser floss ⟨heraus⟩, und Bäche strömten. Wird er ⟨aber⟩ auch Brot geben können, oder wird er seinem Volk Fleisch verschaffen? (4Mo 11,4) 

21 Darum, als der HERR es hörte, wurde er zornig, und Feuer entzündete sich gegen Jakob, und auch Zorn stieg auf gegen Israel, (4Mo 11,1; Hebr 3,10) 

22 weil sie Gott nicht glaubten und nicht vertrauten auf seine Rettung. (Hebr 3,17) 

23 Und doch hat er den Wolken oben geboten und die Torflügel des Himmels geöffnet. (Mal 3,10) 

24 Und hat Manna auf sie regnen lassen, dass sie es äßen, und ihnen Himmelsgetreide gegeben. (2Mo 16,14; Joh 6,31) 

25 Ein jeder aß Brot der Starken. Speise sandte er ihnen bis zur Sättigung. (Ps 105,40) 

26 Er ließ den Ostwind losbrechen am Himmel und trieb durch seine Stärke den Südwind herbei. (Ps 135,7; Ps 147,18) 

27 Er ließ Fleisch auf sie regnen wie Staub und Vögel wie Sand der Meere, (4Mo 11,31) 

28 und ließ ⟨sie⟩ mitten in sein Lager fallen, rings um seine Wohnungen. (2Mo 16,13) 

29 Da aßen sie und wurden sehr satt, und was sie verlangten, brachte er ihnen. (4Mo 11,19; Ps 106,15) 

30 Sie hatten sich noch nicht abgewendet von ihrem Verlangen, ihre Speise war noch in ihrem Mund, 

31 da stieg der Zorn Gottes gegen sie auf. Er brachte ⟨viele⟩ unter ihren stattlichen Leuten um. Die jungen Männer Israels streckte er nieder. (4Mo 11,33) 

32 Trotz alledem sündigten sie weiter und glaubten nicht an seine Wunder. 

33 Da ließ er in Nichtigkeit hinschwinden ihre Tage und ihre Jahre in Schrecken. (4Mo 14,33; Ps 90,7) 

34 Wenn er sie umbrachte, dann fragten sie nach ihm, kehrten um und suchten nach Gott. (Jes 26,16) 

35 Und sie dachten daran, dass Gott ihr Fels sei und Gott, der Höchste, ihr Erlöser. (Ps 19,15) 

36 Doch sie betrogen ihn mit ihrem Mund, und mit ihrer Zunge belogen sie ihn. (Mi 6,12) 

37 Denn ihr Herz war nicht fest ihm gegenüber, und sie blieben nicht treu an seinem Bund. (Jer 31,32) 

38 Er aber war barmherzig, er vergab die Schuld und vertilgte nicht; und oftmals wandte er seinen Zorn ab und ließ nicht erwachen seinen ganzen Grimm. (Jes 48,9) 

39 Er dachte daran, dass sie Fleisch sind, ein Hauch, der dahinfährt und nicht wiederkehrt. (1Mo 6,3; Ps 103,14) 

40 Wie oft waren sie widerspenstig gegen ihn in der Wüste, betrübten ihn in der Einöde! (Ps 78,8) 

41 Immer wieder stellten sie Gott auf die Probe und kränkten den Heiligen Israels. (Jes 1,4) 

42 Sie dachten nicht an seine Hand, an den Tag, da er sie von dem Bedränger erlöste, (Ps 105,27; Ps 106,21) 

43 als er seine Zeichen tat in Ägypten und seine Wunder im Gebiet Zoans: (Ps 78,12) 

44 Er verwandelte ihre Ströme in Blut und ihre Bäche, sodass sie nicht mehr trinken konnten. (2Mo 7,20) 

45 Er sandte Hundsfliegen unter sie, die sie fraßen, und Frösche, die ihnen Verderben brachten. (2Mo 8,17) 

46 Ihren Ertrag gab er der Heuschreckenlarve, und was sie erarbeitet hatten, der Heuschrecke. (2Mo 10,14) 

47 Ihren Weinstock zerschlug er mit Hagel, ihre Maulbeerbäume mit Wasserflut. 

48 Und er gab ihr Vieh dem Hagel preis und ihre Herden den Blitzen. (2Mo 9,25) 

49 Er ließ gegen sie los seines Zornes Glut, Grimm, Verwünschung und Bedrängnis, eine Schar von Unheilsboten. 

50 Er bahnte seinem Zorn einen Weg, er entzog ihre Seele nicht dem Tod und gab ihr Leben der Pest preis. 

51 Er schlug alle Erstgeburt in Ägypten, die Erstlinge der Kraft in den Zelten Hams. (2Mo 12,29; Ps 135,8; Ps 136,10) 

52 Und er ließ sein Volk aufbrechen wie die Schafe und leitete sie wie eine Herde in der Wüste. (Ps 77,21; Jes 63,11) 

53 Er führte sie sicher, sodass sie sich nicht fürchteten; und ihre Feinde bedeckte das Meer. (2Mo 14,13; 2Mo 18,24; Ps 106,11; Ps 136,15) 

54 Er brachte sie in sein heiliges Land, zu diesem Berg, den seine Rechte erworben hat. (2Mo 15,17) 

55 Er vertrieb Nationen vor ihnen und verteilte sie mit der Messschnur des Erbteils und ließ in ihren Zelten wohnen die Stämme Israels. (Jos 21,43; Ps 44,3) 

56 Aber sie stellten Gott, den Höchsten, auf die Probe und waren widerspenstig ⟨gegen ihn⟩; und seine Mahnungen beachteten sie nicht. (Ps 78,8) 

57 Sie wurden abtrünnig und handelten treulos wie ihre Väter. Sie versagten wie ein schlaffer Bogen. (Hos 7,16) 

58 Und sie erbitterten ihn durch ihre Höhen und reizten ihn zur Eifersucht mit ihren Götzenbildern. (5Mo 12,2; 5Mo 32,16; Ri 3,19; 2Kön 17,9; 2Kön 21,7; 1Kor 10,22) 

59 Gott hörte es und ergrimmte, und er verwarf Israel völlig. (Hebr 8,9) 

60 Er gab die Wohnung zu Silo auf, das Zelt, in dem er unter den Menschen wohnte. (Jos 18,1; 1Sam 4,11; Jer 7,12) 

61 Und er gab seine Kraft in Gefangenschaft und seine Herrlichkeit in die Hand des Bedrängers. (1Sam 4,21) 

62 Er gab sein Volk dem Schwert preis, und gegen sein Erbteil ergrimmte er. (1Sam 4,10; Jer 12,7) 

63 Seine jungen Männer fraß das Feuer, und seine Jungfrauen wurden nicht besungen. (Jer 7,34) 

64 Seine Priester fielen durch das Schwert, und seine Witwen weinten nicht. (1Sam 4,11; Hi 27,15) 

65 Da erwachte der Herr wie ein Schlafender, wie ein Held, der bezwungen war vom Wein. (Jes 42,13; Zef 3,17) 

66 Und er schlug seine Bedränger zurück, ewige Schande bereitete er ihnen. (1Sam 7,10) 

67 Und er verwarf das Zelt Josefs, und den Stamm Ephraim erwählte er nicht, 

68 sondern er erwählte den Stamm Juda, den Berg Zion, den er geliebt hat. (1Mo 49,10; 2Chr 6,6; Ps 87,2; Ps 132,13) 

69 Er baute sein Heiligtum wie ⟨Himmels⟩höhen, wie die Erde, die er auf ewig gegründet hat. (Ps 87,1) 

70 Er erwählte David, seinen Knecht, und nahm ihn weg von den Hürden der Schafe. (1Sam 16,12; 2Sam 7,8) 

71 Von den Muttertieren weg holte er ihn, dass er Jakob, sein Volk, weidete und Israel, sein Erbteil. (Hes 34,23; Mt 2,6) 

72 Und er weidete sie nach der Lauterkeit seines Herzens, und mit der Geschicklichkeit seiner Hände leitete er sie. (1Kön 9,4) 

Elberfelder Bibel 2006, © 2006 by SCM R.Brockhaus in der SCM Verlagsgruppe GmbH, Witten/Holzgerlingen

Psalm 78

English Standard Version

von Crossway

Tell the Coming Generation

1 A Maskil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth! (Ps 49,1; Ps 50,1; Ps 50,7; Jes 51,4) 

2 I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, (4Mo 21,27; Ps 49,4; Mt 13,35) 

3 things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. (Ps 44,1) 

4 We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. (2Mo 12,26; 2Mo 13,8; 2Mo 13,14; 5Mo 11,19; Jos 4,6; Hi 15,18; Ps 78,11; Ps 78,32; Joe 1,3) 

5 He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, (Ps 19,7; Ps 81,5; Ps 147,19) 

6 that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, (Ps 78,4; Ps 102,18) 

7 so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; (Ps 77,12; Ps 105,45) 

8 and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God. (2Mo 32,9; 2Mo 33,3; 5Mo 9,7; 5Mo 9,24; 5Mo 31,27; 2Kön 17,14; 2Chr 30,7; Hi 11,13; Ps 78,37; Jer 5,23; Hes 20,18) 

9 The Ephraimites, armed with the bow, turned back on the day of battle. (Ps 78,57) 

10 They did not keep God’s covenant, but refused to walk according to his law. (2Kön 17,15) 

11 They forgot his works and the wonders that he had shown them. (Ps 78,4; Ps 106,13) 

12 In the sight of their fathers he performed wonders in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan. (4Mo 13,22; Ps 72,18; Ps 78,43; Jes 19,11; Jes 19,13; Hes 30,14) 

13 He divided the sea and let them pass through it, and made the waters stand like a heap. (2Mo 14,21; 2Mo 15,8; Ps 136,13) 

14 In the daytime he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a fiery light. (Ps 105,39) 

15 He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep. (2Mo 17,6; Ps 78,20; Ps 105,41; Ps 114,8; Jes 48,21) 

16 He made streams come out of the rock and caused waters to flow down like rivers. (4Mo 20,8; 4Mo 20,10) 

17 Yet they sinned still more against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert. (5Mo 9,22; Ps 78,40; Ps 78,56; Jes 63,10) 

18 They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved. (5Mo 6,16; Ps 78,41; Ps 78,56; Ps 95,9; Ps 106,14; 1Kor 10,9) 

19 They spoke against God, saying, “Can God spread a table in the wilderness? (2Mo 16,3; 4Mo 11,4; 4Mo 20,3; 4Mo 21,5; Ps 23,5) 

20 He struck the rock so that water gushed out and streams overflowed. Can he also give bread or provide meat for his people?” (Ps 78,15) 

21 Therefore, when the Lord heard, he was full of wrath; a fire was kindled against Jacob; his anger rose against Israel, (4Mo 11,1) 

22 because they did not believe in God and did not trust his saving power. (Ps 78,8; Ps 78,32; Ps 78,37) 

23 Yet he commanded the skies above and opened the doors of heaven, (1Mo 7,11; Mal 3,10) 

24 and he rained down on them manna to eat and gave them the grain of heaven. (2Mo 16,4; Ps 105,40; Joh 6,31) 

25 Man ate of the bread of the angels; he sent them food in abundance. (Ps 78,29; Ps 103,20) 

26 He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens, and by his power he led out the south wind; (4Mo 11,31) 

27 he rained meat on them like dust, winged birds like the sand of the seas; (1Mo 13,16; 1Mo 22,17) 

28 he let them fall in the midst of their camp, all around their dwellings. (2Mo 16,13; 4Mo 11,31) 

29 And they ate and were well filled, for he gave them what they craved. (4Mo 11,4; 4Mo 11,19; 4Mo 11,34) 

30 But before they had satisfied their craving, while the food was still in their mouths, (4Mo 11,33; Hi 20,23) 

31 the anger of God rose against them, and he killed the strongest of them and laid low the young men of Israel. (Ps 78,63; Jes 10,16) 

32 In spite of all this, they still sinned; despite his wonders, they did not believe. (4Mo 14,11; Ps 78,22) 

33 So he made their days vanish like a breath, and their years in terror. (4Mo 14,29; 4Mo 14,35; 4Mo 26,64; Ps 39,5) 

34 When he killed them, they sought him; they repented and sought God earnestly. (Hos 5,15) 

35 They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God their redeemer. (2Mo 15,13; 5Mo 32,4; 5Mo 32,15; 5Mo 32,31; Ps 74,2) 

36 But they flattered him with their mouths; they lied to him with their tongues. (Jes 29,13; Jes 57,11; Hes 33,31) 

37 Their heart was not steadfast toward him; they were not faithful to his covenant. (Ps 51,10; Ps 78,8) 

38 Yet he, being compassionate, atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often and did not stir up all his wrath. (2Mo 34,6; 4Mo 14,20) 

39 He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes and comes not again. (1Mo 6,3; Hi 7,7; Hi 10,9; Ps 103,14) 

40 How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness and grieved him in the desert! (Ps 78,17; Ps 78,56; Ps 106,14; Ps 107,11; Eph 4,30) 

41 They tested God again and again and provoked the Holy One of Israel. (Ps 71,22; Ps 78,18) 

42 They did not remember his power or the day when he redeemed them from the foe, (Ri 8,34) 

43 when he performed his signs in Egypt and his marvels in the fields of Zoan. (2Mo 4,21; 2Mo 7,3; 2Mo 11,9; Ps 78,12; Ps 105,27; Ps 106,22; Apg 7,36) 

44 He turned their rivers to blood, so that they could not drink of their streams. (2Mo 7,17) 

45 He sent among them swarms of flies, which devoured them, and frogs, which destroyed them. (2Mo 8,2; 2Mo 8,21) 

46 He gave their crops to the destroying locust and the fruit of their labor to the locust. (2Mo 10,12) 

47 He destroyed their vines with hail and their sycamores with frost. (2Mo 9,23) 

48 He gave over their cattle to the hail and their flocks to thunderbolts. (2Mo 9,19) 

49 He let loose on them his burning anger, wrath, indignation, and distress, a company of destroying angels. (2Mo 12,13; 2Mo 12,23; 2Sam 24,16) 

50 He made a path for his anger; he did not spare them from death, but gave their lives over to the plague. 

51 He struck down every firstborn in Egypt, the firstfruits of their strength in the tents of Ham. (2Mo 12,29; Ps 105,23; Ps 105,27; Ps 105,36; Ps 106,22; Ps 135,8; Ps 136,10) 

52 Then he led out his people like sheep and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. (Ps 77,20) 

53 He led them in safety, so that they were not afraid, but the sea overwhelmed their enemies. (2Mo 14,13; 2Mo 14,19; 2Mo 14,27; 2Mo 15,10) 

54 And he brought them to his holy land, to the mountain which his right hand had won. (2Mo 15,17; Ps 68,16; Ps 74,2; Jes 11,9; Jes 57,13) 

55 He drove out nations before them; he apportioned them for a possession and settled the tribes of Israel in their tents. (Jos 23,4; Ps 44,2; Ps 135,12; Ps 136,21; Apg 13,19) 

56 Yet they tested and rebelled against the Most High God and did not keep his testimonies, (Ri 2,11; Ps 78,18; Ps 78,40) 

57 but turned away and acted treacherously like their fathers; they twisted like a deceitful bow. (Ps 78,9; Hos 7,16) 

58 For they provoked him to anger with their high places; they moved him to jealousy with their idols. (3Mo 26,30; 4Mo 25,11; 5Mo 7,5; 5Mo 7,25; 5Mo 12,2; 5Mo 12,3; 5Mo 31,29; 5Mo 32,16; 5Mo 32,21; Ri 2,12; 1Kön 11,7; 1Kön 12,31; Hes 20,28) 

59 When God heard, he was full of wrath, and he utterly rejected Israel. (5Mo 3,26; Ps 78,62; Ps 106,40) 

60 He forsook his dwelling at Shiloh, the tent where he dwelt among mankind, (Jos 18,1; 1Sam 4,11; Jer 7,12; Jer 7,14; Jer 26,6) 

61 and delivered his power to captivity, his glory to the hand of the foe. (1Sam 4,21; Ps 63,2; Ps 96,6; Ps 132,8) 

62 He gave his people over to the sword and vented his wrath on his heritage. (1Sam 4,10; Ps 78,59) 

63 Fire devoured their young men, and their young women had no marriage song. (Ps 79,5; Ps 89,46; Jer 7,34) 

64 Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows made no lamentation. (1Sam 4,11; Hi 27,15) 

65 Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, like a strong man shouting because of wine. (Ps 35,23; Ps 73,20) 

66 And he put his adversaries to rout; he put them to everlasting shame. (Ps 40,14) 

67 He rejected the tent of Joseph; he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim, (Ps 80,1; Ps 81,5) 

68 but he chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loves. (Ps 87,2) 

69 He built his sanctuary like the high heavens, like the earth, which he has founded forever. 

70 He chose David his servant and took him from the sheepfolds; (1Sam 16,12) 

71 from following the nursing ewes he brought him to shepherd Jacob his people, Israel his inheritance. (1Sam 10,1; 2Sam 5,2; 2Sam 7,8; Ps 28,9) 

72 With upright heart he shepherded them and guided them with his skillful hand. (1Kön 9,4; Ps 77,20; Ps 101,2) 

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The ESV^® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^®) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

Psalm 78

New International Version

von Biblica

A maskil of Asaph.

1 My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. 

2 I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old – 

3 things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us. 

4 We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done. 

5 He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children, 

6 so that the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. 

7 Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands. 

8 They would not be like their ancestors – a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to him. 

9 The men of Ephraim, though armed with bows, turned back on the day of battle; 

10 they did not keep God’s covenant and refused to live by his law. 

11 They forgot what he had done, the wonders he had shown them. 

12 He did miracles in the sight of their ancestors in the land of Egypt, in the region of Zoan. 

13 He divided the sea and led them through; he made the water stand up like a wall. 

14 He guided them with the cloud by day and with light from the fire all night. 

15 He split the rocks 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 against him, rebelling in the wilderness against the Most High. 

18 They wilfully put God to the test by demanding the food they craved. 

19 They spoke against God; they said, ‘Can God really spread a table in the wilderness? 

20 True, he struck the rock, and water gushed out, streams flowed abundantly, but can he also give us bread? Can he supply meat for his people?’ 

21 When the Lord heard them, he was furious; his fire broke out against Jacob, and his wrath rose against Israel, 

22 for they did not believe in God or trust in his deliverance. 

23 Yet he gave a command to the skies above and opened the doors of the heavens; 

24 he rained down manna 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 from the heavens and by his power made the south wind blow. 

27 He rained meat down on them like dust, birds 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 – 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, 

31 God’s anger rose against them; he put to death the sturdiest among them, cutting down the young men of Israel. 

32 In spite of all this, they kept on sinning; in spite of his wonders, they did not believe. 

33 So he ended their days in futility and their years in terror. 

34 Whenever God slew them, they would seek him; they eagerly turned to him again. 

35 They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer. 

36 But then they would flatter him with their mouths, lying to him with their tongues; 

37 their hearts were not loyal to him, they were not faithful to his covenant. 

38 Yet he was merciful; he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them. Time after time he restrained his anger and did not stir up his full wrath. 

39 He remembered that they were but flesh, a passing breeze that does not return. 

40 How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness and grieved him in the wasteland! 

41 Again and again they put God to the test; they vexed the Holy One of Israel. 

42 They did not remember his power – the day he redeemed them from the oppressor, 

43 the day he displayed his signs in Egypt, his wonders in the region of Zoan. 

44 He turned their river into blood; they could not drink from their streams. 

45 He sent swarms of flies that devoured them, and frogs that devastated them. 

46 He gave their crops to the grasshopper, their produce to the locust. 

47 He destroyed their vines with hail and their sycamore-figs with sleet. 

48 He gave over their cattle to the hail, their livestock to bolts of lightning. 

49 He unleashed against them his hot anger, his wrath, indignation and hostility – a band of destroying angels. 

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, the firstfruits of manhood in the tents of Ham. 

52 But he brought his people out like a flock; he led them like sheep through the wilderness. 

53 He guided them safely, so they were unafraid; but the sea engulfed their enemies. 

54 And so he brought them to the border of his holy land, to the hill country his right hand had taken. 

55 He drove out nations before them and allotted their lands to them as an inheritance; 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 they were disloyal and faithless, as unreliable as a faulty bow. 

58 They angered him with their high places; they aroused his jealousy with their idols. 

59 When God heard them, he was furious; he rejected Israel completely. 

60 He abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent he had set up among humans. 

61 He sent the ark of his might into captivity, his splendour into the hands of the enemy. 

62 He gave his people over to the sword; he was furious with his inheritance. 

63 Fire consumed their young men, and their young women had no wedding songs; 

64 their priests were put to the sword, and their widows could not weep. 

65 Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, as a warrior wakes from the stupor of wine. 

66 He beat back his enemies; he put them to everlasting shame. 

67 Then he rejected the tents of Joseph, he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim; 

68 but he chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loved. 

69 He built his sanctuary like the heights, like the earth that he established for ever. 

70 He chose David his servant and took him from the sheepfolds; 

71 from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance. 

72 And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skilful hands he led them. 

Holy Bible, New International Version ® (Anglicised), NIV TM
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Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

The “New International Version” is a trademark registered in the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. The “NIV”, “Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission.

Psalm 78

New International Reader’s Version

von Biblica

A maskil of Asaph.

1 My people, listen to my teaching. Pay attention to what I say. 

2 I will open my mouth and tell a story. I will speak about things that were hidden. They happened a long time ago. 

3 We have heard about them and we know them. Our people who lived before us have told us about them. 

4 We won’t hide them from our children. We will tell them to those who live after us. We will tell them what the LORD has done that is worthy of praise. We will talk about his power and the wonderful things he has done. 

5 He gave laws to the people of Jacob. He gave Israel their law. He commanded our people who lived before us to teach his laws to their children. 

6 Then those born later would know his laws. Even their children yet to come would know them. And they in turn would tell their children. 

7 Then they would put their trust in God. They would not forget what he had done. They would obey his commands. 

8 They would not be like their people who lived long ago. Those people were stubborn. They refused to obey God. They turned away from him. Their spirits were not faithful to him. 

9 The soldiers of Ephraim were armed with bows. But they ran away on the day of battle. 

10 They didn’t keep the covenant God had made with them. They refused to live by his law. 

11 They forgot what he had done. They didn’t remember the wonders he had shown them. 

12 He did miracles right in front of their people who lived long ago. At that time they were living in Egypt, in the area of Zoan. 

13 God parted the Red Sea and led them through it. He made the water stand up like a wall. 

14 He guided them with the cloud during the day. He led them with the light of a fire all night long. 

15 He broke the rocks open in the desert. He gave them as much water as there is in the oceans. 

16 He brought streams out of a rocky cliff. He made water flow down like rivers. 

17 But they continued to sin against him. In the desert they refused to obey the Most High God. 

18 They were stubborn and tested God. They ordered him to give them the food they wanted. 

19 They spoke against God. They said, ‘Can God really put food on a table in the desert? 

20 It is true that he struck the rock, and streams of water poured out. Huge amounts of water flowed down. But can he also give us bread? Can he supply meat for his people?’ 

21 When the LORD heard what they said, he was very angry. His anger broke out like fire against the people of Jacob. He became very angry with Israel. 

22 That was because they didn’t believe in God. They didn’t trust in his power to save them. 

23 But he gave a command to the skies above. He opened the doors of the heavens. 

24 He rained down manna for the people to eat. He gave them the corn of heaven. 

25 Mere human beings ate the bread of angels. He sent them all the food they could eat. 

26 He made the east wind blow from the heavens. By his power he caused the south wind to blow. 

27 He rained down meat on them like dust. He sent them birds like sand on the seashore. 

28 He made the birds come down inside their camp. The birds fell all around their tents. 

29 People ate until they couldn’t eat any more. He gave them what they had wanted. 

30 But even before they had finished eating, God acted. He did it while the food was still in their mouths. 

31 His anger rose up against them. He put to death the strongest among them. He struck down Israel’s young men. 

32 But even after all that, they kept on sinning. Even after the wonderful things he had done, they still didn’t believe. 

33 So he brought their days to an end like a puff of smoke. He ended their years with terror. 

34 Every time God killed some of them, the others would seek him. They gladly turned back to him again. 

35 They remembered that God was their Rock. They remembered that God Most High had set them free. 

36 But they didn’t mean it when they praised him. They lied to him when they spoke. 

37 They turned away from him. They weren’t faithful to the covenant he had made with them. 

38 But he was full of tender love. He forgave their sins and didn’t destroy his people. Time after time he held back his anger. He didn’t let all his burning anger blaze out. 

39 He remembered that they were only human. He remembered they were only a breath of air that drifts by and doesn’t return. 

40 How often they refused to obey him in the desert! How often they caused him sorrow in that dry and empty land! 

41 Again and again they tested God. They made the Holy One of Israel sad and angry. 

42 They didn’t remember his power. They forgot the day he set them free from those who had treated them so badly. 

43 They forgot how he had shown them his signs in Egypt. They forgot his miracles in the area of Zoan. 

44 He turned the river of Egypt into blood. The people of Egypt couldn’t drink water from their streams. 

45 He sent large numbers of flies that bit them. He sent frogs that destroyed their land. 

46 He gave their crops to the grasshoppers. He gave their food to the locusts. 

47 He destroyed their vines with hail. He destroyed their fig-trees with sleet. 

48 He killed their cattle with hail. Their livestock were struck by lightning. 

49 Because he was so angry with Egypt, he caused them to have great trouble. In his great anger he sent destroying angels against them. 

50 God prepared a path for his anger. He didn’t spare their lives. He gave them over to the plague. 

51 He killed the eldest son of each family in Egypt. He struck down the eldest son in every house in the land of Ham. 

52 But he brought his people out like a flock. He led them like sheep through the desert. 

53 He guided them safely, and they weren’t afraid. But the Red Sea swallowed up their enemies. 

54 And so he brought his people to the border of his holy land. He led them to the central hill country he had taken by his power. 

55 He drove out the nations to make room for his people. He gave to each family a piece of land to pass on to their children. He gave the tribes of Israel a place to make their homes. 

56 But they tested God. They refused to obey the Most High God. They didn’t keep his laws. 

57 They were like their people who lived long ago. They turned away from him and were not faithful. They were like a bow that doesn’t shoot straight. They couldn’t be trusted. 

58 They made God angry by going to their high places. They made him jealous by worshipping the statues of their gods. 

59 When God saw what the people were doing, he was very angry. He turned away from them completely. 

60 He deserted the holy tent at Shiloh. He left the tent he had set up among his people. 

61 He allowed the ark to be captured. Into the hands of his enemies he sent the ark where his glory rested. 

62 He let his people be killed by swords. He was very angry with them. 

63 Fire destroyed their young men. Their young women had no one to marry. 

64 Their priests were killed by swords. Their widows weren’t able to weep. 

65 Then the Lord woke up as if he had been sleeping. He was like a warrior waking up from the deep sleep caused by wine. 

66 He drove back his enemies. He put them to shame that will last for ever. 

67 He turned his back on the tents of the people of Joseph. He didn’t choose to live in the tribe of Ephraim. 

68 Instead, he chose to live in the tribe of Judah. He chose Mount Zion, which he loved. 

69 There he built his holy place as secure as the heavens. He built it to last for ever, like the earth. 

70 He chose his servant David. He took him from the sheepfolds. 

71 He brought him from tending sheep to be the shepherd of his people Jacob. He made him the shepherd of Israel, his special people. 

72 David cared for them with a faithful and honest heart. With skilled hands he led them. 

Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV® (Anglicised)
Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

“Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission.

Psalm 78

King James Version

1 Maschil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. 

2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: 

3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. 

4 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. 

5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: 

6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: 

7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: 

8 And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God. 

9 The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle. 

10 They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law; 

11 And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them. 

12 Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. 

13 He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap. 

14 In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire. 

15 He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths. 

16 He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers. 

17 And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness. 

18 And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust. 

19 Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? 

20 Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people? 

21 Therefore the LORD heard this , and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel; 

22 Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation: 

23 Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, 

24 And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven. 

25 Man did eat angels'food: he sent them meat to the full. 

26 He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind. 

27 He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea: 

28 And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations. 

29 So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire; 

30 They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths, 

31 The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel. 

32 For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works. 

33 Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble. 

34 When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God. 

35 And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer. 

36 Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. 

37 For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant. 

38 But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath. 

39 For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again. 

40 How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert! 

41 Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. 

42 They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy. 

43 How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan: 

44 And had turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, that they could not drink. 

45 He sent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them. 

46 He gave also their increase unto the caterpiller, and their labour unto the locust. 

47 He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycomore trees with frost. 

48 He gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts. 

49 He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them . 

50 He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence; 

51 And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham: 

52 But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. 

53 And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies. 

54 And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased. 

55 He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents. 

56 Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies: 

57 But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow. 

58 For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images. 

59 When God heard this , he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel: 

60 So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men; 

61 And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy' hand. 

62 He gave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance. 

63 The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage. 

64 Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation. 

65 Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine. 

66 And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach. 

67 Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim: 

68 But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved. 

69 And he built his sanctuary like high palaces , like the earth which he hath established for ever. 

70 He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: 

71 From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance. 

72 So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands. 

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