1A Maskil[1] 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; Isa 51:4)2I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, (Nu 21:27; Ps 49:4; Mt 13:35)3things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. (Ps 44:1)4We 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. (Ex 12:26; Ex 13:8; Ex 13:14; De 11:19; Jos 4:6; Job 15:18; Ps 78:11; Ps 78:32; Joe 1:3)5He 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)6that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, (Ps 78:4; Ps 102:18)7so 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)8and 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. (Ex 32:9; Ex 33:3; De 9:7; De 9:24; De 31:27; 2Ki 17:14; 2Ch 30:7; Job 11:13; Ps 78:37; Jer 5:23; Eze 20:18)9The Ephraimites, armed with[2] the bow, turned back on the day of battle. (Ps 78:57)10They did not keep God’s covenant, but refused to walk according to his law. (2Ki 17:15)11They forgot his works and the wonders that he had shown them. (Ps 78:4; Ps 106:13)12In the sight of their fathers he performed wonders in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan. (Nu 13:22; Ps 72:18; Ps 78:43; Isa 19:11; Isa 19:13; Eze 30:14)13He divided the sea and let them pass through it, and made the waters stand like a heap. (Ex 14:21; Ex 15:8; Ps 136:13)14In the daytime he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a fiery light. (Ps 105:39)15He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep. (Ex 17:6; Ps 78:20; Ps 105:41; Ps 114:8; Isa 48:21)16He made streams come out of the rock and caused waters to flow down like rivers. (Nu 20:8; Nu 20:10)17Yet they sinned still more against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert. (De 9:22; Ps 78:40; Ps 78:56; Isa 63:10)18They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved. (De 6:16; Ps 78:41; Ps 78:56; Ps 95:9; Ps 106:14; 1Co 10:9)19They spoke against God, saying, “Can God spread a table in the wilderness? (Ex 16:3; Nu 11:4; Nu 20:3; Nu 21:5; Ps 23:5)20He 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)21Therefore, when the Lord heard, he was full of wrath; a fire was kindled against Jacob; his anger rose against Israel, (Nu 11:1)22because they did not believe in God and did not trust his saving power. (Ps 78:8; Ps 78:32; Ps 78:37)23Yet he commanded the skies above and opened the doors of heaven, (Ge 7:11; Mal 3:10)24and he rained down on them manna to eat and gave them the grain of heaven. (Ex 16:4; Ps 105:40; Joh 6:31)25Man ate of the bread of the angels; he sent them food in abundance. (Ps 78:29; Ps 103:20)26He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens, and by his power he led out the south wind; (Nu 11:31)27he rained meat on them like dust, winged birds like the sand of the seas; (Ge 13:16; Ge 22:17)28he let them fall in the midst of their camp, all around their dwellings. (Ex 16:13; Nu 11:31)29And they ate and were well filled, for he gave them what they craved. (Nu 11:4; Nu 11:19; Nu 11:34)30But before they had satisfied their craving, while the food was still in their mouths, (Nu 11:33; Job 20:23)31the anger of God rose against them, and he killed the strongest of them and laid low the young men of Israel. (Ps 78:63; Isa 10:16)32In spite of all this, they still sinned; despite his wonders, they did not believe. (Nu 14:11; Ps 78:22)33So he made their days vanish like[3] a breath,[4] and their years in terror. (Nu 14:29; Nu 14:35; Nu 26:64; Ps 39:5)34When he killed them, they sought him; they repented and sought God earnestly. (Ho 5:15)35They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God their redeemer. (Ex 15:13; De 32:4; De 32:15; De 32:31; Ps 74:2)36But they flattered him with their mouths; they lied to him with their tongues. (Isa 29:13; Isa 57:11; Eze 33:31)37Their heart was not steadfast toward him; they were not faithful to his covenant. (Ps 51:10; Ps 78:8)38Yet 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. (Ex 34:6; Nu 14:20)39He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes and comes not again. (Ge 6:3; Job 7:7; Job 10:9; Ps 103:14)40How 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)41They tested God again and again and provoked the Holy One of Israel. (Ps 71:22; Ps 78:18)42They did not remember his power[5] or the day when he redeemed them from the foe, (Jud 8:34)43when he performed his signs in Egypt and his marvels in the fields of Zoan. (Ex 4:21; Ex 7:3; Ex 11:9; Ps 78:12; Ps 105:27; Ps 106:22; Ac 7:36)44He turned their rivers to blood, so that they could not drink of their streams. (Ex 7:17)45He sent among them swarms of flies, which devoured them, and frogs, which destroyed them. (Ex 8:2; Ex 8:21)46He gave their crops to the destroying locust and the fruit of their labor to the locust. (Ex 10:12)47He destroyed their vines with hail and their sycamores with frost. (Ex 9:23)48He gave over their cattle to the hail and their flocks to thunderbolts. (Ex 9:19)49He let loose on them his burning anger, wrath, indignation, and distress, a company of destroying angels. (Ex 12:13; Ex 12:23; 2Sa 24:16)50He made a path for his anger; he did not spare them from death, but gave their lives over to the plague.51He struck down every firstborn in Egypt, the firstfruits of their strength in the tents of Ham. (Ex 12:29; Ps 105:23; Ps 105:27; Ps 105:36; Ps 106:22; Ps 135:8; Ps 136:10)52Then he led out his people like sheep and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. (Ps 77:20)53He led them in safety, so that they were not afraid, but the sea overwhelmed their enemies. (Ex 14:13; Ex 14:19; Ex 14:27; Ex 15:10)54And he brought them to his holy land, to the mountain which his right hand had won. (Ex 15:17; Ps 68:16; Ps 74:2; Isa 11:9; Isa 57:13)55He 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; Ac 13:19)56Yet they tested and rebelled against the Most High God and did not keep his testimonies, (Jud 2:11; Ps 78:18; Ps 78:40)57but turned away and acted treacherously like their fathers; they twisted like a deceitful bow. (Ps 78:9; Ho 7:16)58For they provoked him to anger with their high places; they moved him to jealousy with their idols. (Le 26:30; Nu 25:11; De 7:5; De 7:25; De 12:2; De 12:3; De 31:29; De 32:16; De 32:21; Jud 2:12; 1Ki 11:7; 1Ki 12:31; Eze 20:28)59When God heard, he was full of wrath, and he utterly rejected Israel. (De 3:26; Ps 78:62; Ps 106:40)60He forsook his dwelling at Shiloh, the tent where he dwelt among mankind, (Jos 18:1; 1Sa 4:11; Jer 7:12; Jer 7:14; Jer 26:6)61and delivered his power to captivity, his glory to the hand of the foe. (1Sa 4:21; Ps 63:2; Ps 96:6; Ps 132:8)62He gave his people over to the sword and vented his wrath on his heritage. (1Sa 4:10; Ps 78:59)63Fire devoured their young men, and their young women had no marriage song. (Ps 79:5; Ps 89:46; Jer 7:34)64Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows made no lamentation. (1Sa 4:11; Job 27:15)65Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, like a strong man shouting because of wine. (Ps 35:23; Ps 73:20)66And he put his adversaries to rout; he put them to everlasting shame. (Ps 40:14)67He rejected the tent of Joseph; he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim, (Ps 80:1; Ps 81:5)68but he chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loves. (Ps 87:2)69He built his sanctuary like the high heavens, like the earth, which he has founded forever.70He chose David his servant and took him from the sheepfolds; (1Sa 16:12)71from following the nursing ewes he brought him to shepherd Jacob his people, Israel his inheritance. (1Sa 10:1; 2Sa 5:2; 2Sa 7:8; Ps 28:9)72With upright heart he shepherded them and guided them with his skillful hand. (1Ki 9:4; Ps 77:20; Ps 101:2)
Psalm 78
New International Version
A maskil of Asaph.
1My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth.[1]2I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old –3things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us.4We 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.5He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children,6so that the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.7Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.8They 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.9The men of Ephraim, though armed with bows, turned back on the day of battle;10they did not keep God’s covenant and refused to live by his law.11They forgot what he had done, the wonders he had shown them.12He did miracles in the sight of their ancestors in the land of Egypt, in the region of Zoan.13He divided the sea and led them through; he made the water stand up like a wall.14He guided them with the cloud by day and with light from the fire all night.15He split the rocks in the wilderness and gave them water as abundant as the seas;16he brought streams out of a rocky crag and made water flow down like rivers.17But they continued to sin against him, rebelling in the wilderness against the Most High.18They wilfully put God to the test by demanding the food they craved.19They spoke against God; they said, ‘Can God really spread a table in the wilderness?20True, 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?’21When the Lord heard them, he was furious; his fire broke out against Jacob, and his wrath rose against Israel,22for they did not believe in God or trust in his deliverance.23Yet he gave a command to the skies above and opened the doors of the heavens;24he rained down manna for the people to eat, he gave them the grain of heaven.25Human beings ate the bread of angels; he sent them all the food they could eat.26He let loose the east wind from the heavens and by his power made the south wind blow.27He rained meat down on them like dust, birds like sand on the seashore.28He made them come down inside their camp, all around their tents.29They ate till they were gorged – he had given them what they craved.30But before they turned from what they craved, even while the food was still in their mouths,31God’s anger rose against them; he put to death the sturdiest among them, cutting down the young men of Israel.32In spite of all this, they kept on sinning; in spite of his wonders, they did not believe.33So he ended their days in futility and their years in terror.34Whenever God slew them, they would seek him; they eagerly turned to him again.35They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer.36But then they would flatter him with their mouths, lying to him with their tongues;37their hearts were not loyal to him, they were not faithful to his covenant.38Yet 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.39He remembered that they were but flesh, a passing breeze that does not return.40How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness and grieved him in the wasteland!41Again and again they put God to the test; they vexed the Holy One of Israel.42They did not remember his power – the day he redeemed them from the oppressor,43the day he displayed his signs in Egypt, his wonders in the region of Zoan.44He turned their river into blood; they could not drink from their streams.45He sent swarms of flies that devoured them, and frogs that devastated them.46He gave their crops to the grasshopper, their produce to the locust.47He destroyed their vines with hail and their sycamore-figs with sleet.48He gave over their cattle to the hail, their livestock to bolts of lightning.49He unleashed against them his hot anger, his wrath, indignation and hostility – a band of destroying angels.50He prepared a path for his anger; he did not spare them from death but gave them over to the plague.51He struck down all the firstborn of Egypt, the firstfruits of manhood in the tents of Ham.52But he brought his people out like a flock; he led them like sheep through the wilderness.53He guided them safely, so they were unafraid; but the sea engulfed their enemies.54And so he brought them to the border of his holy land, to the hill country his right hand had taken.55He drove out nations before them and allotted their lands to them as an inheritance; he settled the tribes of Israel in their homes.56But they put God to the test and rebelled against the Most High; they did not keep his statutes.57Like their ancestors they were disloyal and faithless, as unreliable as a faulty bow.58They angered him with their high places; they aroused his jealousy with their idols.59When God heard them, he was furious; he rejected Israel completely.60He abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent he had set up among humans.61He sent the ark of his might into captivity, his splendour into the hands of the enemy.62He gave his people over to the sword; he was furious with his inheritance.63Fire consumed their young men, and their young women had no wedding songs;64their priests were put to the sword, and their widows could not weep.65Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, as a warrior wakes from the stupor of wine.66He beat back his enemies; he put them to everlasting shame.67Then he rejected the tents of Joseph, he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim;68but he chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loved.69He built his sanctuary like the heights, like the earth that he established for ever.70He chose David his servant and took him from the sheepfolds;71from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance.72And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skilful hands he led them.
Psalm 78
King James Version
1Maschil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.2I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:3Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.4We 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.5For 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:6That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:7That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:8And 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.9The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.10They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law;11And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them.12Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.13He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap.14In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.15He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths.16He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.17And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness.18And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.19Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?20Behold, 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?21Therefore the LORD heard this , and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel;22Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation:23Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,24And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.25Man did eat angels'food: he sent them meat to the full.26He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind.27He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea:28And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations.29So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire;30They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths,31The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.32For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.33Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.34When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God.35And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.36Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.37For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.38But 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.39For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.40How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!41Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.42They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy.43How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan:44And had turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, that they could not drink.45He sent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them.46He gave also their increase unto the caterpiller, and their labour unto the locust.47He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycomore trees with frost.48He gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts.49He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them .50He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence;51And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:52But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.53And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.54And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased.55He 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.56Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies:57But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.58For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.59When God heard this , he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel:60So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men;61And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy' hand.62He gave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance.63The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage.64Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation.65Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.66And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach.67Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim:68But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved.69And he built his sanctuary like high palaces , like the earth which he hath established for ever.70He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:71From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.72So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.
Psalm 78
New International Reader’s Version
A maskil of Asaph.
1My people, listen to my teaching. Pay attention to what I say.2I will open my mouth and tell a story. I will speak about things that were hidden. They happened a long time ago.3We have heard about them and we know them. Our people who lived before us have told us about them.4We 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.5He 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.6Then those born later would know his laws. Even their children yet to come would know them. And they in turn would tell their children.7Then they would put their trust in God. They would not forget what he had done. They would obey his commands.8They 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.9The soldiers of Ephraim were armed with bows. But they ran away on the day of battle.10They didn’t keep the covenant God had made with them. They refused to live by his law.11They forgot what he had done. They didn’t remember the wonders he had shown them.12He 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.13God parted the Red Sea and led them through it. He made the water stand up like a wall.14He guided them with the cloud during the day. He led them with the light of a fire all night long.15He broke the rocks open in the desert. He gave them as much water as there is in the oceans.16He brought streams out of a rocky cliff. He made water flow down like rivers.17But they continued to sin against him. In the desert they refused to obey the Most High God.18They were stubborn and tested God. They ordered him to give them the food they wanted.19They spoke against God. They said, ‘Can God really put food on a table in the desert?20It 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?’21When 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.22That was because they didn’t believe in God. They didn’t trust in his power to save them.23But he gave a command to the skies above. He opened the doors of the heavens.24He rained down manna for the people to eat. He gave them the corn of heaven.25Mere human beings ate the bread of angels. He sent them all the food they could eat.26He made the east wind blow from the heavens. By his power he caused the south wind to blow.27He rained down meat on them like dust. He sent them birds like sand on the seashore.28He made the birds come down inside their camp. The birds fell all around their tents.29People ate until they couldn’t eat any more. He gave them what they had wanted.30But even before they had finished eating, God acted. He did it while the food was still in their mouths.31His anger rose up against them. He put to death the strongest among them. He struck down Israel’s young men.32But even after all that, they kept on sinning. Even after the wonderful things he had done, they still didn’t believe.33So he brought their days to an end like a puff of smoke. He ended their years with terror.34Every time God killed some of them, the others would seek him. They gladly turned back to him again.35They remembered that God was their Rock. They remembered that God Most High had set them free.36But they didn’t mean it when they praised him. They lied to him when they spoke.37They turned away from him. They weren’t faithful to the covenant he had made with them.38But 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.39He remembered that they were only human. He remembered they were only a breath of air that drifts by and doesn’t return.40How often they refused to obey him in the desert! How often they caused him sorrow in that dry and empty land!41Again and again they tested God. They made the Holy One of Israel sad and angry.42They didn’t remember his power. They forgot the day he set them free from those who had treated them so badly.43They forgot how he had shown them his signs in Egypt. They forgot his miracles in the area of Zoan.44He turned the river of Egypt into blood. The people of Egypt couldn’t drink water from their streams.45He sent large numbers of flies that bit them. He sent frogs that destroyed their land.46He gave their crops to the grasshoppers. He gave their food to the locusts.47He destroyed their vines with hail. He destroyed their fig-trees with sleet.48He killed their cattle with hail. Their livestock were struck by lightning.49Because he was so angry with Egypt, he caused them to have great trouble. In his great anger he sent destroying angels against them.50God prepared a path for his anger. He didn’t spare their lives. He gave them over to the plague.51He killed the eldest son of each family in Egypt. He struck down the eldest son in every house in the land of Ham.52But he brought his people out like a flock. He led them like sheep through the desert.53He guided them safely, and they weren’t afraid. But the Red Sea swallowed up their enemies.54And 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.55He 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.56But they tested God. They refused to obey the Most High God. They didn’t keep his laws.57They 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.58They made God angry by going to their high places. They made him jealous by worshipping the statues of their gods.59When God saw what the people were doing, he was very angry. He turned away from them completely.60He deserted the holy tent at Shiloh. He left the tent he had set up among his people.61He allowed the ark to be captured. Into the hands of his enemies he sent the ark where his glory rested.62He let his people be killed by swords. He was very angry with them.63Fire destroyed their young men. Their young women had no one to marry.64Their priests were killed by swords. Their widows weren’t able to weep.65Then the Lord woke up as if he had been sleeping. He was like a warrior waking up from the deep sleep caused by wine.66He drove back his enemies. He put them to shame that will last for ever.67He turned his back on the tents of the people of Joseph. He didn’t choose to live in the tribe of Ephraim.68Instead, he chose to live in the tribe of Judah. He chose Mount Zion, which he loved.69There he built his holy place as secure as the heavens. He built it to last for ever, like the earth.70He chose his servant David. He took him from the sheepfolds.71He brought him from tending sheep to be the shepherd of his people Jacob. He made him the shepherd of Israel, his special people.72David cared for them with a faithful and honest heart. With skilled hands he led them.