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, telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, his strength, and his wondrous deeds that he has done.
5For he established a covenant in Jacob, and appointed a teaching in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children;
6that the generation to come might know, even the children who should be born; who should arise and tell their children,
7that they might set their hope in God, and not forget God’s deeds, but keep his commandments,
8and might not be as their fathers— a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that didn’t make their hearts loyal, whose spirit was not steadfast with God.
9The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.
10They didn’t keep God’s covenant, and refused to walk by his Torah.
11They forgot his doings, his wondrous deeds that he had shown them.
12He did marvellous things in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
13He split the sea, and caused them to pass through. He made the waters stand as a heap.
14In the daytime he also led them with a cloud, and all night with a light of fire.
15He split rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink abundantly as out of the depths.
16He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.
17Yet they still went on to sin against him, to rebel against the Most High in the desert.
18They tempted God in their heart by asking food according to their desire.
19Yes, they spoke against God. They said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?
20Behold, he struck the rock, so that waters gushed out, and streams overflowed. Can he give bread also? Will he provide meat for his people?”
21Therefore the LORD heard, and was angry. A fire was kindled against Jacob, anger also went up against Israel,
22because they didn’t believe in God, and didn’t trust in his salvation yeshuat.
23Yet he commanded the skies above, and opened the doors of heaven.
24He rained down manna on them to eat, and gave them food from the sky.
25Man ate the bread of angels. He sent them food to the full.
26He caused the east wind to blow in the sky. By his power he guided the south wind.
27He also rained meat on them as the dust, winged birds as the sand of the seas.
28He let them fall in the middle of their camp, around their habitations.
29So they ate, and were well filled. He gave them their own desire.
30They didn’t turn from their cravings. Their food was yet in their mouths,
31when the anger of God went up against them, killed some of their strongest, and struck down the young men of Israel.
32For all this they still sinned, and didn’t believe in his wondrous works.