Psalms 78:4-43

⁴We will not conceal them from their children, relating to the latest generation the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful deeds which he hath done.

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

⁶In order that the latest generation might know them, even the children that are to be born; that they may arise and relate them to their children;

⁷That they may place in God their hope, and not forget the doings of God, but observe his commandments;

⁸And that they may not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that had not directed their heart firmly, and whose spirit was not faithful to God.

⁹The children of Ephraim, like well-armed archers, that turn round on the day of battle,

¹⁰Kept not the covenant of God, and in his law they refused to walk;

¹¹And they forgot his deeds, as also his wonders, which he had permitted them to see.

¹²In the presence of their fathers did he do wonders, in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zo'an.

¹³He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters stand upright as a wall.

¹⁴And he led them with the cloud by day, and all the night with a light of fire.

¹⁵He split rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the mighty deep.

¹⁶And he brought forth running streams out of the rock, and caused water to run down like rivers.

¹⁷But they repeated to sin yet more against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert.

¹⁸And they tempted God in their heart, by asking food for their desire.

¹⁹Yea, they spoke against God: they said, Will God be able to set in order a table in the wilderness?

²⁰Behold, he smote the rock, so that waters gushed out, and streams overflowed: shall he also be able to give bread? or can he provide flesh for his people?

²¹Therefore, when the Lord heard this, he became wroth: and a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also ascended against Israel,

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

²³Then he ordained the skies from above, and the doors of heaven he opened;

²⁴And he let rain down upon them manna to eat, and the corn of heaven gave he unto them.

²⁵Angels' bread did man eat: he sent them provision to satisfaction.

²⁶He caused an east wind to pass along the heavens; and he led forth by his strength the south wind.

²⁷And he let rain upon them flesh as plentiful as the dust, and winged birds like the sand of the sea;

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

²⁹And they ate, and were greatly satisfied, and what they longed for he brought unto them.

³⁰They were not estranged from their longing, yet was their food in their mouth:

³¹When the wrath of God ascended against them, and he slew some of the fattest of them, and the young men of Israel did he strike down.

³²With all this they sinned again, and believed not in his wonders.

³³Therefore he caused their days to come to an end in nought, and their years in dread.

³⁴When he slew them, then did they seek him, and they returned and inquired earnestly after God.

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

³⁶Nevertheless they prayed insincerely to him with their mouth, and with their tongue they lied unto him.

³⁷For their heart was not firm with him, and they were not faithful in his covenant.

³⁸But he, being merciful, forgave the iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not awaken all his fury.

³⁹And he remembered that they are but flesh, a spirit that passeth away, and returneth not again.

⁴⁰How oft did they rebel against him in the wilderness, grieve him in the desert!

⁴¹Yea, they once more tempted God, and set limits to the Holy One of Israel.

⁴²They remembered not his hand, the day when he ransomed them from the adversary;

⁴³When he displayed in Egypt his signs, and his wonderful tokens in the fields of Zo'an.