Psalms 78:51-71

⁵¹He gave to destruction all the first sons of Egypt; the first-fruits of their strength in the tents of Ham;

⁵²But he took his people out like sheep, guiding them in the waste land like a flock.

⁵³He took them on safely so that they had no fear; but their haters were covered by the sea.

⁵⁴And he was their guide to his holy land, even to the mountain, which his right hand had made his;

⁵⁵Driving out nations before them, marking out the line of their heritage, and giving the people of Israel their tents for a resting-place.

⁵⁶But they were bitter against the Most High God, testing him, and not keeping his laws;

⁵⁷Their hearts were turned back and untrue like their fathers; they were turned to one side like a twisted bow.

⁵⁸They made him angry with their high places; moving him to wrath with their images.

⁵⁹When this came to God's ears he was very angry, and gave up Israel completely;

⁶⁰So that he went away from the holy place in Shiloh, the tent which he had put among men;

⁶¹And he let his strength be taken prisoner, and gave his glory into the hands of his hater.

⁶²He gave his people up to the sword, and was angry with his heritage.

⁶³Their young men were burned in the fire; and their virgins were not praised in the bride-song.

⁶⁴Their priests were put to death by the sword, and their widows made no weeping for them.

⁶⁵Then was the Lord like one awaking from sleep, and like a strong man crying out because of wine.

⁶⁶His haters were turned back by his blows and shamed for ever.

⁶⁷And he put the tent of Joseph on one side, and took not the tribe of Ephraim;

⁶⁸But he took the tribe of Judah for himself, and the mountain of Zion, in which he had pleasure.

⁶⁹And he made his holy place like the high heaven, like the earth which is fixed by him for ever.

⁷⁰He took David to be his servant, taking him from the place of the flocks;

⁷¹From looking after the sheep which were giving milk, he took him to give food to Jacob his people, and to Israel his heritage.