Psalm 78
Attendite, popule
40
For he considered that they were but flesh *
and that they were even a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.
41
Many a time did they provoke him in the wilderness *
and grieved him in the desert.
42
They turned back, and tempted God *
and moved the Holy One in Israel.
43
They thought not of his hand *
and of the day when he delivered them from the hand of the enemy;
44
How he had wrought his miracles in Egypt *
and his wonders in the field of Zoan.
45
He turned their waters into blood *
so that they might not drink of the rivers.
46
He sent lice among them, and devoured them up *
and frogs to destroy them.
47
He gave their fruit unto the caterpillar *
and their labour unto the grasshopper.
48
He destroyed their vines with hail-stones *
and their mulberry-trees with the frost.
49
He smote their cattle also with hail-stones *
and their flocks with hot thunderbolts.
50
He cast upon them the furiousness of his wrath, anger, displeasure and trouble *
and sent evil angels among them.
51
He made a way to his indignation, and spared not their soul from death *
but gave their life over to the pestilence;
52
And smote all the first-born in Egypt *
the most principal and mightiest in the dwellings of Ham.
53
But as for his own people, he led them forth like sheep *
and carried them in the wilderness like a flock.
54
He brought them out safely, that they should not fear *
and overwhelmed their enemies with the sea.
55
And brought them within the borders of his sanctuary *
even to his mountain which he purchased with his right hand.
56
He cast out the heathen also before them *
caused their land to be divided among them for an heritage, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
57
So they tempted and displeased the most high God *
and kept not his testimonies;
58
But turned their backs, and fell away like their forefathers *
starting aside like a broken bow.
59
For they grieved him with their hill-altars *
and provoked him to displeasure with their images.
60
When God heard this, he was wroth *
and took sore displeasure at Israel.
61
So that he forsook the tabernacle in Silo *
even the tent that he had pitched among men.
62
He delivered their power into captivity *
and their beauty into the enemy’s hand.
63
He gave his people over also unto the sword *
and was wroth with his inheritance.
64
The fire consumed their young men *
and their maidens were not given to marriage.
65
Their priests were slain with the sword *
and there were no widows to make lamentation.
66
So the Lord awaked as one out of sleep *
and like a giant refreshed with wine.
67
He smote his enemies in the hinder parts *
and put them to a perpetual shame.
68
He refused the tabernacle of Joseph *
and chose not the tribe of Ephraim;
69
But chose the tribe of Judah *
even the hill of Sion which he loved.
70
And there he built his temple on high *
and laid the foundation of it like the ground which he hath made continually.
71
He chose David also his servant *
and took him away from the sheep-folds.
72
As he was following the ewes great with young ones he took him *
that he might feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.