Psalm 78

Part I

Attendite, popule

Hear my teaching, O my people; *

incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

I will open my mouth in a parable; *

I will declare the mysteries of ancient times.

That which we have heard and known,

and what our forefathers have told us, *

we will not hide from their children.

We will recount to generations to come

the praiseworthy deeds and the power of the Lord, *

and the wonderful works he has done.

He gave his decrees to Jacob

and established a law for Israel, *

which he commanded them to teach their children;

That the generations to come might know,

and the children yet unborn; *

that they in their turn might tell it to their children;

So that they might put their trust in God, *

and not forget the deeds of God,

but keep his commandments;

And not be like their forefathers,

a stubborn and rebellious generation, *

a generation whose heart was not steadfast,

and whose spirit was not faithful to God.

The people of Ephraim, armed with the bow, *

turned back in the day of battle;

They did not keep the covenant of God, *

and refused to walk in his law;

They forgot what he had done, *

and the wonders he had shown them.

He worked marvels in the sight of their forefathers, *

in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.

He split open the sea and let them pass through; *

he made the waters stand up like walls.

He led them with a cloud by day, *

and all the night through with a glow of fire.

He split the hard rocks in the wilderness *

and gave them drink as from the great deep.

He brought streams out of the cliff, *

and the waters gushed out like rivers.

But they went on sinning against him, *

rebelling in the desert against the Most High.

They tested God in their hearts, *

demanding food for their craving.

They railed against God and said, *

“Can God set a table in the wilderness?

True, he struck the rock, the waters gushed out, and the gullies overflowed; *

but is he able to give bread

or to provide meat for his people?”

When the Lord heard this, he was full of wrath; *

a fire was kindled against Jacob,

and his anger mounted against Israel;

For they had no faith in God, *

nor did they put their trust in his saving power.

So he commanded the clouds above *

and opened the doors of heaven.

He rained down manna upon them to eat *

and gave them grain from heaven.

So mortals ate the bread of angels; *

he provided for them food enough.

He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens *

and led out the south wind by his might.

He rained down flesh upon them like dust *

and wingèd birds like the sand of the sea.

He let it fall in the midst of their camp *

and round about their dwellings.

So they ate and were well filled, *

for he gave them what they craved.