Psalm 78

This article is about Psalm 78 in Hebrew (Masoretic) numbering. For Psalm 78 in Greek Septuagint or Latin Vulgate numbering, see Psalm 79.

Psalm 78
"Give ear, O my people, to my law"
Page from a 1891 book, showing locusts as mentioned in verse 49
Other name	Psalmus 77 "Adtendite populus meus legem meam"
Language	Hebrew (original)

Psalm 78
← Psalm 77 Psalm 79 →
Book	Book of Psalms
Hebrew Bible part	Ketuvim
Order in the Hebrew part	1
Category	Sifrei Emet
Christian Bible part	Old Testament
Order in the Christian part	19

Psalm 78 is the 78th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "Give ear, O my people, to my law". In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 77. In Latin, it is known as "Adtendite populus meus legem meam". It is one of the twelve Psalms of Asaph and is described as a "maskil" or "contemplation". It is the second-longest Psalm, with 72 verses (Psalm 119 has 176 verses), and the first of the three great history psalms (the others being Psalms 105 and 106). The New American Bible, Revised Edition entitles it "a new beginning in Zion and David".

The psalm forms a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and other Protestant liturgies. It has been set to music.

Text

Hebrew

The following table shows the Hebrew text of the Psalm with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).

Verse	Hebrew	English translation (JPS 1917)
1	מַשְׂכִּ֗יל לְאָ֫סָ֥ף הַאֲזִ֣ינָה עַ֭מִּי תּוֹרָתִ֑י הַטּ֥וּ אׇ֝זְנְכֶ֗ם לְאִמְרֵי־פִֽי׃‎	Maschil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2	אֶפְתְּחָ֣ה בְמָשָׁ֣ל פִּ֑י אַבִּ֥יעָה חִ֝יד֗וֹת מִנִּי־קֶֽדֶם׃‎	I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter dark sayings concerning days of old;
3	אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׁ֭מַעְנוּ וַנֵּדָעֵ֑ם וַ֝אֲבוֹתֵ֗ינוּ סִפְּרוּ־לָֽנוּ׃‎	That which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us,
4	לֹ֤א נְכַחֵ֨ד ׀ מִבְּנֵיהֶ֗ם לְד֥וֹר אַחֲר֗וֹן מְֽ֭סַפְּרִים תְּהִלּ֣וֹת יְהֹוָ֑ה וֶעֱזוּז֥וֹ וְ֝נִפְלְאֹתָ֗יו אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָֽׂה׃‎	We will not hide from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, And His strength, and His wondrous works that He hath done. .
5	וַיָּ֤קֶם עֵד֨וּת ׀ בְּֽיַעֲקֹ֗ב וְתוֹרָה֮ שָׂ֤ם בְּיִשְׂרָ֫אֵ֥ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִ֭וָּה אֶת־אֲבוֹתֵ֑ינוּ לְ֝הוֹדִיעָ֗ם לִבְנֵיהֶֽם׃‎	For He established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children;
6	לְמַ֤עַן יֵדְע֨וּ ׀ דּ֣וֹר אַ֭חֲרוֹן בָּנִ֣ים יִוָּלֵ֑דוּ יָ֝קֻ֗מוּ וִיסַפְּר֥וּ לִבְנֵיהֶֽם׃‎	That the generation to come might know them, even the children that should be born; Who should arise and tell them to their children,
7	וְיָשִׂ֥ימוּ בֵאלֹהִ֗ים כִּ֫סְלָ֥ם וְלֹ֣א יִ֭שְׁכְּחוּ מַ֥עַלְלֵי־אֵ֑ל וּמִצְוֺתָ֥יו יִנְצֹֽרוּ׃‎	That they might put their confidence in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments;
8	וְלֹ֤א יִהְי֨וּ ׀ כַּאֲבוֹתָ֗ם דּוֹר֮ סוֹרֵ֢ר וּמֹ֫רֶ֥ה דּ֭וֹר לֹא־הֵכִ֣ין לִבּ֑וֹ וְלֹֽא־נֶאֶמְנָ֖ה אֶת־אֵ֣ל רוּחֽוֹ׃‎	And might not be as their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation; A generation that set not their heart aright, And whose spirit was not stedfast with God.
9	בְּֽנֵי־אֶפְרַ֗יִם נוֹשְׁקֵ֥י רֽוֹמֵי־קָ֑שֶׁת הָ֝פְכ֗וּ בְּי֣וֹם קְרָֽב׃‎	The children of Ephraim were as archers handling the bow, That turned back in the day of battle.
10	לֹ֣א שָׁ֭מְרוּ בְּרִ֣ית אֱלֹהִ֑ים וּ֝בְתוֹרָת֗וֹ מֵאֲנ֥וּ לָלֶֽכֶת׃‎	They kept not the covenant of God, And refused to walk in His law;
11	וַיִּשְׁכְּח֥וּ עֲלִילוֹתָ֑יו וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֶרְאָֽם׃‎	And they forgot His doings, And His wondrous works that He had shown them.
12	נֶ֣גֶד אֲ֭בוֹתָם עָ֣שָׂה פֶ֑לֶא בְּאֶ֖רֶץ מִצְרַ֣יִם שְׂדֵה־צֹֽעַן׃‎	Marvellous things did He in the sight of their fathers, In the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
13	בָּ֣קַע יָ֭ם וַיַּעֲבִירֵ֑ם וַֽיַּצֶּב־מַ֥יִם כְּמוֹ־נֵֽד׃‎	He cleaved the sea, and caused them to pass through; And He made the waters to stand as a heap.
14	וַיַּנְחֵ֣ם בֶּעָנָ֣ן יוֹמָ֑ם וְכׇל־הַ֝לַּ֗יְלָה בְּא֣וֹר אֵֽשׁ׃‎	By day also He led them with a cloud, And all the night with a light of fire.
15	יְבַקַּ֣ע צֻ֭רִים בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר וַ֝יַּ֗שְׁקְ כִּתְהֹמ֥וֹת רַבָּֽה׃‎	He cleaved rocks in the wilderness, And gave them drink abundantly as out of the great deep.
16	וַיּוֹצִ֣א נוֹזְלִ֣ים מִסָּ֑לַע וַיּ֖וֹרֶד כַּנְּהָר֣וֹת מָֽיִם׃‎	He brought streams also out of the rock, And caused waters to run down like rivers.
17	וַיּוֹסִ֣יפוּ ע֭וֹד לַחֲטֹא־ל֑וֹ לַֽמְר֥וֹת עֶ֝לְי֗וֹן בַּצִּיָּֽה׃‎	Yet went they on still to sin against Him, To rebel against the Most High in the desert.
18	וַיְנַסּוּ־אֵ֥ל בִּלְבָבָ֑ם לִֽשְׁאׇל־אֹ֥כֶל לְנַפְשָֽׁם׃‎	And they tried God in their heart By asking food for their craving.
19	וַֽיְדַבְּר֗וּ בֵּאלֹ֫הִ֥ים אָ֭מְרוּ הֲי֣וּכַל אֵ֑ל לַעֲרֹ֥ךְ שֻׁ֝לְחָ֗ן בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃‎	Yea, they spoke against God; They said 'Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?
20	הֵ֤ן הִכָּה־צ֨וּר ׀ וַיָּז֣וּבוּ מַיִם֮ וּנְחָלִ֢ים יִ֫שְׁטֹ֥פוּ הֲגַם־לֶ֭חֶם י֣וּכַל תֵּ֑ת אִם־יָכִ֖ין שְׁאֵ֣ר לְעַמּֽוֹ׃‎	Behold, He smote the rock, that waters gushed out, And streams overflowed; Can He give bread also? Or will He provide flesh for His people?'
21	לָכֵ֤ן ׀ שָׁמַ֥ע יְהֹוָ֗ה וַֽיִּתְעַ֫בָּ֥ר וְ֭אֵשׁ נִשְּׂקָ֣ה בְיַעֲקֹ֑ב וְגַם־אַ֝֗ף עָלָ֥ה בְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃‎	herefore the LORD heard, and was wroth; And a fire was kindled against Jacob, And anger also went up against Israel;
22	כִּ֤י לֹ֣א הֶ֭אֱמִינוּ בֵּאלֹהִ֑ים וְלֹ֥א בָ֝טְח֗וּ בִּישֽׁוּעָתֽוֹ׃‎	Because they believed not in God, And trusted not in His salvation.
23	וַיְצַ֣ו שְׁחָקִ֣ים מִמָּ֑עַל וְדַלְתֵ֖י שָׁמַ֣יִם פָּתָֽח׃‎	And He commanded the skies above, And opened the doors of heaven;
24	וַיַּמְטֵ֬ר עֲלֵיהֶ֣ם מָ֣ן לֶאֱכֹ֑ל וּדְגַן־שָׁ֝מַ֗יִם נָ֣תַן לָֽמוֹ׃‎	And He caused manna to rain upon them for food, And gave them of the corn of heaven.
25	לֶ֣חֶם אַ֭בִּירִים אָ֣כַל אִ֑ישׁ צֵידָ֬ה שָׁלַ֖ח לָהֶ֣ם לָשֹֽׂבַע׃‎	Man did eat the bread of the mighty; He sent them provisions to the full.
26	יַסַּ֣ע קָ֭דִים בַּשָּׁמָ֑יִם וַיְנַהֵ֖ג בְּעֻזּ֣וֹ תֵימָֽן׃‎	He caused the east wind to set forth in heaven; And by His power He brought on the south wind.
27	וַיַּמְטֵ֬ר עֲלֵיהֶ֣ם כֶּעָפָ֣ר שְׁאֵ֑ר וּֽכְח֥וֹל יַ֝מִּ֗ים ע֣וֹף כָּנָֽף׃‎	He caused flesh also to rain upon them as the dust, And winged fowl as the sand of the seas;
28	וַ֭יַּפֵּל בְּקֶ֣רֶב מַחֲנֵ֑הוּ סָ֝בִ֗יב לְמִשְׁכְּנֹתָֽיו׃‎	And He let it fall in the midst of their camp, Round about their dwellings.
29	וַיֹּאכְל֣וּ וַיִּשְׂבְּע֣וּ מְאֹ֑ד וְ֝תַאֲוָתָ֗ם יָבִ֥א לָהֶֽם׃‎	So they did eat, and were well filled; And He gave them that which they craved.
30	לֹא־זָ֥רוּ מִתַּאֲוָתָ֑ם ע֝֗וֹד אׇכְלָ֥ם בְּפִיהֶֽם׃‎	They were not estranged from their craving, Their food was yet in their mouths,
31	וְאַ֤ף אֱלֹהִ֨ים ׀ עָ֘לָ֤ה בָהֶ֗ם וַֽ֭יַּהֲרֹג בְּמִשְׁמַנֵּיהֶ֑ם וּבַחוּרֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל הִכְרִֽיעַ׃‎	When the anger of God went up against them, And slew of the lustieth among them, And smote down the young men of Israel.
32	בְּכׇל־זֹ֥את חָֽטְאוּ־ע֑וֹד וְלֹֽא־הֶ֝אֱמִ֗ינוּ בְּנִפְלְאוֹתָֽיו׃‎	For all this they sinned still, And believed not in His wondrous works.
33	וַיְכַל־בַּהֶ֥בֶל יְמֵיהֶ֑ם וּ֝שְׁנוֹתָ֗ם בַּבֶּהָלָֽה׃‎	Therefore He ended their days as a breath, And their years in terror.
34	אִם־הֲרָגָ֥ם וּדְרָשׁ֑וּהוּ וְ֝שָׁ֗בוּ וְשִֽׁחֲרוּ־אֵֽל׃‎	When He slew them, then they would inquire after Him, And turn back and seek God earnestly.
35	וַֽ֭יִּזְכְּרוּ כִּֽי־אֱלֹהִ֣ים צוּרָ֑ם וְאֵ֥ל עֶ֝לְי֗וֹן גֹּאֲלָֽם׃‎	And they remembered that God was their Rock, And the Most High God their redeemer.
36	וַיְפַתּ֥וּהוּ בְּפִיהֶ֑ם וּ֝בִלְשׁוֹנָ֗ם יְכַזְּבוּ־לֽוֹ׃‎	But they beguiled Him with their mouth, And lied unto Him with their tongue.
37	וְ֭לִבָּם לֹא־נָכ֣וֹן עִמּ֑וֹ וְלֹ֥א נֶ֝אֶמְנ֗וּ בִּבְרִיתֽוֹ׃‎	For their heart was not stedfast with Him, Neither were they faithful in His covenant.
38	וְה֤וּא רַח֨וּם ׀ יְכַפֵּ֥ר עָוֺן֮ וְֽלֹא־יַֽ֫שְׁחִ֥ית וְ֭הִרְבָּה לְהָשִׁ֣יב אַפּ֑וֹ וְלֹא־יָ֝עִ֗יר כׇּל־חֲמָתֽוֹ׃‎	But He, being full of compassion, forgiveth iniquity, and destroyeth not; Yea, many a time doth He turn His anger away, And doth not stir up all His wrath.
39	וַ֭יִּזְכֹּר כִּֽי־בָשָׂ֣ר הֵ֑מָּה ר֥וּחַ ה֝וֹלֵ֗ךְ וְלֹ֣א יָשֽׁוּב׃‎	So He remembered that they were but flesh, A wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.
40	כַּ֭מָּה יַמְר֣וּהוּ בַמִּדְבָּ֑ר יַ֝עֲצִיב֗וּהוּ בִּישִׁימֽוֹן׃‎	How oft did they rebel against Him in the wilderness, And grieve Him in the desert!
41	וַיָּשׁ֣וּבוּ וַיְנַסּ֣וּ אֵ֑ל וּקְד֖וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל הִתְוֽוּ׃‎	And still again they tried God, And set bounds to the Holy One of Israel.
42	לֹא־זָכְר֥וּ אֶת־יָד֑וֹ י֝֗וֹם אֲֽשֶׁר־פָּדָ֥ם מִנִּי־צָֽר׃‎	They remembered not His hand, Nor the day when He redeemed them from the adversary.
43	אֲשֶׁר־שָׂ֣ם בְּ֭מִצְרַיִם אֹתוֹתָ֑יו וּ֝מוֹפְתָ֗יו בִּשְׂדֵה־צֹֽעַן׃‎	How He set His signs in Egypt, And His wonders in the field of Zoan; .
44	וַיַּהֲפֹ֣ךְ לְ֭דָם יְאֹרֵיהֶ֑ם וְ֝נֹזְלֵיהֶ֗ם בַּל־יִשְׁתָּיֽוּן׃‎	And turned their rivers into blood, So that they could not drink their streams.
45	יְשַׁלַּ֬ח בָּהֶ֣ם עָ֭רֹב וַיֹּאכְלֵ֑ם וּ֝צְפַרְדֵּ֗עַ וַתַּשְׁחִיתֵֽם׃‎	He sent among them swarms of flies, which devoured them; And frogs, which destroyed them.
46	וַיִּתֵּ֣ן לֶחָסִ֣יל יְבוּלָ֑ם וִ֝יגִיעָ֗ם לָאַרְבֶּֽה׃‎	He gave also their increase unto the caterpillar, And their labour unto the locust.
47	יַהֲרֹ֣ג בַּבָּרָ֣ד גַּפְנָ֑ם וְ֝שִׁקְמוֹתָ֗ם בַּחֲנָמַֽל׃‎	He destroyed their vines with hail, And their sycamore-trees with frost.
48	וַיַּסְגֵּ֣ר לַבָּרָ֣ד בְּעִירָ֑ם וּ֝מִקְנֵיהֶ֗ם לָרְשָׁפִֽים׃‎	He gave over their cattle also to the hail, And their flocks to fiery bolts.
49	יְשַׁלַּח־בָּ֨ם ׀ חֲר֬וֹן אַפּ֗וֹ עֶבְרָ֣ה וָזַ֣עַם וְצָרָ֑ה מִ֝שְׁלַ֗חַת מַלְאֲכֵ֥י רָעִֽים׃‎	He sent forth upon them the fierceness of His anger, Wrath, and indignation, and trouble, A sending of messengers of evil.
50	יְפַלֵּ֥ס נָתִ֗יב לְאַ֫פּ֥וֹ לֹא־חָשַׂ֣ךְ מִמָּ֣וֶת נַפְשָׁ֑ם וְ֝חַיָּתָ֗ם לַדֶּ֥בֶר הִסְגִּֽיר׃‎	He levelled a path for His anger; He spared not their soul from death, But gave their life over to the pestilence;
51	וַיַּ֣ךְ כׇּל־בְּכ֣וֹר בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם רֵאשִׁ֥ית א֝וֹנִ֗ים בְּאׇהֳלֵי־חָֽם׃‎	And smote all the first-born in Egypt, The first-fruits of their strength in the tents of Ham;
52	וַיַּסַּ֣ע כַּצֹּ֣אן עַמּ֑וֹ וַֽיְנַהֲגֵ֥ם כַּ֝עֵ֗דֶר בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃‎	But He made His own people to go forth like sheep, And guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
53	וַיַּנְחֵ֣ם לָ֭בֶטַח וְלֹ֣א פָחָ֑דוּ וְאֶת־א֝וֹיְבֵיהֶ֗ם כִּסָּ֥ה הַיָּֽם׃‎	And He led them safely, and they feared not; But the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
54	וַ֭יְבִיאֵם אֶל־גְּב֣וּל קׇדְשׁ֑וֹ הַר־זֶ֝֗ה קָנְתָ֥ה יְמִינֽוֹ׃‎	And He brought them to His holy border, To the mountain, which His right hand had gotten.
55	וַיְגָ֤רֶשׁ מִפְּנֵיהֶ֨ם ׀ גּוֹיִ֗ם וַֽ֭יַּפִּילֵם בְּחֶ֣בֶל נַחֲלָ֑ה וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֥ן בְּ֝אׇהֳלֵיהֶ֗ם שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃‎	He drove out the nations also before them, And allotted them for an inheritance by line, And made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
56	וַיְנַסּ֣וּ וַ֭יַּמְרוּ אֶת־אֱלֹהִ֣ים עֶלְי֑וֹן וְ֝עֵדוֹתָ֗יו לֹ֣א שָׁמָֽרוּ׃‎	Yet they tried and provoked God, the Most High, And kept not His testimonies;
57	וַיִּסֹּ֣גוּ וַֽ֭יִּבְגְּדוּ כַּאֲבוֹתָ֑ם נֶ֝הְפְּכ֗וּ כְּקֶ֣שֶׁת רְמִיָּֽה׃‎	But turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers; They were turned aside like a deceitful bow.
58	וַיַּכְעִיס֥וּהוּ בְּבָמוֹתָ֑ם וּ֝בִפְסִילֵיהֶ֗ם יַקְנִיאֽוּהוּ׃‎	For they provoked Him with their high places, And moved Him to jealousy with their graven images.
59	שָׁמַ֣ע אֱ֭לֹהִים וַֽיִּתְעַבָּ֑ר וַיִּמְאַ֥ס מְ֝אֹ֗ד בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃‎	God heard, and was wroth, And He greatly abhorred Israel;
60	וַ֭יִּטֹּשׁ מִשְׁכַּ֣ן שִׁל֑וֹ אֹ֝֗הֶל שִׁכֵּ֥ן בָּֽאָדָֽם׃‎	And He forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, The tent which He had made to dwell among men;
61	וַיִּתֵּ֣ן לַשְּׁבִ֣י עֻזּ֑וֹ וְֽתִפְאַרְתּ֥וֹ בְיַד־צָֽר׃‎	And delivered His strength into captivity, And His glory into the adversary's hand.
62	וַיַּסְגֵּ֣ר לַחֶ֣רֶב עַמּ֑וֹ וּ֝בְנַחֲלָת֗וֹ הִתְעַבָּֽר׃‎	He gave His people over also unto the sword; And was wroth with His inheritance.
63	בַּחוּרָ֥יו אָכְלָה־אֵ֑שׁ וּ֝בְתוּלֹתָ֗יו לֹ֣א הוּלָּֽלוּ׃‎	Fire devoured their young men; And their virgins had no marriage-song.
64	כֹּ֭הֲנָיו בַּחֶ֣רֶב נָפָ֑לוּ וְ֝אַלְמְנֹתָ֗יו לֹ֣א תִבְכֶּֽינָה׃‎	Their priests fell by the sword; And their widows made no lamentation. .
65	וַיִּקַ֖ץ כְּיָשֵׁ֥ן ׀ אֲדֹנָ֑י כְּ֝גִבּ֗וֹר מִתְרוֹנֵ֥ן מִיָּֽיִן׃‎	Then the Lord awaked as one asleep, Like a mighty man recovering from wine.
66	וַיַּךְ־צָרָ֥יו אָח֑וֹר חֶרְפַּ֥ת ע֝וֹלָ֗ם נָ֣תַן לָֽמוֹ׃‎	And He smote His adversaries backward; He put upon them a perpetual reproach.
67	וַ֭יִּמְאַס בְּאֹ֣הֶל יוֹסֵ֑ף וּֽבְשֵׁ֥בֶט אֶ֝פְרַ֗יִם לֹ֣א בָחָֽר׃‎	Moreover He abhorred the tent of Joseph, And chose not the tribe of Ephraim;
68	וַ֭יִּבְחַר אֶת־שֵׁ֣בֶט יְהוּדָ֑ה אֶֽת־הַ֥ר צִ֝יּ֗וֹן אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָהֵֽב׃‎	But chose the tribe of Judah, The mount Zion which He loved.
69	וַיִּ֣בֶן כְּמוֹ־רָ֭מִים מִקְדָּשׁ֑וֹ כְּ֝אֶ֗רֶץ יְסָדָ֥הּ לְעוֹלָֽם׃‎	And He built His sanctuary like the heights, Like the earth which He hath founded for ever.
70	וַ֭יִּבְחַר בְּדָוִ֣ד עַבְדּ֑וֹ וַ֝יִּקָּחֵ֗הוּ מִֽמִּכְלְאֹ֥ת צֹֽאן׃‎	He chose David also His servant, And took him from the sheepfolds;
71	מֵאַחַ֥ר עָל֗וֹת הֱבִ֫יא֥וֹ לִ֭רְעוֹת בְּיַֽעֲקֹ֣ב עַמּ֑וֹ וּ֝בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל נַחֲלָתֽוֹ׃‎	From following the ewes that give suck He brought him, To be shepherd over Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance.
72	וַ֭יִּרְעֵם כְּתֹ֣ם לְבָב֑וֹ וּבִתְבוּנ֖וֹת כַּפָּ֣יו יַנְחֵֽם׃‎	So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart; And lead them by the skilfulness of his hands.

King James Version

1. Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2. I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
3. Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.
4. We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.
5. For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:
6. That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:
7. That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:
8. And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.
9. The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.
10. They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law;
11. And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them.
12. Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
13. He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap.
14. In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.
15. He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths.
16. He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.
17. And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness.
18. And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.
19. Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?
20. Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?
21. Therefore the LORD heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel;
22. Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation:
23. Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,
24. And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.
25. Man did eat angels' food: he sent them meat to the full.
26. He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind.
27. He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea:
28. And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations.
29. So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire;
30. They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths,
31. The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.
32. For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.
33. Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.
34. When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God.
35. And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.
36. Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.
37. For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.
38. But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.
39. For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.
40. How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!
41. Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.
42. They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy.
43. How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan.
44. And had turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, that they could not drink.
45. He sent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them.
46. He gave also their increase unto the caterpiller, and their labour unto the locust.
47. He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycomore trees with frost.
48. He gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts.
49. He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.
50. He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence;
51. And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:
52. But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
53. And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
54. And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased.
55. He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
56. Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies:
57. But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.
58. For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.
59. When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel:
60. So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men;
61. And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's hand.
62. He gave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance.
63. The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage.
64. Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation.
65. Then the LORD awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.
66. And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach.
67. Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim:
68. But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved.
69. And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever.
70. He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:
71. From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.
72. So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.

Uses

Judaism

• This psalm is recited on the third through sixth days of Passover in some traditions.
• Verse 36–37 are found in the Foundation of Repentance recited on the eve of Rosh Hashanah.
• Verse 38 (V'hu Rachum) is the first verse of a paragraph by the same name in Pesukei Dezimra, is the seventeenth verse of Yehi Kivod in Pesukei Dezimra, is the opening verse of the long Tachanun recited on Mondays and Thursdays, is found in Uva Letzion, and is one of two verses recited at the beginning of Maariv.
• Verse 54 is part of Pirkei Avot Chapter 6, no. 10.
• Verse 61 is part of the long Tachanun recited on Mondays and Thursdays.

New Testament

In the New Testament:

• Verse 2 is quoted in Matthew 13:35
• Verse 24 is quoted in John 6:31

Book of Common Prayer

In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, this psalm is appointed to be read on the evening of the 15th day of the month.

Musical settings

Heinrich Schütz set Psalm 78 in a metred version in German, "Hör, mein Volk, mein Gesetz und Weis", SWV 176, as part of the Becker Psalter, first published in 1628.

See also

• The Exodus
• Ipuwer Papyrus
• Passover
• Plagues of Egypt
• Sources and parallels of the Exodus
• Stations of the Exodus
• Related Bible passages: Va'eira, Bo (parsha), and Beshalach: Torah portions (parashot) telling the Exodus story; Psalm 105

External links

• Pieces with text from Psalm 78: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
• Psalm 78: Free scores at the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)
• Psalm 78 in Hebrew and English, Mechon-mamre
• Text of Psalm 78 according to the 1928 Psalter
• A maskil of Asaph. Attend, my people, to my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. (text and footnotes) United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
• Psalm 78 – Learning from God’s Faithfulness to His Rebellious People (text and detailed commentary) enduringword.com
• Psalm 78:1 (introduction and text) Bible study tools
• Psalm 78/ Refrain: O Lord, how glorious are your works. Church of England
• Psalm 78 Bible gateway
• Charles H. Spurgeon: Psalm 78 (commentary) spurgeon.org
• Hymns for Psalm 78 hymnary.org