HEAR my law, O my people; * incline your ears unto the words of my mouth.
2I will open my mouth in a parable; * I will declare hard sentences of old;
3Which we have heard and known, * and such as our fathers have told us;
4That we should not hide them from the children of the generations to come; * but to show the honour of the LORD, his mighty and wonderful works that he hath done.
5He made a covenant with Jacob, and gave Israel a law, * which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children;
6That their posterity might know it, * and the children which were yet unborn;
7To the intent that when they came up, * they might show their children the same;
8That they might put their trust in God; * and not to forget the works of God, but to keep his commandments;
9And not to be as their forefathers, a faithless and stubborn generation; * a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit clave not stedfastly unto God;
10Like as the children of Ephraim; * who being harnessed, and carrying bows, turned themselves back in the day of battle.
11They kept not the covenant of God, * and would not walk in his law;
12But forgat what he had done, * and the wonderful works that he had showed for them.
13Marvellous things did he in the sight of our forefathers, in the land of Egypt, * even in the field of Zoan.
14He divided the sea, and let them go through; * he made the waters to stand on an heap.
15In the day-time also he led them with a cloud, * and all the night through with a light of fire.
16He clave the hard rocks in the wilderness, * and gave them drink thereof, as it had been out of the great depth.
17He brought waters out of the stony rock, * so that it gushed out like the rivers.
18Yet for all this they sinned more against him, * and provoked the Most Highest in the wilderness.
19They tempted God in their hearts, * and required meat for their lust.
20They spake against God also, saying, * Shall God prepare a table in the wilderness?
21He smote the stony rock indeed, that the water gushed out, and the streams flowed withal; * but can he give bread also, or provide flesh for his people?
22When the LORD heard this, he was wroth; * so the fire was kindled in Jacob, and there came up heavy displeasure against Israel;
23Because they believed not in God, * and put not their trust in his help.
24So he commanded the clouds above, * and opened the doors of heaven.
25He rained down manna also upon them for to eat, * and gave them food from heaven.
26So man did eat angels' food; * for he sent them meat enough.
27He caused the east-wind to blow under heaven; * and through his power he brought in the southwest-wind.
28He rained flesh upon them as thick as dust, * and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea.
29He let it fall among their tents, * even round about their habitation.
30So they did eat, and were well filled; for he gave them their own desire: * they were not disappointed of their lust.
31But while the meat was yet in their mouths, the heavy wrath of God came upon them, and slew the wealthiest of them; * yea, and smote down the chosen men that were in Israel.
32But for all this they sinned yet more, * and believed not his wondrous works.
33Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, * and their years in trouble.
34When he slew them, they sought him, * and turned them early, and inquired after God.
35And they remembered that God was their strength, * and that the High God was their redeemer.
36Nevertheless, they did but flatter him with their mouth, * and dissembled with him in their tongue.
37For their heart was not whole with him, * neither continued they stedfast in his covenant.
38But he was so merciful, that he forgave their misdeeds, * and destroyed them not.
33Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, * and their years in trouble.
34When he slew them, they sought him, * and turned them early, and inquired after God.
35And they remembered that God was their strength, * and that the High God was their redeemer.
36Nevertheless, they did but flatter him with their mouth, * and dissembled with him in their tongue.
37For their heart was not whole with him, * neither continued they stedfast in his covenant.
38But he was so merciful, that he forgave their misdeeds, * and destroyed them not.
39Yea, many a time turned he his wrath away, * and would not suffer his whole displeasure to arise.
40For he considered that they were but flesh, * and that they were even a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.
41Many a time did they provoke him in the wilderness, * and grieved him in the desert.
42They turned back, and tempted God, * and provoked the Holy One in Israel.
43They thought not of his hand, * and of the day when he delivered them from the hand of the enemy;
44How he had wrought his miracles in Egypt, * and his wonders in the field of Zoan.
45He turned their waters into blood, * so that they might not drink of the rivers.
46He sent flies among them, and devoured them up; * and frogs to destroy them.
47He gave their fruit unto the caterpillar, * and their labour unto the grasshopper.
48He destroyed their vines with hailstones, * and their mulberry-trees with the frost.
49He smote their cattle also with hailstones, * and their flocks with hot thunderbolts.
50He cast upon them the furiousness of his wrath, anger, displeasure, and trouble: * and sent evil angels among them.
51He made a way to his indignation, and spared not their soul from death; * but gave their life over to the pestilence;
52And smote all the firstborn in Egypt, * the most principal and mightiest in the dwellings of Ham.
53But as for his own people, he led them forth like sheep, * and carried them in the wilderness like a flock.
54He brought them out safely, that they should not fear, * and overwhelmed their enemies with the sea.
55And brought them within the borders of his sanctuary, * even to his mountain which he purchased with his right hand.
56He 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.
57Yet they tempted and displeased the most high God, * and kept not his testimonies;
58But turned their backs, and fell away like their forefathers; * starting aside like a broken bow.
59For they grieved him with their hill-altars, * and provoked him to displeasure with their images.
60When God heard this, he was wroth, * and took sore displeasure at Israel;
61So that he forsook the tabernacle in Shiloh, * even the tent that he had pitched among men.
62He delivered their power into captivity, * and their beauty into the enemy's hand.
63He gave his people over also unto the sword, * and was wroth with his inheritance.
64The fire consumed their young men, * and their maidens were not given to marriage.
65Their priests were slain with the sword, * and there were no widows to make lamentation.
66So the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, * and like a giant refreshed with wine.
67He smote his enemies in the hinder parts, * and put them to a perpetual shame.
68He refused the tabernacle of Joseph, * and chose not the tribe of Ephraim;
69But chose the tribe of Judah, * even the hill of Sion which he loved.
70And there he built his temple on high, * and laid the foundation of it like the ground which he hath made continually.
71He chose David also his servant, * and took him away from the sheep-folds.
72As he was following the ewes great with young ones he took him, * that he might feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.
73So he fed them with a faithful and true heart, * and ruled them prudently with all his power.