Psalm 78:1-39

Tell the Coming Generation

A Maskil 1 of Asaph.

1
i Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
incline your ears to the words of my mouth!
 2 j I will open my mouth k in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings from of old,
 3 things that we have heard and known,
that our l fathers have told us.
 4 We will not m hide them from their children,
but n tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,
and o the wonders that he has done.

5 He established p a testimony in q Jacob
and appointed a law in q Israel,
which he commanded our fathers
to teach to their children,
 6 that r the next generation might know them,
the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,
 7 so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget s the works of God,
but t keep his commandments;
 8 and that they should not be u like their fathers,
v a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation w whose heart was not steadfast,
whose spirit was not faithful to God.

9 The Ephraimites, armed with 2 the bow,
x turned back on the day of battle.
 10 They y did not keep God's covenant,
but refused to walk according to his law.
 11 They z forgot his works
and a the wonders that he had shown them.
 12 In the sight of their fathers b he performed wonders
in the land of Egypt, in c the fields of Zoan.
 13 He d divided the sea and let them pass through it,
and made the waters e stand like a heap.
 14 f In the daytime he led them with a cloud,
and all the night with a fiery light.
 15 He g split rocks in the wilderness
and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep.
 16 He made streams come out of h the rock
and caused waters to flow down like rivers.

17 Yet they sinned still more against him,
i rebelling against the Most High in the desert.
 18 They j tested God in their heart
by demanding the food they craved.
 19 They spoke against God, saying,
k "Can God l spread a table in the wilderness?
 20 m He struck the rock so that water gushed out
and streams overflowed.
Can he also give bread
or provide meat for his people?"

21 Therefore, when the Lord heard, he was full of wrath;
n a fire was kindled against Jacob;
his anger rose against Israel,
 22 because they o did not believe in God
and did not trust his saving power.
 23 Yet he commanded the skies above
and p opened the doors of heaven,
 24 and he q rained down on them manna to eat
and gave them r the grain of heaven.
 25 Man ate of the bread of s the angels;
he sent them food t in abundance.
 26 He u caused the east wind to blow in the heavens,
and by his power he led out the south wind;
 27 he rained meat on them like v dust,
winged birds like w the sand of the seas;
 28 he x let them fall in the midst of their camp,
all around their dwellings.
 29 And they y ate and were well filled,
for he gave them what they z craved.
 30 But before they had satisfied their craving,
a while the food was still in their mouths,
 31 the anger of God rose against them,
and he killed b the strongest of them
and laid low c the young men of Israel.

32 In spite of all this, they d still sinned;
e despite his wonders, they did not believe.
 33 So he made f their days g vanish like 3 a breath, 4
and their years in terror.
 34 When he killed them, they h sought him;
they repented and sought God earnestly.
 35 They remembered that God was their i rock,
the Most High God their j redeemer.
 36 But they k flattered him with their mouths;
they l lied to him with their tongues.
 37 Their m heart was not n steadfast toward him;
they were not faithful to his covenant.
 38 Yet he, being o compassionate,
p atoned for their iniquity
and did not destroy them;
he restrained his anger often
and did not stir up all his wrath.
 39 He q remembered that they were but r flesh,
s a wind that passes and comes not again.

  1. Cross References
    Psalms 50:1
    The Mighty One, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.
  2. Cross References
    Isaiah 51:4
    Give attention to me, my people, and give ear to me, my nation; for a law will go out from me, and I will set my justice for a light to the peoples.
    Psalms 49:1
    Hear this, all peoples! Give ear, all inhabitants of the world.
    Psalms 50:7
    Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, I will testify against you. I am God, your God.
  3. Cross References
    Matthew 13:35
    This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: "I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.
    Psalms 49:4
    I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre.
  4. Cross References
    Numbers 21:27
    Therefore the ballad singers say, "Come to Heshbon, let it be built; let the city of Sihon be established.
  5. Cross References
    Psalms 44:1
    O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old:
  6. Cross References
    Job 15:18
    (what wise men have told, without hiding it from their fathers.
  7. Cross References
    Exodus 12:26 - 27
    And when your children say to you, 'What do you...
    Exodus 13:8
    You shall tell your son on that day, 'It is bec...
    Exodus 13:14
    And when in time to come your son asks you, 'Wh...
    Deuteronomy 11:19
    You shall teach them to your children, talking ...
    Joshua 4:6 - 7
    That this may be a sign among you. When your ch...
    Joel 1:3
    Tell your children of it, and let your children...
  8. Cross References
    Psalms 78:11
    They forgot his works and the wonders that he had shown them.
    Psalms 78:32
    In spite of all this, they still sinned; despite his wonders, they did not believe.
  9. Cross References
    Psalms 19:7
    The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
    Psalms 81:5
    He made it a decree in Joseph when he went out over the land of Egypt. I hear a language I had not known:
  10. Cross References
    Psalms 147:19
    He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and rules to Israel.
  11. Cross References
    Psalms 147:19
    He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and rules to Israel.
  12. Cross References
    Psalms 78:4
    We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.
    Psalms 102:18
    Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord :
  13. Cross References
    Psalms 77:12
    I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.
  14. Cross References
    Psalms 105:45
    That they might keep his statutes and observe his laws. Praise the Lord!
  15. Cross References
    2 Kings 17:14
    But they would not listen, but were stubborn, as their fathers had been, who did not believe in the Lord their God.
    2 Chronicles 30:7
    Do not be like your fathers and your brothers, who were faithless to the Lord God of their fathers, so that he made them a desolation, as you see.
    Ezekiel 20:18
    And I said to their children in the wilderness, Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers, nor keep their rules, nor defile yourselves with their idols.
  16. Cross References
    Exodus 32:9
    And the Lord said to Moses, "I have seen this p...
    Exodus 33:3
    Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; bu...
    Deuteronomy 9:7
    Remember and do not forget how you provoked the...
    Deuteronomy 9:24
    You have been rebellious against the Lord from ...
    Deuteronomy 31:27
    For I know how rebellious and stubborn you are....
    Jeremiah 5:23
    But this people has a stubborn and rebellious h...
  17. Cross References
    Psalms 78:37
    Their heart was not steadfast toward him; they were not faithful to his covenant.
    Job 11:13
    If you prepare your heart, you will stretch out your hands toward him.
  18. Cross References
    Psalms 78:57
    But turned away and acted treacherously like their fathers; they twisted like a deceitful bow.
  19. Cross References
    2 Kings 17:15
    They despised his statutes and his covenant that he made with their fathers and the warnings that he gave them. They went after false idols and became false, and they followed the nations that were around them, concerning whom the Lord had commanded them that they should not do like them.
  20. Cross References
    Psalms 106:13
    But they soon forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel.
  21. Cross References
    Psalms 78:4
    We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.
  22. Cross References
    Psalms 78:43
    When he performed his signs in Egypt and his marvels in the fields of Zoan.
    Exodus 7:1 - 12:1
    And the Lord said to Moses, "See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet.
    Psalms 72:18
    Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.
  23. Cross References
    Psalms 78:43
    When he performed his signs in Egypt and his marvels in the fields of Zoan.
    Numbers 13:22
    They went up into the Negeb and came to Hebron. Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, were there. ( Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)
    Isaiah 19:11
    The princes of Zoan are utterly foolish; the wisest counselors of Pharaoh give stupid counsel. How can you say to Pharaoh, "I am a son of the wise, a son of ancient kings"?
    Isaiah 19:13
    The princes of Zoan have become fools, and the princes of Memphis are deluded; those who are the cornerstones of her tribes have made Egypt stagger.
    Ezekiel 30:14
    I will make Pathros a desolation and will set fire to Zoan and will execute judgments on Thebes.
  24. Cross References
    Psalms 136:13
    To him who divided the Red Sea in two, for his steadfast love endures forever.
    Exodus 14:21
    Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
  25. Cross References
    Exodus 15:8
    At the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up; the floods stood up in a heap; the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea.
  26. Cross References
    Psalms 105:39
    He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire to give light by night.
  27. Cross References
    Psalms 78:20
    He struck the rock so that water gushed out and streams overflowed. Can he also give bread or provide meat for his people?
    Psalms 105:41
    He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed through the desert like a river.
    Psalms 114:8
    Who turns the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a spring of water.
    Exodus 17:6
    Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink." And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel.
    Isaiah 48:21
    They did not thirst when he led them through the deserts; he made water flow for them from the rock; he split the rock and the water gushed out.
  28. Cross References
    Numbers 20:8
    "Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle."
    Numbers 20:10 - 11
    Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, "Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?
  29. Cross References
    Psalms 78:40
    How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness and grieved him in the desert!
    Psalms 78:56
    Yet they tested and rebelled against the Most High God and did not keep his testimonies.
    Deuteronomy 9:22
    At Taberah also, and at Massah and at Kibroth-hattaavah you provoked the Lord to wrath.
    Isaiah 63:10
    But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit; therefore he turned to be their enemy, and himself fought against them.
  30. Cross References
    Psalms 78:41
    They tested God again and again and provoked th...
    Psalms 78:56
    Yet they tested and rebelled against the Most H...
    Psalms 95:9
    When your fathers put me to the test and put me...
    Psalms 106:14
    But they had a wanton craving in the wilderness...
    Deuteronomy 6:16
    You shall not put the Lord your God to the test...
    1 Corinthians 10:9
    We must not put Christ to the test, as some of ...
  31. Cross References
    Exodus 16:3
    And the people of Israel said to them, "Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.
    Numbers 11:4
    Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, "Oh that we had meat to eat!
    Numbers 20:3
    And the people quarreled with Moses and said, "Would that we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord!
    Numbers 21:5
    And the people spoke against God and against Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.
  32. Cross References
    Psalms 23:5
    You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
  33. Cross References
    Psalms 78:15 - 16
    He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep.
  34. Cross References
    Numbers 11:1
    And the people complained in the hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes, and when the Lord heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp.
  35. Cross References
    Psalms 78:8
    And that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.
    Psalms 78:32
    In spite of all this, they still sinned; despite his wonders, they did not believe.
    Psalms 78:37
    Their heart was not steadfast toward him; they were not faithful to his covenant.
  36. Cross References
    Genesis 7:11
    In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the windows of the heavens were opened.
    Malachi 3:10
    Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
  37. Cross References
    Exodus 16:4
    Then the Lord said to Moses, "Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not.
  38. Cross References
    Psalms 105:40
    They asked, and he brought quail, and gave them bread from heaven in abundance.
    John 6:31
    Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'
  39. Cross References
    Psalms 103:20
    Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word!
  40. Cross References
    Psalms 78:29
    And they ate and were well filled, for he gave them what they craved.
  41. Cross References
    Numbers 11:31
    Then a wind from the Lord sprang up, and it brought quail from the sea and let them fall beside the camp, about a day's journey on this side and a day's journey on the other side, around the camp, and about two cubits above the ground.
  42. Cross References
    Genesis 13:16
    I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted.
  43. Cross References
    Genesis 22:17
    I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies.
  44. Cross References
    Exodus 16:13
    In the evening quail came up and covered the camp, and in the morning dew lay around the camp.
    Numbers 11:31
    Then a wind from the Lord sprang up, and it brought quail from the sea and let them fall beside the camp, about a day's journey on this side and a day's journey on the other side, around the camp, and about two cubits above the ground.
  45. Cross References
    Numbers 11:19 - 20
    You shall not eat just one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days.
  46. Cross References
    Numbers 11:4
    Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, "Oh that we had meat to eat!
    Numbers 11:34
    Therefore the name of that place was called Kibroth-hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had the craving.
  47. Cross References
    Numbers 11:33
    While the meat was yet between their teeth, before it was consumed, the anger of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord struck down the people with a very great plague.
    Job 20:23
    To fill his belly to the full, God will send his burning anger against him and rain it upon him into his body.
  48. Cross References
    Isaiah 10:16
    Therefore the Lord God of hosts will send wasting sickness among his stout warriors, and under his glory a burning will be kindled, like the burning of fire.
  49. Cross References
    Psalms 78:63
    Fire devoured their young men, and their young women had no marriage song.
  50. Cross References
    Numbers 14:1
    Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night.
    Numbers 16:1
    Now Korah the son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men.
    Numbers 17:1
    The Lord spoke to Moses, saying.
  51. Cross References
    Psalms 78:22
    Because they did not believe in God and did not trust his saving power.
    Numbers 14:11
    And the Lord said to Moses, "How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them?
  52. Cross References
    Numbers 14:29
    Your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and of all your number, listed in the census from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against me.
    Numbers 14:35
    I, the Lord, have spoken. Surely this will I do to all this wicked congregation who are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall come to a full end, and there they shall die.
    Numbers 26:64 - 65
    But among these there was not one of those listed by Moses and Aaron the priest, who had listed the people of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai.
  53. Cross References
    Psalms 39:5
    Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah
  54. Cross References
    Hosea 5:15
    I will return again to my place, until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face, and in their distress earnestly seek me.
  55. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 32:4
    The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.
    Deuteronomy 32:15
    But Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked; you grew fat, stout, and sleek; then he forsook God who made him and scoffed at the Rock of his salvation.
    Deuteronomy 32:31
    For their rock is not as our Rock; our enemies are by themselves.
  56. Cross References
    Exodus 15:13
    You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode.
    Psalms 74:2
    Remember your congregation, which you have purchased of old, which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your heritage! Remember Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.
  57. Cross References
    Isaiah 29:13
    And the Lord said: "Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men.
    Ezekiel 33:31
    And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain.
  58. Cross References
    Isaiah 57:11
    Whom did you dread and fear, so that you lied, and did not remember me, did not lay it to heart? Have I not held my peace, even for a long time, and you do not fear me?
  59. Cross References
    Psalms 78:8
    And that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.
  60. Cross References
    Psalms 51:10
    Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
  61. Cross References
    Exodus 34:6
    The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
  62. Cross References
    Numbers 14:20
    Then the Lord said, "I have pardoned, according to your word.
  63. Cross References
    Psalms 103:14
    For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.
    Job 10:9
    Remember that you have made me like clay; and will you return me to the dust?
  64. Cross References
    Genesis 6:3
    Then the Lord said, "My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.
  65. Cross References
    Job 7:7
    Remember that my life is a breath; my eye will never again see good.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.