New Living Translation | New Living Translation |
1O my people, listen to my instructions. Open your ears to what I am saying, | 1O my people, listen to my instructions. Open your ears to what I am saying, |
2for I will speak to you in a parable. I will teach you hidden lessons from our past— | 2for I will speak to you in a parable. I will teach you hidden lessons from our past— |
3stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us. | 3stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us. |
4We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD, about his power and his mighty wonders. | 4We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD, about his power and his mighty wonders. |
5For he issued his laws to Jacob; he gave his instructions to Israel. He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children, | 5For he issued his laws to Jacob; he gave his instructions to Israel. He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children, |
6so the next generation might know them— even the children not yet born— and they in turn will teach their own children. | 6so the next generation might know them— even the children not yet born— and they in turn will teach their own children. |
7So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands. | 7So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands. |
8Then they will not be like their ancestors— stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God. | 8Then they will not be like their ancestors— stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God. |
9The warriors of Ephraim, though armed with bows, turned their backs and fled on the day of battle. | 9The warriors of Ephraim, though armed with bows, turned their backs and fled on the day of battle. |
10They did not keep God’s covenant and refused to live by his instructions. | 10They did not keep God’s covenant and refused to live by his instructions. |
11They forgot what he had done— the great wonders he had shown them, | 11They forgot what he had done— the great wonders he had shown them, |
12the miracles he did for their ancestors on the plain of Zoan in the land of Egypt. | 12the miracles he did for their ancestors on the plain of Zoan in the land of Egypt. |
13For he divided the sea and led them through, making the water stand up like walls! | 13For he divided the sea and led them through, making the water stand up like walls! |
14In the daytime he led them by a cloud, and all night by a pillar of fire. | 14In the daytime he led them by a cloud, and all night by a pillar of fire. |
15He split open the rocks in the wilderness to give them water, as from a gushing spring. | 15He split open the rocks in the wilderness to give them water, as from a gushing spring. |
16He made streams pour from the rock, making the waters flow down like a river! | 16He made streams pour from the rock, making the waters flow down like a river! |
17Yet they kept on sinning against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert. | 17Yet they kept on sinning against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert. |
18They stubbornly tested God in their hearts, demanding the foods they craved. | 18They stubbornly tested God in their hearts, demanding the foods they craved. |
19They even spoke against God himself, saying, “God can’t give us food in the wilderness. | 19They even spoke against God himself, saying, “God can’t give us food in the wilderness. |
20Yes, he can strike a rock so water gushes out, but he can’t give his people bread and meat.” | 20Yes, he can strike a rock so water gushes out, but he can’t give his people bread and meat.” |
21When the LORD heard them, he was furious. The fire of his wrath burned against Jacob. Yes, his anger rose against Israel, | 21When the LORD heard them, he was furious. The fire of his wrath burned against Jacob. Yes, his anger rose against Israel, |
22for they did not believe God or trust him to care for them. | 22for they did not believe God or trust him to care for them. |
23But he commanded the skies to open; he opened the doors of heaven. | 23But he commanded the skies to open; he opened the doors of heaven. |
24He rained down manna for them to eat; he gave them bread from heaven. | 24He rained down manna for them to eat; he gave them bread from heaven. |
25They ate the food of angels! God gave them all they could hold. | 25They ate the food of angels! God gave them all they could hold. |
26He released the east wind in the heavens and guided the south wind by his mighty power. | 26He released the east wind in the heavens and guided the south wind by his mighty power. |
27He rained down meat as thick as dust— birds as plentiful as the sand on the seashore! | 27He rained down meat as thick as dust— birds as plentiful as the sand on the seashore! |
28He caused the birds to fall within their camp and all around their tents. | 28He caused the birds to fall within their camp and all around their tents. |
29The people ate their fill. He gave them what they craved. | 29The people ate their fill. He gave them what they craved. |
30But before they satisfied their craving, while the meat was yet in their mouths, | 30But before they satisfied their craving, while the meat was yet in their mouths, |
31the anger of God rose against them, and he killed their strongest men. He struck down the finest of Israel’s young men. | 31the anger of God rose against them, and he killed their strongest men. He struck down the finest of Israel’s young men. |
32But in spite of this, the people kept sinning. Despite his wonders, they refused to trust him. | 32But in spite of this, the people kept sinning. Despite his wonders, they refused to trust him. |
33So he ended their lives in failure, their years in terror. | 33So he ended their lives in failure, their years in terror. |
34When God began killing them, they finally sought him. They repented and took God seriously. | 34When God began killing them, they finally sought him. They repented and took God seriously. |
35Then they remembered that God was their rock, that God Most High was their redeemer. | 35Then they remembered that God was their rock, that God Most High was their redeemer. |
36But all they gave him was lip service; they lied to him with their tongues. | 36But all they gave him was lip service; they lied to him with their tongues. |
37Their hearts were not loyal to him. They did not keep his covenant. | 37Their hearts were not loyal to him. They did not keep his covenant. |
38Yet he was merciful and forgave their sins and did not destroy them all. Many times he held back his anger and did not unleash his fury! | 38Yet he was merciful and forgave their sins and did not destroy them all. Many times he held back his anger and did not unleash his fury! |
39For he remembered that they were merely mortal, gone like a breath of wind that never returns. | 39For he remembered that they were merely mortal, gone like a breath of wind that never returns. |
40Oh, how often they rebelled against him in the wilderness and grieved his heart in that dry wasteland. | 40Oh, how often they rebelled against him in the wilderness and grieved his heart in that dry wasteland. |
41Again and again they tested God’s patience and provoked the Holy One of Israel. | 41Again and again they tested God’s patience and provoked the Holy One of Israel. |
42They did not remember his power and how he rescued them from their enemies. | 42They did not remember his power and how he rescued them from their enemies. |
43They did not remember his miraculous signs in Egypt, his wonders on the plain of Zoan. | 43They did not remember his miraculous signs in Egypt, his wonders on the plain of Zoan. |
44For he turned their rivers into blood, so no one could drink from the streams. | 44For he turned their rivers into blood, so no one could drink from the streams. |
45He sent vast swarms of flies to consume them and hordes of frogs to ruin them. | 45He sent vast swarms of flies to consume them and hordes of frogs to ruin them. |
46He gave their crops to caterpillars; their harvest was consumed by locusts. | 46He gave their crops to caterpillars; their harvest was consumed by locusts. |
47He destroyed their grapevines with hail and shattered their sycamore-figs with sleet. | 47He destroyed their grapevines with hail and shattered their sycamore-figs with sleet. |
48He abandoned their cattle to the hail, their livestock to bolts of lightning. | 48He abandoned their cattle to the hail, their livestock to bolts of lightning. |
49He loosed on them his fierce anger— all his fury, rage, and hostility. He dispatched against them a band of destroying angels. | 49He loosed on them his fierce anger— all his fury, rage, and hostility. He dispatched against them a band of destroying angels. |
50He turned his anger against them; he did not spare the Egyptians’ lives but ravaged them with the plague. | 50He turned his anger against them; he did not spare the Egyptians’ lives but ravaged them with the plague. |
51He killed the oldest son in each Egyptian family, the flower of youth throughout the land of Egypt. | 51He killed the oldest son in each Egyptian family, the flower of youth throughout the land of Egypt. |
52But he led his own people like a flock of sheep, guiding them safely through the wilderness. | 52But he led his own people like a flock of sheep, guiding them safely through the wilderness. |
53He kept them safe so they were not afraid; but the sea covered their enemies. | 53He kept them safe so they were not afraid; but the sea covered their enemies. |
54He brought them to the border of his holy land, to this land of hills he had won for them. | 54He brought them to the border of his holy land, to this land of hills he had won for them. |
55He drove out the nations before them; he gave them their inheritance by lot. He settled the tribes of Israel into their homes. | 55He drove out the nations before them; he gave them their inheritance by lot. He settled the tribes of Israel into their homes. |
56But they kept testing and rebelling against God Most High. They did not obey his laws. | 56But they kept testing and rebelling against God Most High. They did not obey his laws. |
57They turned back and were as faithless as their parents. They were as undependable as a crooked bow. | 57They turned back and were as faithless as their parents. They were as undependable as a crooked bow. |
58They angered God by building shrines to other gods; they made him jealous with their idols. | 58They angered God by building shrines to other gods; they made him jealous with their idols. |
59When God heard them, he was very angry, and he completely rejected Israel. | 59When God heard them, he was very angry, and he completely rejected Israel. |
60Then he abandoned his dwelling at Shiloh, the Tabernacle where he had lived among the people. | 60Then he abandoned his dwelling at Shiloh, the Tabernacle where he had lived among the people. |
61He allowed the Ark of his might to be captured; he surrendered his glory into enemy hands. | 61He allowed the Ark of his might to be captured; he surrendered his glory into enemy hands. |
62He gave his people over to be butchered by the sword, because he was so angry with his own people—his special possession. | 62He gave his people over to be butchered by the sword, because he was so angry with his own people—his special possession. |
63Their young men were killed by fire; their young women died before singing their wedding songs. | 63Their young men were killed by fire; their young women died before singing their wedding songs. |
64Their priests were slaughtered, and their widows could not mourn their deaths. | 64Their priests were slaughtered, and their widows could not mourn their deaths. |
65Then the Lord rose up as though waking from sleep, like a warrior aroused from a drunken stupor. | 65Then the Lord rose up as though waking from sleep, like a warrior aroused from a drunken stupor. |
66He routed his enemies and sent them to eternal shame. | 66He routed his enemies and sent them to eternal shame. |
67But he rejected Joseph’s descendants; he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim. | 67But he rejected Joseph’s descendants; he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim. |
68He chose instead the tribe of Judah, and Mount Zion, which he loved. | 68He chose instead the tribe of Judah, and Mount Zion, which he loved. |
69There he built his sanctuary as high as the heavens, as solid and enduring as the earth. | 69There he built his sanctuary as high as the heavens, as solid and enduring as the earth. |
70He chose his servant David, calling him from the sheep pens. | 70He chose his servant David, calling him from the sheep pens. |
71He took David from tending the ewes and lambs and made him the shepherd of Jacob’s descendants— God’s own people, Israel. | 71He took David from tending the ewes and lambs and made him the shepherd of Jacob’s descendants— God’s own people, Israel. |
72He cared for them with a true heart and led them with skillful hands. | 72He cared for them with a true heart and led them with skillful hands. |
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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