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