V

versus one through 19 of Psalm 78

Give ear oh my people to my teaching

incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

I will open my mouth in a parable. I will utter dark sayings from of old. Things that we have heard and known that our fathers have told us. 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 which he has wrought.

He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel which he commanded our fathers to teach

to their children that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise

and tell them to their children

so that they should set their hope in God

and not forget the works of God,

but keep his commandments.

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.

The Ephraimites, armed with the bow, turned back on the day of battle. They did not keep God's covenant, but refused to walk according to his law. They forgot what he had done and the miracles that he had shown them. In the sight of

their fathers he wrought marvels in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan. He divided the

sea and let them pass through it and made the waters stand like a heap.

In the daytime he led them with a cloud and all the night with a fiery light.

He cleft rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep.

He made streams come out of the rock and caused waters to flow down like rivers.

Yet they sinned still more against him, rebellion against

the most high in the desert. They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they crave.

They spoke against God, saying,

...