51 He struck all the firstborn(A) in Egypt,
the first progeny of the tents of Ham.(B)
52 He led his people out like sheep
and guided them like a flock in the wilderness.(C)
53 He led them safely, and they were not afraid;
but the sea covered their enemies.(D)
54 He brought them to his holy territory,
to the mountain his right hand acquired.(E)
55 He drove out nations before them.(F)
He apportioned their inheritance by lot
and settled the tribes of Israel in their tents.(G)

56 But they rebelliously tested the Most High God,
for they did not keep his decrees.(H)
57 They treacherously turned away like their ancestors;
they became warped like a faulty bow.(I)
58 They enraged him with their high places
and provoked his jealousy with their carved images.(J)
59 God heard and became furious;
he completely rejected Israel.(K)
60 He abandoned the tabernacle at Shiloh,
the tent where he resided among mankind.(L)
61 He gave up his strength to captivity
and his splendor to the hand of a foe.(M)
62 He surrendered his people to the sword
because he was enraged with his heritage.(N)
63 Fire consumed his chosen young men,
and his young women had no wedding songs.[a](O)
64 His priests fell by the sword,
and the widows could not lament.(P)

65 The Lord awoke as if from sleep,
like a warrior from the effects of wine.(Q)
66 He beat back his foes;
he gave them lasting disgrace.(R)
67 He rejected the tent of Joseph
and did not choose the tribe of Ephraim.
68 He chose instead the tribe of Judah,
Mount Zion, which he loved.(S)
69 He built his sanctuary like the heights,
like the earth that he established forever.(T)
70 He chose David his servant
and took him from the sheep pens;(U)
71 he brought him from tending ewes
to be shepherd over his people Jacob—
over Israel, his inheritance.(V)
72 He shepherded them with a pure heart
and guided them with his skillful hands.(W)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 78:63 Lit virgins were not praised

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