1 Listen, dear friends, to God's truth, bend your ears to what I tell you.
2 I'll let you in on the sweet old truths,
3 counsel we learned at our mother's knee.
4 we're passing it along to the next generation— God's fame and fortune, the marvelous things he has done.
5 set his Word firmly in Israel, Then commanded our parents to teach it to their children
6 and all the generations to come— Know the truth and tell the stories so their children
7 Never forget the works of God but keep his commands to the letter.
8 bullheaded and bad, A fickle and faithless bunch who never stayed true to God.
9 ran off when the battle began.
10 refused to walk by his Word.
11 marvels he'd done right before their eyes.
12 in Egypt, out on the fields of Zoan.
13 he piled the waters to the right and the left.
14 led them all the night long with a fiery torch.
15 gave them all they could drink from underground springs;
16 and water pour out like a river.
17 rebel in the desert against the High God.
18 clamored for favors, for special attention.
19 "Why can't God give us a decent meal in this desert?
20 creeks cascaded from the rock. But how about some fresh-baked bread? How about a nice cut of meat?"
21 his anger flared against Jacob, he lost his temper with Israel.
22 had no intention of trusting in his help.
23 and gave orders that opened the gates of heaven.
24 he gave them the Bread of Heaven.
25 he sent them all the food they could eat.
26 gave a strong push to South Wind.
27 succulent birds, an abundance of birds.
28 all round their tents there were birds.
29 he handed them everything they craved on a platter.
30 they stuffed their mouths with more and more.
31 he cut down their brightest and best, he laid low Israel's finest young men.
32 all those wonders and they still wouldn't believe!
33 nothing to show for their lives but a ghost town.
34 they turned and pled for mercy.
35 that High God was their redeemer,
36 they lied through their teeth the whole time.
37 wanted nothing to do with his Covenant.
38 Forgave the sin! Didn't destroy! Over and over he reined in his anger, restrained his considerable wrath.
39 he knew there wasn't much to them,
40 tried his patience in those wilderness years.
41 provoked Israel's Holy God.
42 forgot their day of rescue from the enemy,
43 wonders on the plain of Zoan.
44 not a drop of water fit to drink.
45 and frogs, which bedeviled them.
46 everything they had worked for to the locusts.
47 a killing frost ruined their orchards.
48 let thunderbolts loose on their herds.
49 a wild firestorm of havoc, An advance guard of disease-carrying angels
50 He didn't spare those people, he let the plague rage through their lives.
51 lusty infants, offspring of Ham's virility.
52 took his flock safely through the wilderness.
53 The Sea took care of their enemies for good.
54 this mountain he claimed for his own.
55 he staked out an inheritance for them— the tribes of Israel all had their own places.
56 rebelled against God, the High God, refused to do anything he told them.
57 traitors—crooked as a corkscrew.
58 their obscene idolatries broke his heart.
59 he posted a huge No over Israel.
60 abandoned the shrine where he had met with Israel.
61 turned his back on the pride of his life.
62 angry, he let them fend for themselves.
63 their young women waited in vain.
64 and their widows never shed a tear.
65 like someone roused from deep sleep, shouting like a drunken warrior.
66 yelping, not daring to look back.
67 told Ephraim he didn't have what it takes,
68 Mount Zion, which he loves so much.
69 solid and lasting as the earth itself.
70 handpicked him from his work in the sheep pens.
71 the next day God had him shepherding Jacob, his people Israel, his prize possession.
72 he guided the people wisely and well.
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