1 Give ear, my people, to my law, Bow your ear to the sayings of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth in a parable, I will utter riddles from the ancient days, 3 What we have heard and known And our fathers have told us, 4 We will not hide from their sons, Recounting to the generation to come the praises of Jehovah, And His might and the wonders that He has done.
5 For He established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers To make known to their children; 6 In order that the generation to come might know, The children who should be born, [Who] should rise up and tell to their children, 7 That they might place their confidence in God, And not forget the deeds of God, But keep His commandments; 8 And not be as their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not make its heart steadfast, And whose spirit was not faithful towards God.
9 The children of Ephraim, bearing [and] drawing bows, Turned back in the day of onset. 10 They kept not the covenant of God, And in His law they refused to walk, 11 And they forgot His doings, And the wonders which He had showed them. 12 Before their fathers He did marvels, In the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. 13 He cleft the sea and let them pass through, And He reared up the waters like a heap of corn, 14 And He guided them in a cloud by day And all night in a fiery light. 15 He cleft rocks in the wilderness, And gave them drink abundantly, as [from] ocean depths. 16 And He brought forth streams from the cliff, And made waters to flow down like rivers.
17 But they went on to sin yet more against Him, To rebel against the Most High in the desert. 18 And they tempted God in their heart, In asking meat after their desire. 19 And they spoke against God, they said, "Is God able to spread a table in the wilderness? 20 Behold, He struck a rock, and waters gushed forth, And torrents flowed out. Is He able to give bread also? Or will He prepare flesh for His people?"
21 Jehovah heard and was wroth, And a fire was kindled in Jacob, And wrath also went up against Israel. 22 For they did not believe in God, And trusted not in His salvation. 23 And He commanded the clouds above, And opened the doors of heaven, 24 And rained upon them manna to eat, And gave them the corn of heaven. 25 Men did eat the bread of the Mighty Ones; He sent them sustenance to the full.
26 He made the east wind go forth in the heavens, And guided the south wind by His power; 27 And He rained flesh upon them like dust, And winged fowls like the sand of the seas, 28 And let it fall in the midst of their camp, Round about their habitations. 29 So they ate and were surfeited, And their desires He brought to them.
30 They were not estranged from their desires Their food was yet in their mouths. 31 And the wrath of God rose against them, And slew the fattest of them, And struck down the young men of Israel. 32 For all this they sinned yet more, And believed not in His wonders. 33 So He made their days to vanish like a breath, And their years in suddenness.
34 When He slew them, then they inquired after Him, And returned and sought God earnestly. 35 And they remembered that God was their rock, And God Most High their redeemer. 36 And they flattered Him with their mouth, And with their tongue they lied to Him, 37 And their heart was not steadfast with Him, And they were not faithful to His covenant.