The Rebelliousness of Israel

1061 Praise Yahweh!
Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good,
for his loving kindness endures forever. 2 Who can utter the mighty acts of Yahweh,
or fully declare all his praise? 3 Blessed are those who keep justice.
Blessed is one who does what is right at all times. 4 Remember me, Yahweh, with the favor that you show to your people.
Visit me with your salvation, 5 that I may see the prosperity of your chosen,
that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation,
that I may glory with your inheritance.

6 We have sinned with our fathers.
We have committed iniquity.
We have done wickedly. 7 Our fathers didn’t understand your wonders in Egypt.
They didn’t remember the multitude of your loving kindnesses,
but were rebellious at the sea, even at the Red Sea [1]. 8 Nevertheless he saved them for his name’s sake,
that he might make his mighty power known. 9 He rebuked the Red Sea [2] also, and it was dried up;
so he led them through the depths, as through a desert. 10 He saved them from the hand of him who hated them,
and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy. 11 The waters covered their adversaries.
There was not one of them left. 12 Then they believed his words.
They sang his praise.

13 They soon forgot his works.
They didn’t wait for his counsel, 14 but gave in to craving in the desert,
and tested God in the wasteland. 15 He gave them their request,
but sent leanness into their soul. 16 They envied Moses also in the camp,
and Aaron, Yahweh’s saint. 17 The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan,
and covered the company of Abiram. 18 A fire was kindled in their company.
The flame burned up the wicked. 19 They made a calf in Horeb,
and worshiped a molten image. 20 Thus they exchanged their glory
for an image of a bull that eats grass. 21 They forgot God, their Savior,
who had done great things in Egypt, 22 Wondrous works in the land of Ham,
and awesome things by the Red Sea [3]. 23 Therefore he said that he would destroy them,
had Moses, his chosen, not stood before him in the breach,
to turn away his wrath, so that he wouldn’t destroy them. 24 Yes, they despised the pleasant land.
They didn’t believe his word, 25 but murmured in their tents,
and didn’t listen to Yahweh’s voice. 26 Therefore he swore to them
that he would overthrow them in the wilderness, 27 that he would overthrow their seed among the nations,
and scatter them in the lands. 28 They joined themselves also to Baal Peor,
and ate the sacrifices of the dead. 29 Thus they provoked him to anger with their deeds.
The plague broke in on them. 30 Then Phinehas stood up, and executed judgment,
so the plague was stopped. 31 That was credited to him for righteousness,
for all generations to come. 32 They angered him also at the waters of Meribah,
so that Moses was troubled for their sakes; 33 because they were rebellious against his spirit,
he spoke rashly with his lips.

34 They didn’t destroy the peoples,
as Yahweh commanded them, 35 but mixed themselves with the nations,
and learned their works. 36 They served their idols,
which became a snare to them. 37 Yes, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons. 38 They shed innocent blood,
even the blood of their sons and of their daughters,
whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan.
The land was polluted with blood. 39 Thus were they defiled with their works,
and prostituted themselves in their deeds. 40 Therefore Yahweh burned with anger against his people.
He abhorred his inheritance. 41 He gave them into the hand of the nations.
Those who hated them ruled over them. 42 Their enemies also oppressed them.
They were brought into subjection under their hand. 43 Many times he delivered them,
but they were rebellious in their counsel,
and were brought low in their iniquity. 44 Nevertheless he regarded their distress,
when he heard their cry. 45 He remembered for them his covenant,
and repented according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses. 46 He made them also to be pitied
by all those who carried them captive. 47 Save us, Yahweh, our God,
gather us from among the nations,
to give thanks to your holy name,
to triumph in your praise! 48 Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel,
from everlasting even to everlasting!
Let all the people say, “Amen.”
Praise Yah!

BOOK V

The LORD Delivers from Trouble

1071 Give thanks to Yahweh,
for he is good,
for his loving kindness endures forever. 2 Let the redeemed by Yahweh say so,
whom he has redeemed from the hand of the adversary, 3 And gathered out of the lands,
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south. 4 They wandered in the wilderness in a desert way.
They found no city to live in. 5 Hungry and thirsty,
their soul fainted in them. 6 Then they cried to Yahweh in their trouble,
and he delivered them out of their distresses, 7 he led them also by a straight way,
that they might go to a city to live in. 8 Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness,
for his wonderful works to the children of men! 9 For he satisfies the longing soul.
He fills the hungry soul with good.

10 Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,
being bound in affliction and iron, 11 because they rebelled against the words of God,
and condemned the counsel of the Most High. 12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labor.
They fell down, and there was none to help. 13 Then they cried to Yahweh in their trouble,
and he saved them out of their distresses. 14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
and broke their bonds in sunder. 15 Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness,
for his wonderful works to the children of men! 16 For he has broken the gates of brass,
and cut through bars of iron.

17 Fools are afflicted because of their disobedience,
and because of their iniquities. 18 Their soul abhors all kinds of food.
They draw near to the gates of death. 19 Then they cry to Yahweh in their trouble,
he saves them out of their distresses. 20 He sends his word, and heals them,
and delivers them from their graves. 21 Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness,
for his wonderful works to the children of men! 22 Let them offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving,
and declare his works with singing.

23 Those who go down to the sea in ships,
who do business in great waters; 24 These see Yahweh’s works,
and his wonders in the deep. 25 For he commands, and raises the stormy wind,
which lifts up its waves. 26 They mount up to the sky; they go down again to the depths.
Their soul melts away because of trouble. 27 They reel back and forth, and stagger like a drunken man,
and are at their wits’ end. 28 Then they cry to Yahweh in their trouble,
and he brings them out of their distress. 29 He makes the storm a calm,
so that its waves are still. 30 Then they are glad because it is calm,
so he brings them to their desired haven. 31 Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness,
for his wonderful works for the children of men! 32 Let them exalt him also in the assembly of the people,
and praise him in the seat of the elders.

33 He turns rivers into a desert,
water springs into a thirsty ground, 34 and a fruitful land into a salt waste,
for the wickedness of those who dwell in it. 35 He turns a desert into a pool of water,
and a dry land into water springs. 36 There he makes the hungry live,
that they may prepare a city to live in, 37 sow fields, plant vineyards,
and reap the fruits of increase. 38 He blesses them also, so that they are multiplied greatly.
He doesn’t allow their livestock to decrease. 39 Again, they are diminished and bowed down
through oppression, trouble, and sorrow. 40 He pours contempt on princes,
and causes them to wander in a trackless waste. 41 Yet he lifts the needy out of their affliction,
and increases their families like a flock. 42 The upright will see it, and be glad.
All the wicked will shut their mouths. 43 Whoever is wise will pay attention to these things.
They will consider the loving kindnesses of Yahweh.