{An Instruction of Asaph} Hear my law, O my people; incline your ears unto the words of my mouth.

I will open my mouth in similitudes, and will speak forth things which have been kept secret from the beginning of the world;

that we should not hide them from the children of the generations to come but to show the honour of the LORD, his mighty and wonderful works that he hath done.

He made a covenant with Jacob, and gave Israel a law, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children,

O how oft did they grieve him in the wilderness? How many a time did they provoke him in the desert?

He rained down manna upon them for to eat, and gave them bread from heaven.

He chose David also his servant, and took him away from the sheepfolds.

So he fed them with a faithful and true heart, and ruled them with all the diligence of his power.

How he sent upon them the furiousness of his wrath, anger, displeasure, and trouble, and sent evil angels among them;

So the LORD awakened as one out of sleep, and like a giant refreshed with wine.

But he was so merciful, that he forgave their misdeeds, and destroyed them not. Yea, many a time turned he his wrath away, and would not suffer his whole displeasure to arise.

Yet, for all this they tempted and displeased the most high God, and kept not his covenant:

But for all this they sinned yet more, and believed not his wondrous works.

They turned back, and tempted God, and moved the holy one in Israel.

that their posterity might know it, and the children which were yet unborn, to the intent that when they came up, they might show their children the same;

Marvelous things did he in the sight of our forefathers; in the land of Egypt, even in the field of Zoan.

So he commanded the clouds above, and opened the doors of heaven.

And they remembered that God was their strength, and that the high God was their redeemer.

In the daytime he led them with a cloud, and all the night through with a light of fire.

When he slew them, they sought him, and turned them early, and inquired after God.

Like as the children of Ephraim, which being harnessed and carrying bows, turned themselves back in the time of battle:

that they also might put their trust in God, and not to forget what he had done, but to keep his commandments.

For he considered that they were but flesh; even a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.

which we have heard and known, and such as our fathers have told us,

how he had wrought his miracles in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan:

Then ate they angels' food, for he sent them meat enough.

For they spake against God, and said, "Yea yea, God shall prepare a table in the wilderness, shall he?

When God heard this, he was wroth, and took sore displeasure at Israel,

They tempted God in their hearts, and required meat for their lust.

He clove the hard rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink thereof, as it had been out of the great depth.

When he smote all the firstborn in Egypt, the most principal and mightiest in the dwellings of Ham.

And not to be as their forefathers, a faithless and stubborn generation, a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not true toward God.

but chose the tribe of Judah, even the hill of Zion which he loved.

And there he built his temple on high, and laid the foundation of it like the ground, that it might perpetually endure.

They kept not the covenant of God, and would not walk in his law.

How he beat down their vineyards with hail stones, and their mulberry trees with the frost;

But as for his own people, he led them forth like sheep, and carried them in the wilderness like a flock.

Yet for all this they sinned more against him, and provoked the most highest in the wilderness.

so that he forsook the Tabernacle in Shiloh, even the tent that he had pitched among men.

He refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim,

For their heart was not whole with him, neither continued they steadfast in his covenant.

Nevertheless, they did but flatter him with their mouths, and dissembled with him in their tongues.

When he made a way to his fearful indignation, and spared not their souls from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence;

And so they grieved him with their high places, and provoked him with their images.

He divided the sea, and let them go through it; and made the waters to stand in a heap.

They forgot what he had done, and the wonderful works that he had showed for them.

He carried them unto the borders of his Sanctuary: even to this mountain, which he purchased with his righthand.

He cast out the heathen before them, caused their land to be divided among them for a heritage, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.

When the LORD heard this, he was wroth: so the fire was kindled in Jacob, and heavy displeasure against Israel,

As he was following the ewes great with young, he took him, that he might feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.

How he sent lice among them, to eat them up, and frogs to destroy them;

He brought them out safely, that they should not fear, and overwhelmed their enemies with the sea.

He delivered their power into captivity, and their beauty into the enemy's hand.

because they believed not in God, and put not their trust in his help.

He caused the east wind to blow under the heaven, and through his power he brought in the southwest wind.

They thought not of his hand, and of the day when he delivered them from the hand of the enemy;

But turned their backs, and fell away like their forefathers, starting aside like a broken bow.

Lo, he smote the stony rock, that the watery streams gushed out, and the streams flowed withal: but how can he give bread and provide flesh for his people?"

the heavy wrath of God came upon them, and slew the wealthiest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.

He rained down manna upon them as thick as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea.

How he gave their fruits unto the caterpillar, and their labour unto the grasshopper;

He brought waters out of the stony rock, so that it gushed out like the rivers.

The fire consumed their young men, and their maidens were not given in marriage.

How he smote their cattle also with hail stones, and their flocks with hot thunderbolts;

Therefore their days were consumed in vanity, and suddenly their years were gone.

He smote his enemies in the hinder parts, and put them to a perpetual shame.

How he turned their waters into blood, so that they might not drink of the rivers;

So they ate, and were filled, for he gave them their own desire.

And they were not disappointed of their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths,

Their priests were slain with the sword, and there were no widows to made lamentation.

He gave his people over unto the sword, for he was wroth with his inheritance.

He let it fall among their tents, even round about their habitations.