📖 Psalms — Chapter 78 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Psalms 78:1 Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
Psalms 78:2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter Rdark sayings of old:
Psalms 78:3 RWhich we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.
Psalms 78:4 RWe will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.
Psalms 78:5 RFor he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:
Psalms 78:6 RThat the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:
Psalms 78:7 That they might Rset their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:
Psalms 78:8 And might not be Ras their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation Tthat set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.
Psalms 78:9 RThe children of Ephraim, being armed, and Tcarrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.
Psalms 78:10 RThey kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law;
Psalms 78:11 RAnd forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them.
Psalms 78:12 RMarvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
Psalms 78:13 RHe divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap.
Psalms 78:14 In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.
Psalms 78:15 He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths.
Psalms 78:16 He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.
Psalms 78:17 And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness.
Psalms 78:18 And they tempted God in their heart Rby asking meat for their lust.
Psalms 78:19 RYea, they spake against God; they said, Can God Tfurnish a table in the wilderness?
Psalms 78:20 Behold, Rhe smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?
Psalms 78:21 Therefore Rthe LORD heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel;
Psalms 78:22 RBecause they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation:
Psalms 78:23 RThough he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,
Psalms 78:24 And Rhad rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.
Psalms 78:25 RTMan did eat angels’ food: he sent them meat to the full.
Psalms 78:26 RHe caused an east wind Tto blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind.
Psalms 78:27 RHe rained flesh also upon them as dust, and Tfeathered fowls like as the sand of the sea:
Psalms 78:28 And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations.
Psalms 78:29 So they did eat, and were well filled: Rfor he gave them their own desire;
Psalms 78:30 They were not estranged from their lust. RBut while their meat was yet in their mouths,
Psalms 78:31 The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and Tsmote down the Tchosen men of Israel.
Psalms 78:32 For all this Rthey sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.
Psalms 78:33 Therefore their Rdays did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.
Psalms 78:34 When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God.
Psalms 78:35 And they Rremembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.
Psalms 78:36 RNevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.
Psalms 78:37 For Rtheir heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.
Psalms 78:38 RBut he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.
Psalms 78:39 RFor he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.
Psalms 78:40 RHow oft did they Tprovoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!
Psalms 78:41 RYea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.
Psalms 78:42 They Rremembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them Tfrom the enemy.
Psalms 78:43 RHow he had Twrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan.
Psalms 78:44 And had turned their rivers into Rblood; and their floods, that they could not drink.
Psalms 78:45 He Rsent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them.
Psalms 78:46 He Rgave also their increase unto the caterpiller, and their labour unto the locust.
Psalms 78:47 He Tdestroyed their vines Rwith hail, and their sycomore trees with Tfrost.
Psalms 78:48 He RTgave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to Thot thunderbolts.
Psalms 78:49 He Rcast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.
Psalms 78:50 THe made a way to his anger; Rhe spared not their soul from death, but gave their Tlife over to the pestilence;
Psalms 78:51 And Rsmote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:
Psalms 78:52 RBut made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
Psalms 78:53 And he led them on safely, Rso that they feared not: but the sea Toverwhelmed their enemies.
Psalms 78:54 RAnd he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased.
Psalms 78:55 He cast out the heathen also before them, and Rdivided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
Psalms 78:56 Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies:
Psalms 78:57 RBut turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.
Psalms 78:58 For they provoked him to anger with Rtheir high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.
Psalms 78:59 When RGod heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel:
Psalms 78:60 So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men;
Psalms 78:61 And delivered Rhis strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy’s hand.
Psalms 78:62 He Rgave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance.
Psalms 78:63 The Rfire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not Tgiven to marriage.
Psalms 78:64 Their Rpriests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation.
Psalms 78:65 RThen the LORD awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.
Psalms 78:66 RAnd he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach.
Psalms 78:67 Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim:
Psalms 78:68 But Rchose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved.
Psalms 78:69 RAnd he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath Testablished for ever.
Psalms 78:70 He Rchose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:
Psalms 78:71 From Tfollowing the Rewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.
Psalms 78:72 So he fed them Raccording to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Psalms 78:1–16 — Teach the next generation to remember
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The teacher calls the people to hear and tell God's praises, strength, and works to their children. The goal is that future generations hope in God, keep his commands, and avoid repeated rebellion. Sea, cloud, fire, and water from rock become remembered examples of faithful provision.
Key Truth: Pass on God's works so the next generation may hope in him.
Check What You Remember
1. To whom should God's works be shown? (Psalms 78:4)
Find it in Psalms 78:4 (KJV).
2. In whom should the children set their hope? (Psalms 78:7)
Find it in Psalms 78:7 (KJV).
3. What led the people by day? (Psalms 78:14)
Find it in Psalms 78:14 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Psalms 78:17–39 — Provision, unbelief, and compassion
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Despite remembered care, the people question God's ability to provide and remain unfaithful after receiving food. Words of return do not always match the heart. The account includes judgment but also repeated compassion, as God remembers their frailty. The lesson requires honest remembrance of both sin and mercy.
Key Truth: God's compassion does not make unfaithfulness harmless.
Check What You Remember
1. What food rained from heaven? (Psalms 78:24)
Find it in Psalms 78:24 (KJV).
2. What did the people remember God as? (Psalms 78:35)
Find it in Psalms 78:35 (KJV).
3. What did God remember they were? (Psalms 78:39)
Find it in Psalms 78:39 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Psalms 78:40–72 — From forgetfulness to shepherding leadership
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The account recalls Egypt's judgments, wilderness guidance, inheritance, and renewed rebellion after settlement. It ends with God's choice of Zion and David, taken from sheepfolds to shepherd the people with integrity and skill. Israel's history is taught as a call to faithful remembrance, not detached admiration of past events.
Key Truth: Faithful leadership joins integrity of heart with skillful care.
Check What You Remember
1. Like what animals did God lead his people? (Psalms 78:52)
Find it in Psalms 78:52 (KJV).
2. From what place was David taken? (Psalms 78:70)
Find it in Psalms 78:70 (KJV).
3. What inward quality marks his feeding of the people? (Psalms 78:72)
Find it in Psalms 78:72 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Deuteronomy 6:7 — Parents are called to teach God's words diligently to their children.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
What story of God's care and human need can you share honestly so another generation learns trust rather than mere familiarity?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. Why pass the works to children?
2. How do food and unbelief expose rebellion amid provision?
3. What distinguishes spoken return from the actual heart?
4. How does remembrance of frailty inform mercy?
5. How does David’s origin connect with his final task?
Notes
Write what you want to remember, questions to explore, or Scriptures to look up later. Your saved notes are private to your account.
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