New Living Translation

Hebrew Study Bible

1O my people, listen to my instructions. Open your ears to what I am saying,

1מַשְׂכִּ֗יל לְאָ֫סָ֥ף הַאֲזִ֣ינָה עַ֭מִּי תּוֹרָתִ֑י הַטּ֥וּ אָ֝זְנְכֶ֗ם לְאִמְרֵי־ פִֽי׃

2for I will speak to you in a parable. I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—

2אֶפְתְּחָ֣ה בְמָשָׁ֣ל פִּ֑י אַבִּ֥יעָה חִ֝יד֗וֹת מִנִּי־ קֶֽדֶם׃

3stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us.

3אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׁ֭מַעְנוּ וַנֵּדָעֵ֑ם וַ֝אֲבוֹתֵ֗ינוּ סִפְּרוּ־ לָֽנוּ׃

4We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD, about his power and his mighty wonders.

4לֹ֤א נְכַחֵ֨ד ׀ מִבְּנֵיהֶ֗ם לְד֥וֹר אַחֲר֗וֹן מְֽ֭סַפְּרִים תְּהִלּ֣וֹת יְהוָ֑ה וֶעֱזוּז֥וֹ וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָֽׂה׃

5For he issued his laws to Jacob; he gave his instructions to Israel. He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children,

5וַיָּ֤קֶם עֵד֨וּת ׀ בְּֽיַעֲקֹ֗ב וְתוֹרָה֮ שָׂ֤ם בְּיִשְׂרָ֫אֵ֥ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִ֭וָּה אֶת־ אֲבוֹתֵ֑ינוּ לְ֝הוֹדִיעָ֗ם לִבְנֵיהֶֽם׃

6so the next generation might know them— even the children not yet born— and they in turn will teach their own children.

6לְמַ֤עַן יֵדְע֨וּ ׀ דּ֣וֹר אַ֭חֲרוֹן בָּנִ֣ים יִוָּלֵ֑דוּ יָ֝קֻ֗מוּ וִֽיסַפְּר֥וּ לִבְנֵיהֶֽם׃

7So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands.

7וְיָשִׂ֥ימוּ בֵֽאלֹהִ֗ים כִּ֫סְלָ֥ם וְלֹ֣א יִ֭שְׁכְּחוּ מַֽעַלְלֵי־ אֵ֑ל וּמִצְוֺתָ֥יו יִנְצֹֽרוּ׃

8Then they will not be like their ancestors— stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God.

8וְלֹ֤א יִהְי֨וּ ׀ כַּאֲבוֹתָ֗ם דּוֹר֮ סוֹרֵ֪ר וּמֹ֫רֶ֥ה דּ֭וֹר לֹא־ הֵכִ֣ין לִבּ֑וֹ וְלֹא־ נֶאֶמְנָ֖ה אֶת־ אֵ֣ל רוּחֽוֹ׃

9The warriors of Ephraim, though armed with bows, turned their backs and fled on the day of battle.

9בְּֽנֵי־ אֶפְרַ֗יִם נוֹשְׁקֵ֥י רוֹמֵי־ קָ֑שֶׁת הָ֝פְכ֗וּ בְּי֣וֹם קְרָֽב׃

10They did not keep God’s covenant and refused to live by his instructions.

10לֹ֣א שָׁ֭מְרוּ בְּרִ֣ית אֱלֹהִ֑ים וּ֝בְתוֹרָת֗וֹ מֵאֲנ֥וּ לָלֶֽכֶת׃

11They forgot what he had done— the great wonders he had shown them,

11וַיִּשְׁכְּח֥וּ עֲלִילוֹתָ֑יו וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֶרְאָֽם׃

12the miracles he did for their ancestors on the plain of Zoan in the land of Egypt.

12נֶ֣גֶד אֲ֭בוֹתָם עָ֣שָׂה פֶ֑לֶא בְּאֶ֖רֶץ מִצְרַ֣יִם שְׂדֵה־ צֹֽעַן׃

13For he divided the sea and led them through, making the water stand up like walls!

13בָּ֣קַע יָ֭ם וַיַּֽעֲבִירֵ֑ם וַֽיַּצֶּב־ מַ֥יִם כְּמוֹ־ נֵֽד׃

14In the daytime he led them by a cloud, and all night by a pillar of fire.

14וַיַּנְחֵ֣ם בֶּעָנָ֣ן יוֹמָ֑ם וְכָל־ הַ֝לַּ֗יְלָה בְּא֣וֹר אֵֽשׁ׃

15He split open the rocks in the wilderness to give them water, as from a gushing spring.

15יְבַקַּ֣ע צֻ֭רִים בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר וַ֝יַּ֗שְׁקְ כִּתְהֹמ֥וֹת רַבָּֽה׃

16He made streams pour from the rock, making the waters flow down like a river!

16וַיּוֹצִ֣א נוֹזְלִ֣ים מִסָּ֑לַע וַיּ֖וֹרֶד כַּנְּהָר֣וֹת מָֽיִם׃

17Yet they kept on sinning against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert.

17וַיּוֹסִ֣יפוּ ע֭וֹד לַחֲטֹא־ ל֑וֹ לַֽמְר֥וֹת עֶ֝לְי֗וֹן בַּצִּיָּֽה׃

18They stubbornly tested God in their hearts, demanding the foods they craved.

18וַיְנַסּוּ־ אֵ֥ל בִּלְבָבָ֑ם לִֽשְׁאָל־ אֹ֥כֶל לְנַפְשָֽׁם׃

19They even spoke against God himself, saying, “God can’t give us food in the wilderness.

19וַֽיְדַבְּר֗וּ בֵּֽאלֹ֫הִ֥ים אָ֭מְרוּ הֲי֣וּכַל אֵ֑ל לַעֲרֹ֥ךְ שֻׁ֝לְחָ֗ן בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃

20Yes, he can strike a rock so water gushes out, but he can’t give his people bread and meat.”

20הֵ֤ן הִכָּה־ צ֨וּר ׀ וַיָּז֣וּבוּ מַיִם֮ וּנְחָלִ֪ים יִ֫שְׁטֹ֥פוּ הֲגַם־ לֶ֭חֶם י֣וּכַל תֵּ֑ת אִם־ יָכִ֖ין שְׁאֵ֣ר לְעַמּֽוֹ׃

21When the LORD heard them, he was furious. The fire of his wrath burned against Jacob. Yes, his anger rose against Israel,

21לָכֵ֤ן ׀ שָׁמַ֥ע יְהוָ֗ה וַֽיִּתְעַבָּ֥ר וְ֭אֵשׁ נִשְּׂקָ֣ה בְיַעֲקֹ֑ב וְגַם־ אַ֝֗ף עָלָ֥ה בְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

22for they did not believe God or trust him to care for them.

22כִּ֤י לֹ֣א הֶ֭אֱמִינוּ בֵּאלֹהִ֑ים וְלֹ֥א בָ֝טְח֗וּ בִּֽישׁוּעָתֽוֹ׃

23But he commanded the skies to open; he opened the doors of heaven.

23וַיְצַ֣ו שְׁחָקִ֣ים מִמָּ֑עַל וְדַלְתֵ֖י שָׁמַ֣יִם פָּתָֽח׃

24He rained down manna for them to eat; he gave them bread from heaven.

24וַיַּמְטֵ֬ר עֲלֵיהֶ֣ם מָ֣ן לֶאֱכֹ֑ל וּדְגַן־ שָׁ֝מַ֗יִם נָ֣תַן לָֽמוֹ׃

25They ate the food of angels! God gave them all they could hold.

25לֶ֣חֶם אַ֭בִּירִים אָ֣כַל אִ֑ישׁ צֵידָ֬ה שָׁלַ֖ח לָהֶ֣ם לָשֹֽׂבַע׃

26He released the east wind in the heavens and guided the south wind by his mighty power.

26יַסַּ֣ע קָ֭דִים בַּשָּׁמָ֑יִם וַיְנַהֵ֖ג בְּעֻזּ֣וֹ תֵימָֽן׃

27He rained down meat as thick as dust— birds as plentiful as the sand on the seashore!

27וַיַּמְטֵ֬ר עֲלֵיהֶ֣ם כֶּעָפָ֣ר שְׁאֵ֑ר וּֽכְח֥וֹל יַ֝מִּ֗ים ע֣וֹף כָּנָֽף׃

28He caused the birds to fall within their camp and all around their tents.

28וַ֭יַּפֵּל בְּקֶ֣רֶב מַחֲנֵ֑הוּ סָ֝בִ֗יב לְמִשְׁכְּנֹתָֽיו׃

29The people ate their fill. He gave them what they craved.

29וַיֹּאכְל֣וּ וַיִּשְׂבְּע֣וּ מְאֹ֑ד וְ֝תַֽאֲוָתָ֗ם יָבִ֥א לָהֶֽם׃

30But before they satisfied their craving, while the meat was yet in their mouths,

30לֹא־ זָר֥וּ מִתַּאֲוָתָ֑ם ע֝֗וֹד אָכְלָ֥ם בְּפִיהֶֽם׃

31the anger of God rose against them, and he killed their strongest men. He struck down the finest of Israel’s young men.

31וְאַ֤ף אֱלֹהִ֨ים ׀ עָ֘לָ֤ה בָהֶ֗ם וַֽ֭יַּהֲרֹג בְּמִשְׁמַנֵּיהֶ֑ם וּבַחוּרֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל הִכְרִֽיעַ׃

32But in spite of this, the people kept sinning. Despite his wonders, they refused to trust him.

32בְּכָל־ זֹ֭את חָֽטְאוּ־ ע֑וֹד וְלֹֽא־ הֶ֝אֱמִ֗ינוּ בְּנִפְלְאוֹתָֽיו׃

33So he ended their lives in failure, their years in terror.

33וַיְכַל־ בַּהֶ֥בֶל יְמֵיהֶ֑ם וּ֝שְׁנוֹתָ֗ם בַּבֶּהָלָֽה׃

34When God began killing them, they finally sought him. They repented and took God seriously.

34אִם־ הֲרָגָ֥ם וּדְרָשׁ֑וּהוּ וְ֝שָׁ֗בוּ וְשִֽׁחֲרוּ־ אֵֽל׃

35Then they remembered that God was their rock, that God Most High was their redeemer.

35וַֽ֭יִּזְכְּרוּ כִּֽי־ אֱלֹהִ֣ים צוּרָ֑ם וְאֵ֥ל עֶ֝לְיוֹן גֹּאֲלָֽם׃

36But all they gave him was lip service; they lied to him with their tongues.

36וַיְפַתּ֥וּהוּ בְּפִיהֶ֑ם וּ֝בִלְשׁוֹנָ֗ם יְכַזְּבוּ־ לֽוֹ׃

37Their hearts were not loyal to him. They did not keep his covenant.

37וְ֭לִבָּם לֹא־ נָכ֣וֹן עִמּ֑וֹ וְלֹ֥א נֶ֝אֶמְנ֗וּ בִּבְרִיתֽוֹ׃

38Yet he was merciful and forgave their sins and did not destroy them all. Many times he held back his anger and did not unleash his fury!

38וְה֤וּא רַח֨וּם ׀ יְכַפֵּ֥ר עָוֺן֮ וְֽלֹא־ יַ֫שְׁחִ֥ית וְ֭הִרְבָּה לְהָשִׁ֣יב אַפּ֑וֹ וְלֹֽא־ יָ֝עִיר כָּל־ חֲמָתֽוֹ׃

39For he remembered that they were merely mortal, gone like a breath of wind that never returns.

39וַ֭יִּזְכֹּר כִּי־ בָשָׂ֣ר הֵ֑מָּה ר֥וּחַ ה֝וֹלֵ֗ךְ וְלֹ֣א יָשֽׁוּב׃

40Oh, how often they rebelled against him in the wilderness and grieved his heart in that dry wasteland.

40כַּ֭מָּה יַמְר֣וּהוּ בַמִּדְבָּ֑ר יַ֝עֲצִיב֗וּהוּ בִּֽישִׁימֽוֹן׃

41Again and again they tested God’s patience and provoked the Holy One of Israel.

41וַיָּשׁ֣וּבוּ וַיְנַסּ֣וּ אֵ֑ל וּקְד֖וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל הִתְווּ׃‪‬

42They did not remember his power and how he rescued them from their enemies.

42לֹא־ זָכְר֥וּ אֶת־ יָד֑וֹ י֝֗וֹם אֲ‍ֽשֶׁר־ פָּדָ֥ם מִנִּי־ צָֽר׃

43They did not remember his miraculous signs in Egypt, his wonders on the plain of Zoan.

43אֲשֶׁר־ שָׂ֣ם בְּ֭מִצְרַיִם אֹֽתוֹתָ֑יו וּ֝מוֹפְתָ֗יו בִּשְׂדֵה־ צֹֽעַן׃

44For he turned their rivers into blood, so no one could drink from the streams.

44וַיַּהֲפֹ֣ךְ לְ֭דָם יְאֹרֵיהֶ֑ם וְ֝נֹזְלֵיהֶ֗ם בַּל־ יִשְׁתָּיֽוּן׃

45He sent vast swarms of flies to consume them and hordes of frogs to ruin them.

45יְשַׁלַּ֬ח בָּהֶ֣ם עָ֭רֹב וַיֹּאכְלֵ֑ם וּ֝צְפַרְדֵּ֗עַ וַתַּשְׁחִיתֵֽם׃

46He gave their crops to caterpillars; their harvest was consumed by locusts.

46וַיִּתֵּ֣ן לֶחָסִ֣יל יְבוּלָ֑ם וִֽ֝יגִיעָ֗ם לָאַרְבֶּֽה׃

47He destroyed their grapevines with hail and shattered their sycamore-figs with sleet.

47יַהֲרֹ֣ג בַּבָּרָ֣ד גַּפְנָ֑ם וְ֝שִׁקְמוֹתָ֗ם בַּֽחֲנָמַֽל׃

48He abandoned their cattle to the hail, their livestock to bolts of lightning.

48וַיַּסְגֵּ֣ר לַבָּרָ֣ד בְּעִירָ֑ם וּ֝מִקְנֵיהֶ֗ם לָרְשָׁפִֽים׃

49He loosed on them his fierce anger— all his fury, rage, and hostility. He dispatched against them a band of destroying angels.

49יְשַׁלַּח־ בָּ֨ם ׀ חֲר֬וֹן אַפּ֗וֹ עֶבְרָ֣ה וָזַ֣עַם וְצָרָ֑ה מִ֝שְׁלַ֗חַת מַלְאֲכֵ֥י רָעִֽים׃

50He turned his anger against them; he did not spare the Egyptians’ lives but ravaged them with the plague.

50יְפַלֵּ֥ס נָתִ֗יב לְאַ֫פּ֥וֹ לֹא־ חָשַׂ֣ךְ מִמָּ֣וֶת נַפְשָׁ֑ם וְ֝חַיָּתָ֗ם לַדֶּ֥בֶר הִסְגִּֽיר׃

51He killed the oldest son in each Egyptian family, the flower of youth throughout the land of Egypt.

51וַיַּ֣ךְ כָּל־ בְּכ֣וֹר בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם רֵאשִׁ֥ית א֝וֹנִ֗ים בְּאָהֳלֵי־ חָֽם׃

52But he led his own people like a flock of sheep, guiding them safely through the wilderness.

52וַיַּסַּ֣ע כַּצֹּ֣אן עַמּ֑וֹ וַֽיְנַהֲגֵ֥ם כַּ֝עֵ֗דֶר בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃

53He kept them safe so they were not afraid; but the sea covered their enemies.

53וַיַּנְחֵ֣ם לָ֭בֶטַח וְלֹ֣א פָחָ֑דוּ וְאֶת־ א֝וֹיְבֵיהֶ֗ם כִּסָּ֥ה הַיָּֽם׃

54He brought them to the border of his holy land, to this land of hills he had won for them.

54וַ֭יְבִיאֵם אֶל־ גְּב֣וּל קָדְשׁ֑וֹ הַר־ זֶ֝֗ה קָנְתָ֥ה יְמִינֽוֹ׃

55He drove out the nations before them; he gave them their inheritance by lot. He settled the tribes of Israel into their homes.

55וַיְגָ֤רֶשׁ מִפְּנֵיהֶ֨ם ׀ גּוֹיִ֗ם וַֽ֭יַּפִּילֵם בְּחֶ֣בֶל נַחֲלָ֑ה וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֥ן בְּ֝אָהֳלֵיהֶ֗ם שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

56But they kept testing and rebelling against God Most High. They did not obey his laws.

56וַיְנַסּ֣וּ וַ֭יַּמְרוּ אֶת־ אֱלֹהִ֣ים עֶלְי֑וֹן וְ֝עֵדוֹתָ֗יו לֹ֣א שָׁמָֽרוּ׃

57They turned back and were as faithless as their parents. They were as undependable as a crooked bow.

57וַיִּסֹּ֣גוּ וַֽ֭יִּבְגְּדוּ כַּאֲבוֹתָ֑ם נֶ֝הְפְּכ֗וּ כְּקֶ֣שֶׁת רְמִיָּֽה׃

58They angered God by building shrines to other gods; they made him jealous with their idols.

58וַיַּכְעִיס֥וּהוּ בְּבָמוֹתָ֑ם וּ֝בִפְסִילֵיהֶ֗ם יַקְנִיאֽוּהוּ׃

59When God heard them, he was very angry, and he completely rejected Israel.

59שָׁמַ֣ע אֱ֭לֹהִים וַֽיִּתְעַבָּ֑ר וַיִּמְאַ֥ס מְ֝אֹ֗ד בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

60Then he abandoned his dwelling at Shiloh, the Tabernacle where he had lived among the people.

60וַ֭יִּטֹּשׁ מִשְׁכַּ֣ן שִׁל֑וֹ אֹ֝֗הֶל שִׁכֵּ֥ן בָּאָדָֽם׃

61He allowed the Ark of his might to be captured; he surrendered his glory into enemy hands.

61וַיִּתֵּ֣ן לַשְּׁבִ֣י עֻזּ֑וֹ וְֽתִפְאַרְתּ֥וֹ בְיַד־ צָֽר׃

62He gave his people over to be butchered by the sword, because he was so angry with his own people—his special possession.

62וַיַּסְגֵּ֣ר לַחֶ֣רֶב עַמּ֑וֹ וּ֝בְנַחֲלָת֗וֹ הִתְעַבָּֽר׃

63Their young men were killed by fire; their young women died before singing their wedding songs.

63בַּחוּרָ֥יו אָֽכְלָה־ אֵ֑שׁ וּ֝בְתוּלֹתָ֗יו לֹ֣א הוּלָּֽלוּ׃

64Their priests were slaughtered, and their widows could not mourn their deaths.

64כֹּ֭הֲנָיו בַּחֶ֣רֶב נָפָ֑לוּ וְ֝אַלְמְנֹתָ֗יו לֹ֣א תִבְכֶּֽינָה׃

65Then the Lord rose up as though waking from sleep, like a warrior aroused from a drunken stupor.

65וַיִּקַ֖ץ כְּיָשֵׁ֥ן ׀ אֲדֹנָ֑י כְּ֝גִבּ֗וֹר מִתְרוֹנֵ֥ן מִיָּֽיִן׃

66He routed his enemies and sent them to eternal shame.

66וַיַּךְ־ צָרָ֥יו אָח֑וֹר חֶרְפַּ֥ת ע֝וֹלָ֗ם נָ֣תַן לָֽמוֹ׃

67But he rejected Joseph’s descendants; he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim.

67וַ֭יִּמְאַס בְּאֹ֣הֶל יוֹסֵ֑ף וּֽבְשֵׁ֥בֶט אֶ֝פְרַ֗יִם לֹ֣א בָחָֽר׃

68He chose instead the tribe of Judah, and Mount Zion, which he loved.

68וַ֭יִּבְחַר אֶת־ שֵׁ֣בֶט יְהוּדָ֑ה אֶֽת־ הַ֥ר צִ֝יּ֗וֹן אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָהֵֽב׃

69There he built his sanctuary as high as the heavens, as solid and enduring as the earth.

69וַיִּ֣בֶן כְּמוֹ־ רָ֭מִים מִקְדָּשׁ֑וֹ כְּ֝אֶ֗רֶץ יְסָדָ֥הּ לְעוֹלָֽם׃

70He chose his servant David, calling him from the sheep pens.

70וַ֭יִּבְחַר בְּדָוִ֣ד עַבְדּ֑וֹ וַ֝יִּקָּחֵ֗הוּ מִֽמִּכְלְאֹ֥ת צֹֽאן׃

71He took David from tending the ewes and lambs and made him the shepherd of Jacob’s descendants— God’s own people, Israel.

71מֵאַחַ֥ר עָל֗וֹת הֱ֫בִיא֥וֹ לִ֭רְעוֹת בְּיַעֲקֹ֣ב עַמּ֑וֹ וּ֝בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל נַחֲלָתֽוֹ׃

72He cared for them with a true heart and led them with skillful hands.

72וַ֭יִּרְעֵם כְּתֹ֣ם לְבָב֑וֹ וּבִתְבוּנ֖וֹת כַּפָּ֣יו יַנְחֵֽם׃

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Greek and Hebrew Study Bible courtesy Bible Hub and the Discovery Bible team.