Psalm 78:32–41

In spite of all this, they still sinned;

despite his wonders, they did not believe.

So he made their days vanish like a breath,

and their years in terror.

When he killed them, they sought him;

they repented and sought God earnestly.

They remembered that God was their rock,

the Most High God their redeemer.

But they flattered him with their mouths;

they lied to him with their tongues.

Their heart was not steadfast toward him;

they were not faithful to his covenant.

Yet he, being compassionate,

atoned for their iniquity

and did not destroy them;

he restrained his anger often

and did not stir up all his wrath.

He remembered that they were but flesh,

a wind that passes and comes not again.

How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness

and grieved him in the desert!

They tested God again and again

and provoked the Holy One of Israel.

In spite of all this, they kept on sinning;

in spite of his wonders, they did not believe.

So he ended their days in futility

and their years in terror.

Whenever God slew them, they would seek him;

they eagerly turned to him again.

They remembered that God was their Rock,

that God Most High was their Redeemer.

But then they would flatter him with their mouths,

lying to him with their tongues;

their hearts were not loyal to him,

they were not faithful to his covenant.

Yet he was merciful;

he forgave their iniquities

and did not destroy them.

Time after time he restrained his anger

and did not stir up his full wrath.

He remembered that they were but flesh,

a passing breeze that does not return.

How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness

and grieved him in the wasteland!

Again and again they put God to the test;

they vexed the Holy One of Israel.

Despite all this, they kept sinning

and did not believe his wondrous works.

He made their days end in futility,

their years in sudden disaster.

When he killed some of them,

the rest began to seek him;

they repented and searched for God.

They remembered that God was their rock,

the Most High God, their Redeemer.

But they deceived him with their mouths,

they lied to him with their tongues,

their hearts were insincere toward him,

and they were unfaithful to his covenant.

Yet he was compassionate;

he atoned for their iniquity

and did not destroy them.

He often turned his anger aside

and did not unleash all his wrath.

He remembered that they were only flesh,

a wind that passes and does not return.

How often they rebelled against him

in the wilderness

and grieved him in the desert.

They constantly tested God

and provoked the Holy One of Israel.

But in spite of this, the people kept sinning.

Despite his wonders, they refused to trust him.

So he ended their lives in failure,

their years in terror.

When God began killing them,

they finally sought him.

They repented and took God seriously.

Then they remembered that God was their rock,

that God Most High was their redeemer.

But all they gave him was lip service;

they lied to him with their tongues.

Their hearts were not loyal to him.

They did not keep his covenant.

Yet 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!

For he remembered that they were merely mortal,

gone like a breath of wind that never returns.

Oh, how often they rebelled against him in the wilderness

and grieved his heart in that dry wasteland.

Again and again they tested God’s patience

and provoked the Holy One of Israel.

In spite of all this they sinned further

and did not believe his wonders.

And he consumed their days with futility

their years with terror.

When he killed some of them, then they sought him,

and repented and earnestly sought God.

And they remembered that God was their rock,

and God Most High their redeemer.

But they enticed him with their mouth

and lied to him with their tongue.

For their heart was not steadfast with him,

nor were they faithful to his covenant.

But he was compassionate; he pardoned their guilt

and did not destroy them.

And many times he turned back his anger

and did not stir up all his wrath,

for he remembered that they were flesh,

a passing wind that does not return.

How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness

and vexed him in the wasteland!

So they again tested God

and distressed the Holy One of Israel.

For all this they sinned still,

And believed not for his wondrous works.

Therefore their days did he consume in vanity,

And their years in trouble.

When he slew them, then they sought him:

And they returned and inquired early after God.

And they remembered that God was their rock,

And the high God their redeemer.

Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth,

And they lied unto him with their tongues.

For their heart was not right with him,

Neither were they stedfast in his covenant.

But 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.

For he remembered that they were but flesh;

A wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.

How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness,

And grieve him in the desert!

Yea, they turned back and tempted God,

And limited the Holy One of Israel.