Psalm 78:43–68

When he did miracles in Egypt,

wonders on the plain of Zoan.

He turned the River and its streams to blood—

not a drop of water fit to drink.

He sent flies, which ate them alive,

and frogs, which bedeviled them.

He turned their harvest over to caterpillars,

everything they had worked for to the locusts.

He flattened their grapevines with hail;

a killing frost ruined their orchards.

He pounded their cattle with hail,

let thunderbolts loose on their herds.

His anger flared,

a wild firestorm of havoc,

An advance guard of disease-carrying angels

to clear the ground, preparing the way before him.

He didn’t spare those people,

he let the plague rage through their lives.

He killed all the Egyptian firstborns,

lusty infants, offspring of Ham’s virility.

Then he led his people out like sheep,

took his flock safely through the wilderness.

He took good care of them; they had nothing to fear.

The Sea took care of their enemies for good.

He brought them into his holy land,

this mountain he claimed for his own.

He scattered everyone who got in their way;

he staked out an inheritance for them—

the tribes of Israel all had their own places.

^56–64But they kept on giving him a hard time,

rebelled against God, the High God,

refused to do anything he told them.

They were worse, if that’s possible, than their parents:

traitors—crooked as a corkscrew.

Their pagan orgies provoked God’s anger,

their obscene idolatries broke his heart.

When God heard their carryings-on, he was furious;

he posted a huge No over Israel.

He walked off and left Shiloh empty,

abandoned the shrine where he had met with Israel.

He let his pride and joy go to the dogs,

turned his back on the pride of his life.

He turned them loose on fields of battle;

angry, he let them fend for themselves.

Their young men went to war and never came back;

their young women waited in vain.

Their priests were massacred,

and their widows never shed a tear.

^65–72Suddenly the Lord was up on his feet

like someone roused from deep sleep,

shouting like a drunken warrior.

He hit his enemies hard, sent them running,

yelping, not daring to look back.

He disqualified Joseph as leader,

told Ephraim he didn’t have what it takes,

And chose the Tribe of Judah instead,

Mount Zion, which he loves so much.