Psalm 78:14–40

^78:14He led them with a cloud by day,

and with the light of a fire all night long.

^78:15He broke open rocks in the wilderness,

and gave them enough water to fill the depths of the sea.¹⁹

^78:16He caused streams to flow from the rock,

and made the water flow like rivers.

^78:17Yet they continued to sin against him,

and rebelled against the sovereign One²⁰ in the desert.

^78:18They willfully challenged God²¹

by asking for food to satisfy their appetite.

^78:19They insulted God, saying,²²

“Is God really able to give us food²³ in the wilderness?

^78:20Yes,²⁴ he struck a rock and water flowed out,

streams gushed forth.

But can he also give us food?

Will he provide meat for his people?”

^78:21When²⁵ the Lord heard this, he was furious.

A fire broke out against Jacob,

and his anger flared up²⁶ against Israel,

^78:22because they did not have faith in God,

and did not trust his ability to deliver them.²⁷

^78:23He gave a command to the clouds above,

and opened the doors in the sky.

^78:24He rained down manna for them to eat;

he gave them the grain of heaven.²⁸

^78:25Man ate the food of the mighty ones.²⁹

He sent them more than enough to eat.³⁰

^78:26He brought the east wind through the sky,

and by his strength led forth the south wind.

^78:27He rained down meat on them like dust,

birds as numerous as the sand on the seashores.³¹

^78:28He caused them to fall right in the middle of their camp,

all around their homes.

^78:29They ate until they were stuffed;³²

he gave them what they desired.

^78:30They were not yet filled up,³³

their food was still in their mouths,

^78:31when the anger of God flared up against them.

He killed some of the strongest of them;

he brought the young men of Israel to their knees.

^78:32Despite all this, they continued to sin,

and did not trust him to do amazing things.³⁴

^78:33So he caused them to die unsatisfied³⁵

and filled with terror.³⁶

^78:34When he struck them down,³⁷ they sought his favor;³⁸

they turned back and longed for God.

^78:35They remembered that God was their protector,³⁹

and that the sovereign God was their deliverer.⁴⁰

^78:36But they deceived him with their words,⁴¹

and lied to him.⁴²

^78:37They were not really committed to him,⁴³

and they were unfaithful to his covenant.

^78:38Yet he is compassionate.

He forgives sin and does not destroy.

He often holds back his anger,

and does not stir up his fury.⁴⁴

^78:39He remembered⁴⁵ that they were made of flesh,

and were like a wind that blows past and does not return.⁴⁶

^78:40How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness,

and insulted him⁴⁷ in the desert!