Psalm 78:1–8

¹My people, listen to my teaching.

Pay attention to what I say.

²I will open my mouth and tell stories.

I will speak about things that were hidden.

They happened a long time ago.

³We have heard about them and we know them.

Our people who lived before us have told us about them.

⁴We won’t hide them from our children.

We will tell them to those who live after us.

We will tell them about what the Lord has done that is worthy of praise.

We will talk about his power and the wonderful things he has done.

⁵He gave laws to the people of Jacob.

He gave Israel their law.

He commanded our people who lived before us

to teach his laws to their children.

⁶Then those born later would know his laws.

Even their children yet to come would know them.

And they in turn would tell their children.

⁷Then they would put their trust in God.

They would not forget what he had done.

They would obey his commands.

⁸They would not be like their people who lived before them.

Those people were stubborn. They refused to obey God.

Their hearts were not true to him.

Their spirits were not faithful to him.