1 Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;

incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

2 I will open my mouth in a parable;

I will utter dark sayings from of old,

3 things that we have heard and known,

that our ancestors have told us.

4 We will not hide them from their children;

we will tell to the coming generation

the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,

and the wonders that he has done.

5 He established a decree in Jacob,

and appointed a law in Israel,

which he commanded our ancestors

to teach to their children;

6 that the next generation might know them,

the children yet unborn,

and rise up and tell them to their children,

7 so that they should set their hope in God,

and not forget the works of God,

but keep his commandments;

8 and that they should not be like their ancestors,

a stubborn and rebellious generation,

a generation whose heart was not steadfast,

whose spirit was not faithful to God.