[1] Praise the LORD! O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his
steadfast love endures for ever! [2] Who can utter the mighty doings of the
LORD, or show forth all his praise? [3] Blessed are they who observe
justice, who do righteousness at all times! [4] Remember me, O LORD, when
thou showest favor to thy people; help me when thou deliverest them; [5]
that I may see the prosperity of thy chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the
gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thy heritage. [6] Both we and
our fathers have sinned; we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.
[7] Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider thy wonderful
works; they did not remember the abundance of thy steadfast love, but
rebelled against the Most High at the Red Sea. [8] Yet he saved them for
his name's sake, that he might make known his mighty power. [9] He rebuked
the Red Sea, and it became dry; and he led them through the deep as through
a desert. [10] So he saved them from the hand of the foe, and delivered
them from the power of the enemy. [11] And the waters covered their
adversaries; not one of them was left. [12] Then they believed his words;
they sang his praise. [13] But they soon forgot his works; they did not
wait for his counsel. [14] But they had a wanton craving in the wilderness,
and put God to the test in the desert; [15] he gave them what they asked,
but sent a wasting disease among them. [16] When men in the camp were
jealous of Moses and Aaron, the holy one of the LORD, [17] the earth opened
and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abi'ram. [18] Fire also
broke out in their company; the flame burned up the wicked. [19] They made
a calf in Horeb and worshiped a molten image. [20] They exchanged the glory
of God for the image of an ox that eats grass. [21] They forgot God, their
Savior, who had done great things in Egypt, [22] wondrous works in the land
of Ham, and terrible things by the Red Sea. [23] Therefore he said he would
destroy them-- had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before
him, to turn away his wrath from destroying them. [24] Then they despised
the pleasant land, having no faith in his promise. [25] They murmured in
their tents, and did not obey the voice of the LORD. [26] Therefore he
raised his hand and swore to them that he would make them fall in the
wilderness, [27] and would disperse their descendants among the nations,
scattering them over the lands. [28] Then they attached themselves to the
Ba'al of Pe'or, and ate sacrifices offered to the dead; [29] they provoked
the LORD to anger with their doings, and a plague broke out among them.
[30] Then Phin'ehas stood up and interposed, and the plague was stayed.
[31] And that has been reckoned to him as righteousness from generation to
generation for ever. [32] They angered him at the waters of Mer'ibah, and
it went ill with Moses on their account; [33] for they made his spirit
bitter, and he spoke words that were rash. [34] They did not destroy the
peoples, as the LORD commanded them, [35] but they mingled with the nations
and learned to do as they did. [36] They served their idols, which became a
snare to them. [37] They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the
demons; [38] they poured out innocent blood, the blood of their sons and
daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; and the land was
polluted with blood. [39] Thus they became unclean by their acts, and
played the harlot in their doings. [40] Then the anger of the LORD was
kindled against his people, and he abhorred his heritage; [41] he gave them
into the hand of the nations, so that those who hated them ruled over them.
[42] Their enemies oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection
under their power. [43] Many times he delivered them, but they were
rebellious in their purposes, and were brought low through their iniquity.
[44] Nevertheless he regarded their distress, when he heard their cry. [45]
He remembered for their sake his covenant, and relented according to the
abundance of his steadfast love. [46] He caused them to be pitied by all
those who held them captive. [47] Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us
from among the nations, that we may give thanks to thy holy name and glory
in thy praise. [48] Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from
everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, "Amen!" Praise the
LORD!
