1 Escutai, povo meu, a minha lei; Inclinai os vossos ouvidos às palavras da minha boca.2 Abrirei numa parábola a minha boca, Proferirei enigmas tirados dos tempos antigos.3 As coisas que temos ouvido e sabido, E que nossos pais nos têm contado,4 Não as ocultaremos a seus filhos, Narrando às gerações vindouras os louvores de Jeová, E a sua força e as maravilhas que ele tem obrado.5 Porque ele estabeleceu um testemunho em Jacó, E instituiu uma lei em Israel, As quais coisas mandou a nossos pais Que as fizessem conhecer a seus filhos,6 Para que a soubesse a geração vindoura, a saber, os filhos que houvessem de nascer, Os quais se levantassem e as contassem a seus filhos;7 A fim de que pusessem a sua confiança em Deus, E não se esquecessem das obras de Deus, Mas guardassem os seus mandamentos:8 E que não fossem como seus pais, Geração contumaz e rebelde; Geração que não regeu bem o coração, E cujo espírito não foi fiel a Deus.9 Os filhos de Efraim, armados de arcos, Bateram em retirada no dia da batalha.10 Não guardaram a aliança de Deus, E recusaram andar na sua lei;11 Esqueceram-se dos seus feitos, E as obras maravilhosas que ele lhes tinha mostrado.12 Maravilhas fez ele à vista de seus pais, Na terra do Egito, no campo de Zoã.13 Dividiu o mar, e fê-los passar; Fez parar as águas como um montão.14 Também os guiou de dia por uma nuvem, E durante a noite toda por um clarão de fogo.15 Fendeu rochas no deserto, E deu-lhes a beber abundantemente como de abismos.16 Fez sair da penha torrentes, E fez correr águas como rios.17 Todavia ainda prosseguiram em pecar contra ele, Rebelando-se contra o Altíssimo no deserto.18 Tentaram a Deus nos seus corações, Pedindo comida segundo o seu apetite.19 Falaram contra Deus, Disseram: Porventura pode Deus preparar uma mesa no deserto?20 Eis que feriu a rocha, e brotaram águas, E torrentes trasbordaram. Pode ele também dar pão? Acaso fornecerá carne ao seu povo?21 Portanto Jeová, ao ouvir isto, ficou irado: Acendeu-se fogo contra Jacó, Também se levantou ira contra Israel;22 Porque não creram em Deus, E não confiaram na sua salvação.23 Contudo ordenou às nuvens lá em cima, E abriu as portas do céu;24 Sobre eles fez chover maná para comer, E deu-lhes do trigo do céu.25 Comeu cada qual o pão dos poderosos; Ele lhes enviou comida a fartar.26 Fez soprar no céu o vento do oriente, E pelo seu poder conduziu o vento sul.27 Sobre eles fez também chover carne como poeira, E aves de asas como areia dos mares;28 Fê-las cair no meio do arraial deles, Ao redor das suas habitações.29 Assim eles comeram e se fartaram bem, Pois ele lhes trouxe o que cobiçavam.30 Não se apartavam da sua cobiça, Ainda a comida lhes estava na boca,31 Quando a ira de Deus se levantou contra eles, Matou dos mais vigorosos deles E prostrou os mancebos de Israel.32 Apesar de tudo isto continuaram a pecar, E não creram nas suas maravilhas.33 Por isso acabou com os dias deles em um sopro, E os anos num terror repentino.34 Quando ele os fazia morrer, então o buscavam; Voltavam, e de manhã procuravam a Deus.35 Lembraram-se de que Deus era a sua rocha, E o Deus Altíssimo o seu redentor.36 Eles, porém, o lisonjeavam com a sua boca, E com a sua língua lhe mentiam.37 Pois o coração deles não era constante para com ele, Nem eram fiéis na sua aliança.38 Mas ele é cheio de compaixão, revela a iniqüidade e não destrói; Muitas vezes desvia a sua ira, E não dá largas a todo o seu furor.39 Lembrava-se de que eles eram carne, Um vento que passa, e não volta mais.40 Quantas vezes se rebelaram contra ele no deserto, E o agravaram no ermo!41 Eles voltaram, e tentaram a Deus, E provocaram o Santo de Israel.42 Não se lembraram do poder dele, Nem do dia em que os remiu do adversário;43 De como fez no Egito os seus sinais, E os seus prodígios no campo de Zoã,44 Convertendo em sangue os rios deles, E as suas correntes, para que delas não bebessem.45 Enviou-lhes enxames de moscas que os devoraram; E rãs que os destruíram.46 Entregou às lagartas as novidades deles, E aos gafanhotos os frutos do seu trabalho.47 Destruiu com saraiva as vinhas deles, E os seus sicômoros com chuva de pedra.48 Entregou à saraiva o gado deles, E aos raios os seus rebanhos.49 Sobre eles lançou o furor da sua ira, Cólera, indignação e calamidade- Tropel de anjos importadores de males.50 Deu livre curso à sua ira; Não poupou da morte a alma deles, Mas a sua vida a entregou à pestilência.51 Feriu todos os primogênitos no Egito, Primícias da força deles nas tendas de Cão.52 Mas ele fez partir o seu povo como ovelhas, E guiou-os no deserto como um rebanho.53 Conduziu-os em segurança, de modo que não tiveram medo; Mas aos seus inimigos, o mar os submergiu.54 Levou-os à sua santa fronteira, A região montanhosa que a sua destra adquirira.55 Expulsou as nações de diante deles, E fez que elas lhes caíssem em herança, E que as tribos de Israel habitassem nas tendas delas.56 Contudo tentaram e resistiram ao Deus Altíssimo, E não guardaram os seus testemunhos;57 Mas voltaram para trás e se houveram traiçoeiramente como seus pais, E desviaram-se como um arco enganoso.58 Pois o provocaram à ira com os seus altos, E o incitaram a zelos com as suas imagens de escultura.59 Quando Deus ouviu isto, ficou indignado, E sobremaneira abominou a Israel;60 De sorte que abandonou o tabernáculo de Siló, A tenda que estabeleceu entre os homens,61 Dando ao cativeiro a sua força, E às mãos do adversário a sua glória.62 Entregou à espada o seu povo, E rompeu em cólera contra a sua herança.63 Aos mancebos deles, devorou-os o fogo, E as suas donzelas, não foram festejadas com canto nupcial.64 Os seus sacerdotes caíram à espada, E as suas viúvas não fizeram pranto.65 Então o Senhor despertou, como quem acaba de dormir, Como um valente que brada, excitado pelo vinho.66 Fez recuar a golpes os seus adversários, Infligiu-lhes eterna ignomínia.67 Demais rejeitou a tenda de José, E não escolheu a tribo de Efraim;68 Mas elegeu a tribo de Judá, O monte Sião que ele amou.69 Edificou o seu santuário como os lugares elevados, Como a terra que para sempre fundou.70 Escolheu a Davi, seu servo, E o tirou dos currais das ovelhas:71 Tirou-o de andar atrás de ovelhas e suas crias, Para apascentar a Jacó, seu povo, e a Israel, sua herança.72 Assim ele os apascentou segundo a integridade do seu coração, E os guiou com a perícia das suas mãos.

1 Understanding for Asaph. Attend, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.2 I will open my mouth in parables: I will utter propositions from the beginning.3 How great things have we heard and known, and our fathers have told us.4 They have not been hidden from their children, in another generation. Declaring the praises of the Lord, and his powers, and his wonders which he hath done.5 And he set up a testimony in Jacob: and made a law in Israel. How great things he commanded our fathers, that they should make the same known to their children:6 that another generation might know them. The children that should be born and should rise up, and declare them to their children.7 That they may put their hope in God and may not forget the works of God: and may seek his commandments.8 That they may not become like their fathers, a perverse end exasperating generation. A generation that set not their heart aright: and whose spirit was not faithful to God.9 The sons of Ephraim who bend and shoot with the bow: they have turned back in the day of battle.10 They kept not the covenant of God: and in his law they would not walk.11 And they forgot his benefits, and his wonders that he had shewn them.12 Wonderful things did he do in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Tanis.13 He divided the sea and brought them through: and he made the waters to stand as in a vessel.14 And he conducted them with a cloud by day: and all the night with a light of15 He struck the rock in the wilderness: and gave them to drink, as out of the great deep.16 He brought forth water out of the rock: and made streams run down as rivers.17 And they added yet more sin against him: they provoked the most High to wrath in the place without water.18 And they tempted God in their hearts, by asking meat for their desires.19 And they spoke ill of God: they said: Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?20 Because he struck the rock, and the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed. Can he also give bread, or provide a table for his people?21 Therefore the Lord heard, and was angry: and a fire was kindled against Jacob, and wrath came up against Israel.22 Because they believed not in God: and trusted not in his salvation.23 And he had commanded the clouds from above, and had opened the doors of heaven.24 And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them the bread of heaven.25 Man ate the bread of angels: he sent them provisions in abundance.26 He removed the south wind from heaven: and by his power brought in the southwest wind.27 And he rained upon them flesh as dust: and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea.28 And they fell in the midst of their camp, round about their pavilions.29 So they did eat, and were filled exceedingly, and he gave them their desire:30 they were not defrauded of that which they craved. As yet their meat was in their mouth:31 and the wrath of God came upon them. And he slew the fat ones amongst them, and brought down the chosen men of Israel.32 In all these things they sinned still: and they believed not for his wondrous works.33 And their days were consumed in vanity, and their years in haste.34 When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned, and came to him early in the morning.35 And they remembered that God was their helper: and the most high God their redeemer.36 And they loved him with their mouth: and with their tongue they lied unto him:37 But their heart was not right with him: nor were they counted faithful in his covenant.38 But he is merciful, and will forgive their sins: and will not destroy them. And many a time did he turn away his anger: and did not kindle all his wrath.39 And he remembered that they are flesh: a wind that goeth and returneth not.40 How often did they provoke him in the desert: and move him to wrath in the place without water?41 And they turned back and tempted God: and grieved the holy one of Israel.42 They remembered not his hand, in the day that he redeemed them from the hand of him that afflicted them:43 How he wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Tanis.44 And he turned their rivers into blood, and their showers that they might, not drink.45 He sent amongst them divers sores of flies, which devoured them: and frogs which destroyed them.46 And he gave up their fruits to the blast, and their labours to the locust.47 And he destroyed their vineyards with hail, and their mulberry trees with hoarfrost.48 And he gave up their cattle to the hail, and their stock to the fire.49 And he sent upon them the wrath of his indignation: indignation and wrath and trouble, which he sent by evil angels.50 He made a way for a path to his anger: he spared not their souls from death, and their cattle he shut up in death.51 And he killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt: the firstfruits of all their labour in the tabernacles of Cham.52 And he took away his own people as sheep: and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.53 And he brought them out in hope, and they feared not: band the sea overwhelmed their enemies.54 And he brought them into the mountain of his sanctuary: the mountain which his right hand had purchased. And he cast out the Gentiles before them: and by lot divided to them their land by a line of distribution.55 And he made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tabernacles.56 Yet they tempted, and provoked the most high God: and they kept not his testimonies.57 And they turned away, and kept not the covenant: even like their fathers they were turned aside as a crooked bow.58 They provoked him to anger on their hills: and moved him to jealousy with their graven things.59 God heard, and despised them, and he reduced Israel exceedingly as it were to nothing.60 And he put away the tabernacle of Silo, his tabernacle where he dwelt among men.61 And he delivered their strength into captivity: and their beauty into the hands of the enemy.62 And he shut up his people under the sword: and he despised his inheritance.63 Fire consumed their young men: and their maidens were not lamented.64 Their priests fell by the sword: and their widows did not mourn.65 And the Lord was awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that hath been surfeited with wine.66 And he smote his enemies on the hinder parts: he put them to an everlasting reproach.67 And he rejected the tabernacle of Joseph: and chose not the tribe of Ephraim:68 But he chose the tribe of Juda, mount Sion which he loved.69 And he built his sanctuary as of unicorns, in the land which he founded for ever.70 And he chose his servant David, and took him from the hocks of sheep: he brought him from following the ewes great with young,71 To feed Jacob his servant, and Israel his inheritance.72 And he fed them in the innocence of his heart: and conducted them by the skilfulness of his hands.