Psalms 78:24-39 - Compare All Versions

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he rained down manna for the people to eat, he gave them the grain of heaven. Human beings ate the bread of angels; he sent them all the food they could eat. He let loose the east wind from the heavens and by his power made the south wind blow. He rained meat down on them like dust, birds like sand on the seashore. He made them come down inside their camp, all around their tents. They ate till they were gorged— he had given them what they craved. But before they turned from what they craved, even while the food was still in their mouths, God’s anger rose against them; he put to death the sturdiest among them, cutting down the young men of Israel. In spite of all this, they kept on sinning; in spite of his wonders, they did not believe. So he ended their days in futility and their years in terror. Whenever God slew them, they would seek him; they eagerly turned to him again. They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer. But then they would flatter him with their mouths, lying to him with their tongues; their hearts were not loyal to him, they were not faithful to his covenant. Yet he was merciful; he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them. Time after time he restrained his anger and did not stir up his full wrath. He remembered that they were but flesh, a passing breeze that does not return.

and he rained down on them manna to eat and gave them the grain of heaven. Man ate of the bread of the angels; he sent them food in abundance. He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens, and by his power he led out the south wind; he rained meat on them like dust, winged birds like the sand of the seas; he let them fall in the midst of their camp, all around their dwellings. And they ate and were well filled, for he gave them what they craved. But before they had satisfied their craving, while the food was still in their mouths, the anger of God rose against them, and he killed the strongest of them and laid low the young men of Israel. In spite of all this, they still sinned; despite his wonders, they did not believe. So he made their days vanish like a breath, and their years in terror. When he killed them, they sought him; they repented and sought God earnestly. They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God their redeemer. But they flattered him with their mouths; they lied to him with their tongues. Their heart was not steadfast toward him; they were not faithful to his covenant. Yet he, being compassionate, atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often and did not stir up all his wrath. He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes and comes not again.

He rained down manna for them to eat; he gave them bread from heaven. They ate the food of angels! God gave them all they could hold. He released the east wind in the heavens and guided the south wind by his mighty power. He rained down meat as thick as dust— birds as plentiful as the sand on the seashore! He caused the birds to fall within their camp and all around their tents. The people ate their fill. He gave them what they craved. But before they satisfied their craving, while the meat was yet in their mouths, the anger of God rose against them, and he killed their strongest men. He struck down the finest of Israel’s young men. But in spite of this, the people kept sinning. Despite his wonders, they refused to trust him. So he ended their lives in failure, their years in terror. When God began killing them, they finally sought him. They repented and took God seriously. Then they remembered that God was their rock, that God Most High was their redeemer. But all they gave him was lip service; they lied to him with their tongues. Their hearts were not loyal to him. They did not keep his covenant. Yet he was merciful and forgave their sins and did not destroy them all. Many times he held back his anger and did not unleash his fury! For he remembered that they were merely mortal, gone like a breath of wind that never returns.

He rained manna for them to eat; he gave them grain from heaven.  People  ate the bread of angels.  He sent them an abundant supply of food.  He made the east wind blow in the skies and drove the south wind by his might.  He rained meat on them like dust, and winged birds like the sand of the seas. He made them fall in the camp, all around the tents.  The people ate and were completely satisfied, for he gave them what they craved.  Before they had turned from what they craved, while the food was still in their mouths, God’s anger flared up against them, and he killed some of their best men. He struck down Israel’s fit young men.  Despite all this, they kept sinning and did not believe his wondrous works.  He made their days end in futility, their years in sudden disaster.  When he killed some of them, the rest began to seek him; they repented and searched for God.  They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God, their Redeemer.  But they deceived him with their mouths, they lied to him with their tongues,  their hearts were insincere toward him, and they were unfaithful to his covenant.  Yet he was compassionate; he atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them. He often turned his anger aside and did not unleash  all his wrath.  He remembered that they were only flesh, a wind that passes and does not return.

And had rained down manna upon them to eat, And had given them of the corn of heaven. Man did eat angels' food: He sent them meat to the full. He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: And by his power he brought in the south wind. He rained flesh also upon them as dust, And feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea: And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, Round about their habitations. So they did eat, and were well filled: For he gave them their own desire; They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths, The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, And smote down the chosen men of Israel. For all this they sinned still, And believed not for his wondrous works. Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, And their years in trouble. When he slew them, then they sought him: And they returned and enquired early after God. And they remembered that God was their rock, And the high God their redeemer. Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, And they lied unto him with their tongues. For their heart was not right with him, Neither were they stedfast in his covenant. But he, being full of compassion, Forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: Yea, many a time turned he his anger away, And did not stir up all his wrath. For he remembered that they were but flesh; A wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.

Had rained down manna on them to eat, And given them of the bread of heaven. Men ate angels’ food; He sent them food to the full. He caused an east wind to blow in the heavens; And by His power He brought in the south wind. He also rained meat on them like the dust, Feathered fowl like the sand of the seas; And He let them fall in the midst of their camp, All around their dwellings. So they ate and were well filled, For He gave them their own desire. They were not deprived of their craving; But while their food was still in their mouths, The wrath of God came against them, And slew the stoutest of them, And struck down the choice men of Israel. In spite of this they still sinned, And did not believe in His wondrous works. Therefore their days He consumed in futility, And their years in fear. When He slew them, then they sought Him; And they returned and sought earnestly for God. Then they remembered that God was their rock, And the Most High God their Redeemer. Nevertheless they flattered Him with their mouth, And they lied to Him with their tongue; For their heart was not steadfast with Him, Nor were they faithful in His covenant. But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, And did not destroy them. Yes, many a time He turned His anger away, And did not stir up all His wrath; For He remembered that they were but flesh, A breath that passes away and does not come again.

When GOD heard that, he was furious— his anger flared against Jacob, he lost his temper with Israel. It was clear they didn’t believe God, had no intention of trusting in his help. But God helped them anyway, commanded the clouds and gave orders that opened the gates of heaven. He rained down showers of manna to eat, he gave them the Bread of Heaven. They ate the bread of the mighty angels; he sent them all the food they could eat. He let East Wind break loose from the skies, gave a strong push to South Wind. This time it was birds that rained down— succulent birds, an abundance of birds. He aimed them right for the center of their camp; all round their tents there were birds. They ate and had their fill; he handed them everything they craved on a platter. But their greed knew no bounds; they stuffed their mouths with more and more. Finally, God was fed up, his anger erupted— he cut down their brightest and best, he laid low Israel’s finest young men. And—can you believe it?—they kept right on sinning; all those wonders and they still wouldn’t believe! So their lives wasted away to nothing— nothing to show for their lives but a ghost town. When he cut them down, they came running for help; they turned and pled for mercy. They gave witness that God was their rock, that High God was their redeemer, But they didn’t mean a word of it; they lied through their teeth the whole time. They could not have cared less about him, wanted nothing to do with his Covenant. And God? Compassionate! Forgave the sin! Didn’t destroy! Over and over he reined in his anger, restrained his considerable wrath. He knew what they were made of; he knew there wasn’t much to them, How often in the desert they had spurned him, tried his patience in those wilderness years. Time and again they pushed him to the limit, provoked Israel’s Holy God. How quickly they forgot what he’d done, forgot their day of rescue from the enemy, When he did miracles in Egypt, wonders on the plain of Zoan. He turned the River and its streams to blood— not a drop of water fit to drink. He sent flies, which ate them alive, and frogs, which drove them crazy. He turned their harvest over to caterpillars, everything they had worked for to the locusts. He flattened their grapevines with hail; a killing frost ruined their orchards. He pounded their cattle with hail, let thunderbolts loose on their herds. His anger flared, a wild firestorm of havoc, An advance guard of disease-carrying angels to clear the ground, preparing the way before him. He didn’t spare those people, he let the plague rage through their lives. He killed all the Egyptian firstborns, lusty infants, offspring of Ham’s virility. Then he led his people out like sheep, took his flock safely through the wilderness. He took good care of them; they had nothing to fear. The Sea took care of their enemies for good. He brought them into his holy land, this mountain he claimed for his own. He scattered everyone who got in their way; he staked out an inheritance for them— the tribes of Israel all had their own places.

He rained down manna upon them to eat, And gave them food from heaven. Man ate the bread of angels; He sent them food in abundance. He made the east wind blow in the sky And by His power He directed the south wind. When He rained meat upon them like the dust, Even winged fowl like the sand of the seas, He let them fall in the midst of their camp, All around their dwellings. So they ate and were well filled, And He satisfied their longing. Yet before they had abandoned their longing, While their food was in their mouths, The anger of God rose against them And killed some of their strongest ones, And subdued the choice men of Israel. In spite of all this they still sinned And did not believe in His wonderful works. So He brought their days to an end in futility, And their years to an end in sudden terror. ¶When He killed them, then they sought Him, And they returned and searched diligently for God; And they remembered that God was their rock, And the Most High God their Redeemer. But they flattered Him with their mouth And lied to Him with their tongue. For their heart was not steadfast toward Him, Nor were they faithful with His covenant. But He, being compassionate, forgave their wrongdoing and did not destroy them; And often He restrained His anger And did not stir up all His wrath. So He remembered that they were only flesh, A wind that passes and does not return.

And He rained down manna upon them to eat And gave them the grain of heaven. [Ex 16:14; John 6:31] Man ate the bread of angels; God sent them provision in abundance. He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens And by His [unlimited] power He guided the south wind. He rained meat upon them like the dust, And winged birds (quail) like the sand of the seas. [Num 11:31] And He let them fall in the midst of their camp, Around their tents. So they ate and were well filled, He gave them what they craved. Before they had satisfied their desire, And while their food was in their mouths, [Num 11:33] The wrath of God rose against them And killed some of the strongest of them, And subdued the choice young men of Israel. In spite of all this they still sinned, For they did not believe in His wonderful and extraordinary works. Therefore He consumed their days like a breath [in emptiness and futility] And their years in sudden terror. ¶When He killed [some of] them, then those remaining sought Him, And they returned [to Him] and searched diligently for God [for a time]. And they remembered that God was their rock, And the Most High God their Redeemer. Nevertheless they flattered Him with their mouths And lied to Him with their tongues. For their heart was not steadfast toward Him, Nor were they faithful to His covenant. [Acts 8:21] But He, the source of compassion and lovingkindness, forgave their wickedness and did not destroy them; Many times He restrained His anger And did not stir up all His wrath. For He [graciously] remembered that they were mere [human] flesh, A wind that goes and does not return.

He rained down manna for them to eat; he gave them the grain of heaven. Man ate the food of the mighty ones. He sent them more than enough to eat. He brought the east wind through the sky, and by his strength led forth the south wind. He rained down meat on them like dust, birds as numerous as the sand on the seashores. He caused them to fall right in the middle of their camp, all around their homes. They ate until they were stuffed; he gave them what they desired. They were not yet filled up, their food was still in their mouths, when 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. Despite all this, they continued to sin, and did not trust him to do amazing things. So he caused them to die unsatisfied and filled with terror. When he struck them down, they sought his favor; they turned back and longed for God. They remembered that God was their protector, and that the sovereign God was their deliverer. But they deceived him with their words, and lied to him. They were not really committed to him, and they were unfaithful to his covenant. Yet he is compassionate. He forgives sin and does not destroy. He often holds back his anger, and does not stir up his fury. He remembered that they were made of flesh, and were like a wind that blows past and does not return.