Axial Commons
Hebrew / JewishChristianity
Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more?
Plain English · paraphraseWill the Lord reject us forever? Will he never be kind again?
Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore?
Plain English · paraphraseIs his mercy completely gone forever? Has his promise failed for always?
Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.
And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.
I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.
I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.
Plain English · paraphraseI will think about all your works and speak of what you have done.
Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?
Plain English · paraphraseYour way, God, is in the holy place. Who is so great a God as our God?
Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people.
Plain English · paraphraseYou are the God who does amazing things. You have shown your power among the people.
Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.
Plain English · paraphraseYou have redeemed your people with your arm, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.
The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.
Plain English · paraphraseThe waters saw you, O God, the waters saw you. They were afraid. The depths were troubled too.
The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad.
Plain English · paraphraseThe clouds poured out water. The skies made a sound. Your arrows also went out.
The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.
Plain English · paraphraseThunder roared in the sky. Lightning lit up the world. The earth shook and trembled.
Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.
Plain English · paraphraseYour way is through the sea, your path through the great waters, and your footprints are not known.
Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
Plain English · paraphraseListen, my people, to my law. Pay attention to the words I speak.
I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
Plain English · paraphraseI will speak through a parable. I will share mysterious sayings from the past.
Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.
Plain English · paraphraseWe have heard and learned what our ancestors told us.
We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.
Plain English · paraphraseWe will not hide them from their children, showing to the next generation the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and the wonderful works he has done.
For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:
Plain English · paraphraseHe set up a testimony in Jacob and gave a law to Israel. He told our ancestors to teach it to their children.
That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:
Plain English · paraphraseSo that the next generation might know them, even the children yet to be born, who would rise up and tell them to their own children:
That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:
Plain English · paraphraseThat they might place their hope in God, and not forget what God has done, but keep his commandments:
And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.
Plain English · paraphraseAnd not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that did not set their heart aright, and whose spirit was not steadfast with God.
The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.
They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law;
And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them.
Plain English · paraphraseAnd he forgot his works and the wonders he had shown them.
Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
Plain English · paraphraseHe did amazing things in front of their ancestors, in the land of Egypt, in the area of Zoan.
He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap.
In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.
Plain English · paraphraseDuring the day he led them with a cloud, and all night with a firelight.
He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths.
Plain English · paraphraseHe split the rocks in the wilderness and gave them water from the deep.
He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.
Plain English · paraphraseHe brought water from the rock and made streams flow like rivers.
And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness.
And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.
Plain English · paraphraseAnd they tested God in their hearts by asking for meat to satisfy their desires.
Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?
Plain English · paraphraseYes, they spoke against God. They said, "Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?"
Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?
Plain English · paraphraseLook, he struck the rock, and water gushed out, and the streams overflowed. Can he also give bread? Can he provide meat for his people?
Therefore the LORD heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel;
Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation:
Plain English · paraphraseBecause they did not believe in God and did not trust in his salvation:
Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,
And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.
Plain English · paraphraseAnd had rained down manna for them to eat, and had given them the grain from heaven.
Man did eat angels’ food: he sent them meat to the full.
Plain English · paraphraseMan ate the food of angels; he sent them meat in abundance.
He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind.
Plain English · paraphraseHe made an east wind blow across the sky. And with his strength, 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.
Plain English · paraphraseAnd he let it fall in the middle of their camp, around their homes.
So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire;
Plain English · paraphraseSo they ate and were very full, because he gave them what they wanted.
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.
Plain English · paraphraseGod's anger came upon them. He killed the strongest of them and struck down the chosen men of Israel.
For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.
Plain English · paraphraseFor all this, they continued to sin and did not believe in his wondrous works.
Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.
Plain English · paraphraseTherefore, he made their days end in emptiness, and their years in sorrow.
When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God.
Plain English · paraphraseWhen he killed them, then they looked for him. And they turned back and asked for God early.
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.
Plain English · paraphraseNevertheless, they flattered him with their words, and they lied to him with their tongues.
For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.
Plain English · paraphraseTheir hearts were not right with him, and they were not faithful to 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.
Plain English · paraphraseBut he was full of compassion and forgave their wrongdoing, not destroying them. Many times he held back his anger and did not unleash all his wrath.
For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.
Plain English · paraphraseHe remembered that they were only human; a breath that passes away and does not return.
How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!
Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.
They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy.
Plain English · paraphraseThey did not remember his hand, or the day he delivered them from the enemy.
How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan.
Plain English · paraphraseHow he had done his miracles in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan.
And had turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, that they could not drink.
Plain English · paraphraseAnd they turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, so that they could not drink.
He sent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them.
Plain English · paraphraseHe sent different kinds of flies among them, which ate them; and frogs, which destroyed them.
He gave also their increase unto the caterpiller, and their labour unto the locust.
Plain English · paraphraseHe also gave their harvest to the caterpillar and their work to the locust.
He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycomore trees with frost.
He gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts.
He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.
Plain English · paraphraseHe poured out his anger, wrath, and fury on them, bringing trouble by sending evil angels among them.
He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence;
Plain English · paraphraseHe made a path for his anger; he did not spare their lives from death, but gave their lives over to the plague;
And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:
But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
Plain English · paraphraseBut he led his own people out like sheep and guided them through the wilderness like a flock.
And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
Plain English · paraphraseHe led them safely, so they had no fear, but the sea swallowed up their enemies.
And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased.
He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
Plain English · paraphraseHe drove out the pagan people before them and divided the land among them by boundary lines, and made the tribes of Israel live in their tents.
Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies:
Plain English · paraphraseYet they tested and angered the most high God, and did not keep his messages.
But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.
For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.
Plain English · paraphraseThey made him angry with their high places of worship and caused him jealousy with their carved idols.
When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel:
So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men;
Plain English · paraphraseSo he abandoned the tabernacle in Shiloh, the tent he had set up among people;
And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy’s hand.
He gave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance.
Plain English · paraphraseHe handed his people over to the sword as well; he was angry with his inheritance.
The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage.
Plain English · paraphraseThe fire killed their young men, and their young women were not allowed to get married.
Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation.
Plain English · paraphraseTheir priests were killed by the sword; their widows did not mourn.
Then the LORD awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.
Plain English · paraphraseThen the Lord woke up as if from sleep, and like a strong warrior shouting after drinking wine.
And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach.
Plain English · paraphraseAnd he struck his enemies on their backsides; he made them a lasting disgrace.
Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim:
But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved.
Plain English · paraphraseBut he chose the tribe of Judah, the mountain Zion that he loved.
And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever.
He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:
Plain English · paraphraseHe also chose David his servant and took him from the sheepfolds:
From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.
So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.
O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.
Plain English · paraphraseO God, the heathen have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple; they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.
The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.
Plain English · paraphraseThey have given the dead bodies of your servants to be food for the birds of the sky, and the flesh of your holy ones to the animals of the earth.
Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them.
Plain English · paraphraseThey poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and no one buried them.
We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.
Plain English · paraphraseWe have become a disgrace to our neighbors, mocked and ridiculed by those around us.
How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?
Plain English · paraphraseHow long, Lord? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealousy burn like fire?
Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.
Plain English · paraphrasePour out your anger on the nations that have not known you, and on the kingdoms that have not called on your name.
For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place.
O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.
Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name’s sake.
Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed.
Plain English · paraphraseWhy should the nations say, "Where is their God?" Let him be shown among the nations in our sight by taking revenge for the blood of your servants that has been shed.
Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;
Plain English · paraphraseLet the groaning of the prisoner reach you. Because of how powerful you are, save those who are about to be killed.
And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.
So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.
Plain English · paraphraseSo we, your people, your sheep in your pasture, will thank you forever. We will tell of your praise to all generations.
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.