THE BOOK OF PSALMS

 

Psalm 106

1 ¶ Praise the LORD. O give thanks to the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endures for ever.

2 Who can put into words the mighty acts of the LORD? who can express all his praise?

3 Blessed are those who practice justice, and he who does what is right at all times.

4 Remember me, O LORD, when you show favor to your people: and grant me your salvation;

5 That I may share in the blessings of your chosen, that I may enjoy the happiness of your people, that I may glory with your inheritance.

6 ¶ We have sinned as did our fathers, we have done wrong, we have behaved wickedly.

7 Our fathers did not understand your wonders in Egypt; they did not remember how much you loved them; so they rebelled beside the sea, the Red sea.

8 Nevertheless he saved them for his name’s sake, so that he might make his mighty power known.

9 He rebuked the Red sea, and it dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the desert.

10 And he saved them from the hand of the one who hated them, and delivered them from the hand of the enemy.

11 And the waters covered their enemies: there was not one of them left.

12 At that time they believed his words; and they sang his praise.

13 ¶ But they soon forgot what he did; and did not wait for his direction:

14 They lusted excessively in the wilderness, and put God to the test in the desert.

15 And he gave them what they asked; but sent leanness into their soul.

16 They were also envious of Moses in the camp, and Aaron the LORD’S holy one.

17 The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.

18 And a fire was kindled in their group; and the flame consumed the wicked.

19 They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image.

20 So they traded their glory for the image of an ox that eats grass.

21 They forgot God who had saved them, who had done great things in Egypt;

22 Wonders in the land of Ham, and terrifying things by the Red sea.

23 Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, to keep him from destroying them.

24 Yea, they scorned the pleasant land, and did not believe his word:

25 But grumbled in their tents, and did not listen to the voice of the LORD.

26 Therefore he lifted up his hand against them, to strike them down in the wilderness:

27 To disperse their seed among the nations, and scatter them in the lands.

28 They also joined themselves to Baal at peor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.

29 Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions: and sudden death broke out among them.

30 Then Phinehas stood up, and executed judgment: and the plague was stopped.

31 And that was credited to him for righteousness through all generations for evermore.

32 They also angered the Lord at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes:

33 Because they embittered his spirit, so that he spoke rashly with his lips.

34 ¶ They did not destroy the nations, as the LORD commanded them:

35 But mingled with the heathen, and learned their ways.

36 And they served their idols: which were a snare to them.

37 Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to devils,

38 And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.

39 Thus they defiled themselves by what they did, and by serving what they had made were unfaithful to God.

40 Therefore the wrath of the LORD flared against his people, insomuch that he detested his own.

41 And he handed them over to the heathen; and those who hated them ruled over them.

42 Their enemies oppressed them, and they became subject to their power.

43 Many times he delivered them; but they were rebellious in their thoughts, and were brought low because of their sin.

44 Nevertheless when he heard their cry, he took note of their distress:

45 And he remembered his covenant with them, and in accordance with his great love changed his mind.

46 He also caused them to be pitied by those who held them captive.

47 Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the heathen, so that we may give thanks to your holy name, and rejoice in your praise.

48 Praise the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise the LORD.