1. “Earth and sky, hear my words,listen closely to what I say.
2. My teaching will fall like drops of rainand form on the earth like dew.My words will fall like showers on young plants,like gentle rain on tender grass.
3. I will praise the name of the Lord,and his people will tell of his greatness.
4. “The Lord is your mighty defender,perfect and just in all his ways;Your God is faithful and true;he does what is right and fair.
5. But you are unfaithful, unworthy to be his people,a sinful and deceitful nation.
6. Is this the way you should treat the Lord,you foolish, senseless people?He is your father, your Creator,he made you into a nation.
7. “Think of the past, of the time long ago;ask your parents to tell you what happened,ask the old people to tell of the past.
8. The Most High assigned nations their lands;he determined where peoples should live.He assigned to each nation a heavenly being,
9. but Jacob's descendants he chose for himself.
10. “He found them wandering through the desert,a desolate, windswept wilderness.He protected them and cared for them,as he would protect himself.
11. Like an eagle teaching its young to fly,catching them safely on its spreading wings,the Lord kept Israel from falling.