1. “Skies, listen and I will speak. Earth, hear the words of my mouth.
2. My teachings will come like the rain, like a mist falling to the ground, like a gentle rain on the soft grass, like rain on the green plants.
3. Praise God as I speak the Lord’S name!
4. “The Lord is the Rock, and his work is perfect! Yes, all his ways are right! God is true and faithful. He is good and honest.
5. And you are not really his children. You are completely unfaithful to him. You are crooked liars.
6. Is this the way you repay the Lord for all he has done for you? You are stupid, foolish people. He is your Father and your Creator. He made you, and he supports you.
7. “Remember the days of the past. Think about what happened so long ago. Ask your father; he will tell you. Ask your leaders; they will tell you.
8. God Most High separated the people on earth and gave each nation its land. He set up borders for all people. He made as many nations as there are angels.
9. The Lord chose his people to be his own. The people of Jacob belong to him.
10. “The Lord found them in the desert, in an empty, windy land. He surrounded them and watched over them. He protected them like the pupil of his eye,
11. like an eagle when she makes her young leave the nest to fly. She stays close to them, ready to help. She spreads her wings to catch them when they fall and carries them to a safe place.
12. The Lord alone led his people. They had no help from any foreign god.
13. The Lord helped them take control of the hill country. They took the harvest in the fields. He gave them honey from the cliffs and olive oil from the rocky ground.
14. He gave his people butter from the herd and milk from the flock. He gave them lambs and goats. They had the best rams from Bashan and the finest wheat. They drank the best wine made from the juice of red grapes.