1. Listen, O my people, to my instruction; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old,
3. Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us.
4. We will not conceal them from their children, But tell to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, And His strength and His wondrous works that He has done.
5. For He established a testimony in Jacob And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers That they should teach them to their children,
6. That the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, That they may arise and tell them to their children,
7. That they should put their confidence in God And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments,
8. And not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not prepare its heart And whose spirit was not faithful to God.
9. The sons of Ephraim were archers equipped with bows, Yet they turned back in the day of battle.
10. They did not keep the covenant of God And refused to walk in His law;
11. They forgot His deeds And His miracles that He had shown them.
12. He wrought wonders before their fathers In the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
13. He divided the sea and caused them to pass through, And He made the waters stand up like a heap.
14. Then He led them with the cloud by day And all the night with a light of fire.