Like Psalm 78, this psalm contrasts the mercy of God and Israel’s rebellions. God punishes but he always gives his grace again.
1Alleluia!
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his love endures forever.
2Who can count the Lord’s mighty deeds, or declare all his praises?
3Blessed are they who always do just and right.
4Remember me, O Lord, when you show favor to your people; rescue me when you deliver them; 5let me see the triumph of your faithful, let me share the joy of your nation, and join your people in praising you.
6We have sinned like our ancestors; we have done wrong and acted wickedly.
7When they were in Egypt, our ancestors had no regard for your wondrous deeds; they forgot the abundance of your love; they rebelled against the Most High by the Sea of Reeds.
8Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, to make his mighty power known.
9He rebuked the sea, and it dried up; he led them through the deep as on dry land.
10He saved them from hostility, freeing them from the hand of the enemy.
11Waters covered their pursuers, and none of them was left alive.
12Then they believed his promises and all at once sang his praises.
13But soon they forgot his works and did not wait for his counsel.
14They gave way to wanton craving and tempted God in the desert.
15He gave them what they wanted, then sent them a wasting disease.
16In the camp they grew envious of Moses and Aaron, the holy one of the Lord.
17So the earth opened, swallowed Dathan, and buried the company of Abiram; 18fire broke out against them, burning up the wicked.
19They made a calf at Horeb and worshiped the molten image.
20They exchanged the glory of God for the image of a bull that eats grass.
21They forgot their Savior God, who had done great things in Egypt, 22wonderful works in the land of Ham, and awesome deeds by the Sea of Reeds.
23So he spoke of destroying them, but Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him to shield them from destruction.
24Yet they despised the promised land, for they had no faith in his word.
25They grumbled in their tents and would not listen to the voice of the Lord.
26So he swore to them with his hand raised that he would let them perish in the desert, 27scatter their descendants among the nations and disperse them over the lands.
28They joined the rites of Baal-peor and ate sacrifices to lifeless gods.
29Their deeds provoked the Lord to anger, and a plague broke out among them.
30But Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague came to an end.
31This was credited to his uprightness, making him remembered for all ages.
32Angered by them at Meribah’s waters, the Lord took it out on Moses 33for the rash words he uttered, when they rebelled against God.
34They dared not destroy the pagans, as the Lord commanded; 35they mingled with these nations and learned to do as they did.
36In serving the idols of the pagans, they were trapped 37into sacrificing children to demons, 38shedding the innocent blood of their sons and daughters to the idols of Canaan, polluting the country with blood. 39They defiled themselves by what they did, playing the harlot in their worship.
40The anger of the Lord grew intense and he abhorred his inheritance.
41He handed them over to the nations, and their foes ruled them with arrogance.
42Brought by the enemy into subjection, they suffered the agony of oppression.
43He delivered them many a time, but they went on defying him and sinking deeper into their sin.
44But he heard their cry of affliction and looked on them with compassion.
45Remembering his covenant, he relented for their sake, because of his great love.
46He let them be pitied by all those who held them captive.
47Save us, O Lord, our God, gather us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to you and praise your holy name.
48Blessed be the Lord, God of Israel, from eternity to eternity. Let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise the Lord!
