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[1]PRAISE the Lord. O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his mercy endures for ever.
[2]Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? Who can show forth all his praise?
[3]Blessed are they that keep his judgments, and they that do righteousness at all times.
[4]Remember us, O LORD, with the favor that thou bearest to thy people; O visit us with thy salvation,
[5]That we may see the good of thy chosen, that we may rejoice in thy joy, and be glorified with thine inheritance.
[6]We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.
[7]Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red Sea.
[8]Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.
[9]He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it was dried up; so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.
[10]And he saved them from the hand of the enemy and delivered them from the hand of the oppressor.
[11]And the waters covered their enemies; there was not one of them left.
[12]Then believed they his words; they sang his praise.
[13]But they soon forgot God; they trusted not in his counsel,
[14]But craved exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.
[15]And he gave them their request; and he supplied them with abundance.
[16]They plotted against Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the LORD.
[17]The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.
[18]And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.
[19]They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image.
[20]Thus they changed their Glorious One into the likeness of an ox that eats grass.
[21]They forgot God their Saviour, who had done great things in Egypt,
[22]Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible 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, lest he should destroy them.
[24]Yea, they despised the desired land, they believed not his word,
[25]But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not to the voice of the LORD.
[26]Therefore he lifted up his hand against them, to scatter them among the Gentiles,
[27]To scatter their descendants also among the nations, and to lose them in the lands.
[28]They worshipped also the idols of Baal-peor, and ate sacrifices offered for the dead.
[29]Thus they provoked him to anger with their acts; they made him angry with their images, and the plague came upon them suddenly.
[30]Then Phinehas stood up and prayed, and so the plague was stopped.
[31]And that was counted to him for a victory to all generations for evermore.
[32]They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes,
[33]Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spoke unadvisedly with his lips.
[34]And they did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them;
[35]But they were mingled among the Gentiles, and learned their works.
[36]And they served their idols, which were a snare to them.
[37]Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons,
[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 were they defiled with their own works, and went awhoring with their own inventions.
[40]Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.
[41]And he gave them into the hand of the Gentiles; and they that hated them ruled over them.
[42]Their enemies also subdued them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand.
[43]Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were humbled for their iniquity.
[44]Nevertheless he regarded their affliction and heard their prayer.
[45]And he remembered his covenant, and pitied them, and led them according to the multitude of his mercies.
[46]He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives.
[47]Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and be glorified in thine inheritance.
[48]Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting; and let all the people say, Amen and Amen. Praise the LORD.
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