---
title: "Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 5"
author: "John Calvin"
translator: "James Anderson"
languages: [en]
shelf: "Commentaries"
section: 97 of 159
url: https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-the-psalms-volume-5/97/
cite: "John Calvin, tr. James Anderson, Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 5, section 97. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-the-psalms-volume-5/97/"
---

# Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 5

*John Calvin, tr. James Anderson*

Calvin on the Psalms, volume 5 of 5.

## 97. Psalm 78 · 1 of 2

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-the-psalms-volume-5/97/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-the-psalms-volume-5/97/#p-N

[¶0] A lesson of Instruction [of] Asaph

[¶1] 1 Give ear, O my people! to my law: Incline your ears to the words of my month.

[¶2] 2 I will open in a parable my mouth; I will utter enigmas from ancient Sae.

[¶3] 3 What we have heard and known, And our’ fathers have related to us,

[¶4] 4 We will not conceal from their children to the generation to come, Recounting the praises of Jehovah and his might, And the wonders which he hath done.

[¶5] 5 And he established a testimony in, Jacob, And a law he appointed in Israel; For he commanded our fathers To make them known to their children;

[¶6] 6 That the generations to come might know them, That the children to be born might arise, And declare them to their children.

[¶7] 7 That they might set in God their hope, And not forget the works of God; But that his commandments they might observe,

[¶8] 8 And not be as their fathers, A generation rebellious and provoking; A generation which set not their heart might, And whose spirit was not faithful towards God.

[¶9] 9 The children of Ephraim, armed [and] shooting with the bow, Were turned back in the day of battle.

[¶10] 10 They kept not the covenant of God, And in his law they refused to walk.

[¶11] 11 And they forget his works, And the wonders which he had shown them.

[¶12] 12 In the sight of their fathers he wrought marvelously; In the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.

[¶13] 13 He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through, And made the waters to stand as an heap.

[¶14] 14 And he led them by a cloud in the day; And all the night by the light of fire.

[¶15] 15 He clave the rocks in the wilderness, And made them to drink in great deeps.

[¶16] 16 And he brought forth streams from the rock, And made the waters to descend like rivers.

[¶17] 17 Yet they continued still to sin against him, To provoke the Most High in the wilderness.

[¶18] 18 And they tempted God in their heart, By asking food for their soul.

[¶19] 19 And they spake against God: They said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?”

[¶20] 20 Behold! he smote the reek, and gush out did the waters; And rivers overflowed. “Can he give bread also? “Will he prepare flesh for his people?”

[¶21] 21 Therefore Jehovah heard and was wroth: And a fire was kindled in Jacob: And wrath also ascended against Israel;

[¶22] 22 Because they believed not in God, And trusted not in his salvation.

[¶23] 23 But he had commanded the clouds from above, And the doors of heaven he had opened,

[¶24] 24 And had rained down upon them manna for food, And the corn of heaven he had given them:

[¶25] 25 The bread of the mighty ones man had eaten: Meat he had sent them to the full.

[¶26] 26 He caused to blow an east wind in the heavens; And he raised up by his power the south wind.

[¶27] 27 And he rained upon them flesh as dust, And as the sand of the sea leathered fowl;

[¶28] 28 And he caused it to fall in the midst of his camp, Round about his tabernacles.

[¶29] 29 And they did eat and were filled exceedingly, And their desire he brought to them.

[¶30] 30 They were not estranged from their desire: The meat was still in their mouth,

[¶31] 31 When the wrath of God ascended against them, And slew their fat ones, And brought low the chosen of Israel.

[¶32] 32 In all these things they sinned still, And believed not his wonders.

[¶33] 33 And he consumed in vanity their days, And their years in haste.

[¶34] 34 When he slew them, they sought him; They returned, and hastened early to God.

[¶35] 35 And they remembered that God was their Rock, And that the Most High God was their Redeemer.

[¶36] 36 And they flattered [him] with their mouth, And with their tongue they lied to him:

[¶37] 37 But their heart was not right before him, And they were not faithful in his covenant.

[¶38] 38 Yet he who is compassionate expiated their iniquity, And did not destroy them: And he multiplied to turn away his anger, And did not stir up all his indignation.

[¶39] 39 And he remembered that they were flesh; A breath that passeth, and returneth not.

[¶40] 40 How often did they provoke him in the desert, [And] grieve him in the wilderness!

[¶41] 41 And they returned and tempted God, And the Holy One of Israel they limited.

[¶42] 42 They remembered not his hand In the day that he redeemed them from the oppressor,

[¶43] 43 When he set in Egypt his signs, And his miracles in the field of Zoan.

[¶44] 44 When he turned into blood their rivers; And their streams, that they might not drink of them.