Study Desk

He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens And by His [unlimited] power He guided the south wind.

In spite of all this they still sinned, For they did not believe in His wonderful and extraordinary works.

For their heart was not steadfast toward Him, Nor were they faithful to His covenant.

But He, the source of compassion and lovingkindness, forgave their wickedness and did not destroy them; Many times He restrained His anger And did not stir up all His wrath.

They did not remember [the miracles worked by] His [powerful] hand, Nor the day when He redeemed them from the enemy,

How He worked His miracles in Egypt And His wonders in the field of Zoan [where Pharaoh resided],

He sent upon them His burning anger, His fury and indignation and distress, A band of angels of destruction [among them].

He leveled a path for His anger [to give it free run]; He did not spare their souls from death, But turned over their lives to the plague.

But God led His own people forward like sheep And guided them in the wilderness like [a good shepherd with] a flock.

So He brought them to His holy land, To this mountain [Zion] which His right hand had acquired.

Yet they tempted and rebelled against the Most High God And did not keep His testimonies (laws).

For they provoked Him to [righteous] anger with their high places [devoted to idol worship] And moved Him to jealousy with their carved images [by denying Him the love, worship, and obedience that is rightfully and uniquely His].

And gave up His strength and power (the ark of the covenant) into captivity, And His glory into the hand of the enemy (the Philistines).

He also handed His people over to the sword, And was infuriated with His inheritance (Israel).

The fire [of war] devoured His young men, And His [bereaved] virgins had no wedding songs.

His priests [Hophni and Phinehas] fell by the sword, And His widows could not weep.

Then the Lord awakened as from sleep, Like a [mighty] warrior who awakens from the sleep of wine [fully conscious of his power].

He drove His enemies backward; He subjected them to lasting shame and dishonor.

But He chose the tribe of Judah [as Israel's leader], Mount Zion, which He loved [to replace Shiloh as His capital].

And He built His sanctuary [exalted] like the heights [of the heavens], Like the earth which He has established forever.