Through the Bible – Day 212

₁Be happy and shout to God

who makes us strong!

Shout praises to the God

of Jacob.

₂Sing as you play tambourines

and the lovely sounding

stringed instruments.

₃Sound the trumpets and start

the New Moon Festival.

We must also celebrate

when the moon is full.

₄This is the law in Israel,

and it was given to us

by the God of Jacob.

₅The descendants of Joseph

were told to obey it,

when God led them out

from the land of Egypt.

In a language unknown to me,

I heard someone say:

₆“I lifted the burden

from your shoulder

and took the heavy basket

from your hands.

₇When you were in trouble,

I rescued you,

and from the thunderclouds,

I answered your prayers.

Later I tested you

at Meribah Spring.

₈“Listen, my people,

while I, the Lord,

correct you!

Israel, if you would only

pay attention to me!

₉Don't worship foreign gods

or bow down to gods

you know nothing about.

₁₀I am the LORD your God.

I rescued you from Egypt.

Just ask, and I will give you

whatever you need.

₁₁“But, my people, Israel,

you refused to listen,

and you would have nothing

to do with me!

₁₂So I let you be stubborn

and keep on following

your own advice.

₁₃“My people, Israel,

if only you would listen

and do as I say!

₁₄I, the LORD, would quickly

defeat your enemies

with my mighty power.

₁₅Everyone who hates me

would come crawling,

and that would be the end

of them.

₁₆But I would feed you

with the finest bread

and with the best honey

until you were full.”

₁When all the other gods

have come together,

the Lord God judges them

and says:

₂“How long will you

keep judging unfairly

and favouring evil people?

₃Be fair to the poor

and to orphans.

Defend the helpless

and everyone in need.

₄Rescue the weak and homeless

from the powerful hands

of heartless people.

₅“None of you know

or understand a thing.

You live in darkness,

while the foundations

of the earth tremble.

₆“I, the Most High God, say

that all of you are gods

and also my own children.

₇But you will die,

just like everyone else,

including powerful rulers.”

₈Do something, God!

Judge the nations of the earth;

they belong to you.

₁Our God, don't just sit there,

silently doing nothing!

₂Your hateful enemies

are turning against you

and rebelling.

₃They are sly, and they plot

against those you treasure.

₄They say, “Let's wipe out

the nation of Israel

and make sure that no one

remembers its name!”

₅All of them fully agree

in their plans against you,

and among them are

₆Edom and the Ishmaelites;

Moab and the Hagrites;

₇Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek;

Philistia and Phoenicia.

₈Even Assyria has joined forces

with Moab and Ammon.

₉Our Lord, punish all of them

as you punished Midian.

Destroy them, as you destroyed

Sisera and Jabin

at Kishon Creek ₁₀near Endor,

and let their bodies rot.

₁₁Treat their leaders as you did

Oreb and Zeeb,

Zebah and Zalmunna.

₁₂All of them said, “We'll take

God's valuable land!”

₁₃Our God, scatter them around

like dust in a whirlwind.

₁₄Just as flames destroy forests

on the mountains,

₁₅pursue and terrify them

with storms of your own.

₁₆Make them blush with shame,

until they turn and worship

you, our LORD.

₁₇Let them be for ever ashamed

and confused.

Let them die in disgrace.

₁₈Make them realize that you

are the LORD Most High,

the only ruler of earth!