Psalms 78:18-30

78:18 They willfully challenged God ¹ 

by asking for food to satisfy their appetite.

78:19 They insulted God, saying, ² 

“Is God really able to give us food ³  in the wilderness?

78:20 Yes, ⁴  he struck a rock and water flowed out,

streams gushed forth.

But can he also give us food?

Will he provide meat for his people?”

78:21 When ⁵  the Lord heard this, he was furious.

A fire broke out against Jacob,

and his anger flared up ⁶  against Israel,

78:22 because they did not have faith in God,

and did not trust his ability to deliver them. ⁷ 

78:23 He gave a command to the clouds above,

and opened the doors in the sky.

78:24 He rained down manna for them to eat;

he gave them the grain of heaven. ⁸ 

78:25 Man ate the food of the mighty ones. ⁹ 

He sent them more than enough to eat. ¹⁰ 

78:26 He brought the east wind through the sky,

and by his strength led forth the south wind.

78:27 He rained down meat on them like dust,

birds as numerous as the sand on the seashores. ¹¹ 

78:28 He caused them to fall right in the middle of their camp,

all around their homes.

78:29 They ate until they were stuffed; ¹² 

he gave them what they desired.

78:30 They were not yet filled up, ¹³ 

their food was still in their mouths,

[78:18]  ¹ tn Heb “and they tested God in their heart.” The “heart” is viewed here as the center of their volition.

[78:19]  ² tn Heb “they spoke against God, they said.”

[78:19]  ³ tn Heb “to arrange a table [for food].”

[78:20]  ³ tn Heb “look.”

[78:21]  ⁴ tn Heb “therefore.”

[78:21]  ⁵ tn Heb “and also anger went up.”

[78:22]  ⁵ tn Heb “and they did not trust his deliverance.”

[78:24]  ⁶ sn Manna was apparently shaped like a seed (Exod 16:31), perhaps explaining why it is here compared to grain.

[78:25]  ⁷ sn Because of the reference to “heaven” in the preceding verse, it is likely that mighty ones refers here to the angels of heaven. The LXX translates “angels” here, as do a number of modern translations (NEB, NIV, NRSV).

[78:25]  ⁸ tn Heb “provision he sent to them to satisfaction.”

[78:27]  ⁸ tn Heb “and like the sand of the seas winged birds.”

[78:29]  ⁹ tn Heb “and they ate and were very satisfied.”

[78:30]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “they were not separated from their desire.”