1[A Maskil of Asaph.] Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth!

2I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old,

3things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us.

4We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.

5He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children,

6that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children,

7so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments;

8and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.

9The Ephraimites, armed with the bow, turned back on the day of battle.

10They did not keep God's covenant, but refused to walk according to his law.

11They forgot his works and the wonders that he had shown them.