We Have Sinned with Our Fathers

Praise the LORD!Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,for his loving kindness endures forever.

Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

The psalm opens with praise and thanks, because the LORD is good and his loving kindness endures forever. The rest of the psalm tests that claim against a long record of failure. The KJV reads: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Also read Psalm 136:1, Psalm 105:45, Matthew 19:17, Jeremiah 33:11

Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD,or fully declare all his praise?

Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? who can shew forth all his praise?

Also read Psalm 40:5, Nehemiah 9:5, Romans 11:33, Psalm 145:3-12

Blessed are those who keep justice.Blessed is one who does what is right at all times.

Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times.

A blessing on those who keep justice and do right at all times. Placed before the history, it sets the standard the people in the story fail to meet.

Also read Ezekiel 18:21-22, John 15:14, Psalm 119:112, Revelation 22:14

Remember me, LORD, with the favor that you show to your people.Visit me with your salvation,

Remember me, O LORD, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation;

Also read Luke 1:68-69, Psalm 119:132, Nehemiah 13:22, Psalm 25:7

that I may see the prosperity of your chosen,that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation,that I may glory with your inheritance.

That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance.

Also read Revelation 17:14, Psalm 105:6, Isaiah 45:25, Psalm 48:11

We have sinned with our fathers.We have committed iniquity.We have done wickedly.

We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.

This verse turns the history into a confession. The speaker does not blame the ancestors alone but says we have sinned with our fathers, joining the present generation to the past.

Also read Matthew 23:32, Psalm 78:8, Jeremiah 3:25, Nehemiah 1:7

Our fathers didn’t understand your wonders in Egypt.They didn’t remember the multitude of your loving kindnesses,but were rebellious at the sea, even at the Red Sea.

Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea.

Also read Exodus 14:11-12, Proverbs 1:22, Psalm 106:45, Deuteronomy 32:28-29

Nevertheless he saved them for his name’s sake,that he might make his mighty power known.

Nevertheless he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.

The first act of mercy in the story. At the Red Sea God saved the people nevertheless, for his name's sake and to make his power known, not because they deserved it.

Also read Ezekiel 20:22, Jeremiah 14:21, Psalm 111:6, Daniel 9:17-19

He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it was dried up;so he led them through the depths, as through a desert.

He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.

Also read Isaiah 11:14-16, Psalm 78:52-53, Exodus 14:21-22, Nahum 1:4

He saved them from the hand of him who hated them,and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.

And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.

Also read Deuteronomy 11:4, Nehemiah 9:11, Exodus 15:9-10, Psalm 136:24

The waters covered their adversaries.There was not one of them left.

And the waters covered their enemies: there was not one of them left.

Also read Exodus 15:10, Exodus 15:5, Psalm 78:53, Exodus 14:13

Then they believed his words.They sang his praise.

Then believed they his words; they sang his praise.

Also read John 8:30-31, Luke 8:13, Exodus 14:31-21

They soon forgot his works.They didn’t wait for his counsel,

They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:

Also read Psalm 107:11, Exodus 16:2, Psalm 78:11, Exodus 15:24

but gave in to craving in the desert,and tested God in the wasteland.

But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.

In the desert the people gave in to craving and tested God. Verse 13 names the root of it: they did not wait for his counsel.

Also read Psalm 78:30, Hebrews 3:8-10, Numbers 11:33-34, Psalm 78:40-41

He gave them their request,but sent leanness into their soul.

And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.

God gave them what they asked for, but sent leanness into their soul. Getting the request did not satisfy them. The KJV has the same wording: sent leanness into their soul.

Also read Numbers 11:31-34, Isaiah 10:16, Isaiah 24:16, Psalm 78:29-31

They envied Moses also in the camp,and Aaron, the LORD’s saint.

They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the LORD.

Also read Numbers 16:1-50, Exodus 28:36, Leviticus 21:10-12, Leviticus 21:6-8

The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan,and covered the company of Abiram.

The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.

Also read Numbers 26:10, Deuteronomy 11:6, Numbers 16:29-33

A fire was kindled in their company.The flame burned up the wicked.

And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.

Also read Numbers 16:35-40, Numbers 16:46, Hebrews 12:29

They made a calf in Horeb,and worshiped a molten image.

They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image.

Also read Exodus 32:4-8, Acts 7:41, Exodus 32:35, Deuteronomy 9:21

Thus they exchanged their gloryfor an image of a bull that eats grass.

Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.

The calf at Horeb is described with open scorn. The people exchanged their glory for an image of a bull that eats grass, a detail that shows how poor the exchange was.

Also read Exodus 20:4-5, Romans 1:22-23, Isaiah 40:18-25, Jeremiah 2:11

They forgot God, their Savior,who had done great things in Egypt,

They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt;

Also read Deuteronomy 7:18-19, Deuteronomy 10:21, Luke 1:47, Psalm 78:42-51

wondrous works in the land of Ham,and awesome things by the Red Sea.

Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red sea.

Also read Psalm 105:27-36, Exodus 15:10, Psalm 105:23, Psalm 78:51

Therefore he said that he would destroy them,had Moses, his chosen, not stood before him in the breach,to turn away his wrath, so that he wouldn’t destroy them.

Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.

God said he would destroy them, but Moses, his chosen, stood before him in the breach to turn away his wrath. The picture is of a man standing in a gap in a wall, in the place where the danger would break through.

Also read Exodus 32:32, Jeremiah 5:1, James 5:16, Psalm 105:6

Yes, they despised the pleasant land.They didn’t believe his word,

Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word:

Also read Hebrews 3:12, Deuteronomy 11:11-12, Jeremiah 3:19, Hebrews 3:18-19

but murmured in their tents,and didn’t listen to the LORD’s voice.

But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD.

Also read Psalm 95:7-9, Numbers 14:1-4, Hebrews 3:7-8, Numbers 14:22

Therefore he swore to themthat he would overthrow them in the wilderness,

Therefore he lifted up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness:

Also read Genesis 14:22-23, Numbers 14:28-35, Psalm 95:11, Hebrews 3:11

that he would overthrow their offspring among the nations,and scatter them in the lands.

To overthrow their seed also among the nations, and to scatter them in the lands.

Also read Deuteronomy 28:37, Psalm 44:11, Deuteronomy 4:26-27, Ezekiel 20:23

They joined themselves also to Baal Peor,and ate the sacrifices of the dead.

They joined themselves also unto Baal-peor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.

Also read Deuteronomy 32:17, Revelation 2:14, Numbers 31:16, Deuteronomy 4:3

Thus they provoked him to anger with their deeds.The plague broke in on them.

Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions: and the plague brake in upon them.

Also read Deuteronomy 32:16-21, Ecclesiastes 7:29, Psalm 106:39, 1 Corinthians 10:8

Then Phinehas stood up and executed judgment,so the plague was stopped.

Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed.

Also read Deuteronomy 13:15-17, Numbers 25:6-8, Deuteronomy 13:9-11, Numbers 25:14-15

That was credited to him for righteousness,for all generations to come.

And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore.

Also read Genesis 15:6, Mark 14:3-9, Deuteronomy 24:13, Numbers 25:11-13

They angered him also at the waters of Meribah,so that Moses was troubled for their sakes;

They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes:

Also read Numbers 27:13-14, Psalm 78:40, Deuteronomy 4:21, Numbers 20:2-13

because they were rebellious against his spirit,he spoke rashly with his lips.

Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.

Also read Psalm 39:1, Psalm 107:11, Genesis 30:1, James 3:2

They didn’t destroy the peoples,as the LORD commanded them,

They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them:

Also read Judges 1:19, Judges 1:27-36, Deuteronomy 7:2, Deuteronomy 20:16-17

but mixed themselves with the nations,and learned their works.

But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.

Also read 1 Corinthians 5:6, 1 Corinthians 15:33, Judges 3:5-6, Isaiah 2:6

They served their idols,which became a snare to them.

And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.

Also read Judges 3:5-7, Judges 2:17, Judges 2:19, Exodus 23:33

Yes, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons.

Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,

This is the lowest point of the history. In the land, the people sacrificed their own sons and daughters to demons.

Also read 2 Kings 17:17, Romans 9:20, 2 Kings 21:6, Ezekiel 16:20-21

They shed innocent blood,even the blood of their sons and of their daughters,whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan.The land was polluted with blood.

And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.

The same act is described again in fuller terms: innocent blood, the blood of their own children, sacrificed to the idols of Canaan. The land itself is said to be polluted with blood.

Also read Isaiah 1:15, Jeremiah 2:34, 2 Kings 24:4, 2 Kings 21:16

Thus they were defiled with their works,and prostituted themselves in their deeds.

Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions.

Also read Exodus 34:16, Jeremiah 3:1-2, Ezekiel 20:43, Hosea 9:1

Therefore the LORD burned with anger against his people.He abhorred his inheritance.

Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.

Also read Judges 2:20, Leviticus 20:23, Deuteronomy 32:19, Judges 3:8

He gave them into the hand of the nations.Those who hated them ruled over them.

And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them.

Also read Deuteronomy 32:30, Judges 2:14, Deuteronomy 28:33, Deuteronomy 28:25

Their enemies also oppressed them.They were brought into subjection under their hand.

Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand.

Also read Judges 4:3, Judges 10:12

He rescued them many times,but they were rebellious in their counsel,and were brought low in their iniquity.

Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.

Also read 1 Samuel 12:9-11, Psalm 106:29, Judges 6:5, Psalm 1:1

Nevertheless he regarded their distress,when he heard their cry.

Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry:

Also read Judges 2:18, 2 Kings 14:26-27, Nehemiah 9:27-38, Judges 3:9

He remembered for them his covenant,and repented according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses.

And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.

Also read Psalm 90:13, Amos 7:6, Psalm 51:1, Judges 2:18

He made them also to be pitiedby all those who carried them captive.

He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives.

Also read Jeremiah 15:11, 1 Kings 8:50, Ezra 9:9, Jeremiah 42:12

Save us, LORD, our God,gather us from among the nations,to give thanks to your holy name,to triumph in your praise!

Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise.

After the history, the psalm becomes a prayer. The speaker asks God to save them and gather them from among the nations, so that the people can give thanks and praise again.

Also read 2 Corinthians 2:14, Psalm 126:1, Psalm 14:7, Ezekiel 39:25-29

Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,from everlasting even to everlasting!Let all the people say, “Amen.”Praise the LORD!

Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD.

The psalm ends with a blessing on the LORD from everlasting to everlasting. All the people are told to say Amen, and the last words repeat the first: praise the LORD.

Also read 1 Chronicles 29:10, Psalm 105:45-1, 1 Corinthians 14:16, Psalm 41:13