1 A well-written song by Asaph. Pay attention, my people, to my instruction. Listen to the words I speak. 2 I will sing a song that imparts wisdom; I will make insightful observations about the past. 3 What we have heard and learned—that which our ancestors have told us— 4 we will not hide from their descendants. We will tell the next generation about the Lord’s praiseworthy acts, about his strength and the amazing things he has done. 5 He established a rule in Jacob; he set up a law in Israel. He commanded our ancestors to make his deeds known to their descendants,

1 This is the Lord’s message that came to Joel the son of Pethuel: 2 Listen to this, you elders; pay attention, all inhabitants of the land. Has anything like this ever happened in your whole life or in the lifetime of your ancestors? 3 Tell your children about it; have your children tell their children, and their children the following generation. 4 What the gazam-locust left the ‘arbeh-locust consumed; what the ‘arbeh-locust left the yeleq-locust consumed, and what the yeleq-locust left the hasil-locust consumed. 5 Wake up, you drunkards, and weep! Wail, all you wine drinkers, because the sweet wine has been taken away from you.