17. What kind of return is this for the favors I granted you?When you were hungry and thirsty in the wilderness, you called out to me,
18. "Why did you lead us into this wilderness to kill us? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in this desert."
19. Therefore, I felt sorry for your groans. I gave you manna, and you ate.
20. When you were thirsty, I split open the rock so that water flowed in abundance. Because of the hot sun, I created trees covered with leaves for you.
21. I gave you fertile lands. I drove out Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, and their children before you. What more can I do for you?! says the Lord.
22. The Lord says this: In the desert when you were thirsty at the bitter river and insulting my name,
23. I didn’t become angry. Instead, I cast wood into the water and made the river sweet.
24. What will I do to you, Jacob?Judah, you wouldn’t obey me.I will turn to another nationand give them my name.They will certainly keep my ordinances.
25. When those who abandoned mebeg for mercy,I won’t have mercy on them.
26. When they call upon me,I won’t hear thembecause they have stained their souls,and have hands stained with blood.Your feet aren’t slow to commit murder.
27. You haven’t abandoned me;rather, you have abandoned yourselves, says the Lord.
28. The Lord says this: Didn’t I plead with you like a father with his sons, like a mother with her daughters, and like a nurse who loves her little one,