13. The Lord also said to me, “I’ve seen these people, and they are impossible to deal with.
14. Leave me alone! I’ll destroy them and wipe their name off the earth. Then I’ll make you into a nation larger and stronger than they are.”
15. So I turned and went down the mountain while it was still burning with fire. I was carrying the two tablets with the promise on them.
16. Then I saw that you had sinned against the Lord your God. You had made a statue of a calf for yourselves. You had quickly turned from the way the Lord commanded you to live.
17. I took the two tablets, threw them down, and smashed them in front of you.
18. Once again I threw myself down in front of the Lord. I went without food and water for 40 days and 40 nights because of the sin you committed. You did what the Lord considered evil and made him furious.
19. I was terrified of the Lord’s anger and fury. He was so angry he wanted to destroy you. But once more the Lord listened to me.
20. The Lord also became very angry with Aaron and wanted to destroy him. But at that time I prayed for Aaron, too.
21. I took that sinful calf you made and burned it. I crushed it, grinding it thoroughly until it was as fine as powder. Then I threw the powder into the river that flowed down the mountain.
22. You also made the Lord angry at Taberah, Massah, and Kibroth Hattaavah.
23. When the Lord sent you from Kadesh Barnea, he said, “Go and take possession of the land I’m giving you.” But you rebelled against the word of the Lord your God. You didn’t believe him or obey him.
24. You’ve rebelled against the Lord as long as I’ve known you.
25. I threw myself down in front of the Lord for 40 days and 40 nights because the Lord said he would destroy you.
26. I prayed to the Lord and said, “Almighty Lord, don’t destroy your people. They belong to you. You saved them by your great power and used your mighty hand to bring them out of Egypt.
27. Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Disregard the stubbornness, wickedness, and sin of these people.
28. Otherwise, the country we left will say, “The Lord wasn’t able to bring them to the land he promised them. He hated them. That’s why he brought them out—to let them die in the desert.”