15. The nations have heard about your power. If you put to death your people all at once, the nations will talk. They will say,
16. ‘The Lord was not able to bring them into the land he promised them. So he killed them in the desert.’
17. “So show your strength now, my Lord. Do what you said. You said:
18. ‘The Lord doesn’t become angry quickly. The Lord has great love. The Lord forgives sin and law breaking. He has great mercy. But the Lord does not forget to punish guilty people. When parents sin, he will also punish their children. He will punish their grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.’
19. Show your great love. Forgive these people’s sin. Forgive them as you have from the time they left Egypt until now.”
20. The Lord answered, “I have forgiven them as you asked.
21. But, as surely as I live, I make this promise. As surely as my glory fills the whole earth, I make this promise.
22. All these men saw my glory. They saw the miracles I did in Egypt and in the desert. But they disobeyed me and tested me 10 times.
23. So not one will see the land I promised to their ancestors. No one who angered me will see that land.
24. But my servant Caleb has a different spirit. He follows me completely. So I will bring him into the land he has already seen. And his children will own that land.