23. 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.
24. Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word:
25. But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD.
26. Therefore he lifted up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness:
27. To overthrow their descendants also among the nations, and to scatter them in the lands.
28. They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices to the dead.
29. Thus they provoked him to anger with their deeds: and the plague broke in upon them.
30. Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed.
31. And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations forevermore.
32. They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes:
33. Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spoke rashly with his lips.
34. They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them:
35. But were mixed among the nations, and learned their works.
36. And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.
37. Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto demons,
38. 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.
39. Thus were they defiled with their own works, and played the harlot with their own deeds.