18. A fire broke out among their company;the flame burned up the wicked.
19. They made a calf at Horeb,and worshipped the molded image.
20. Thus they changed the glory of Godfor the image of an ox that eats grass.
21. They forgot God, their Deliverer,who had done great things in Egypt,
22. wondrous works in the land of Ham,and marvelous deeds by the Red Sea.
23. Therefore He said that He would destroy them,had not Moses, His chosen one,stood before Him to intercede,to turn away His wrath from destroying them.
24. Then they despised the pleasant land;they did not believe His promise,
25. but they grumbled in their tents,and did not listen to the voice of the Lord.
26. Therefore He lifted up His hand against themand swore to overthrow them in the wilderness,
27. and to overthrow their offspring among the nations,and to scatter them in the lands.
28. They joined themselves to Baal of Peorand ate the sacrifices given for the dead.
29. Thus they provoked Him to anger with their acts,and a plague broke out upon them.
30. Then Phinehas stood up and interceded,and so the plague ceased.
31. That was counted unto him for righteousnessunto all generations forever.
32. They angered Him also at the waters of Meribah,so that Moses suffered because of them,
33. because they provoked his temper,so that he spoke impulsively with his lips.
34. They did not destroy the nationsas the Lord commanded them,
35. but they mixed among the nationsand learned their deeds;