37. Their hearts were not really loyal to God;they did not keep his agreement.
38. Still God was merciful.He forgave their sinsand did not destroy them.Many times he held back his angerand did not stir up all his anger.
39. He remembered that they were only human,like a wind that blows and does not come back.
40. They turned against God so often in the desertand grieved him there.
41. Again and again they tested Godand brought pain to the Holy One of Israel.
42. They did not remember his poweror the time he saved them from the enemy.
43. They forgot the signs he did in Egyptand his wonders in the fields of Zoan.
44. He turned their rivers to bloodso no one could drink the water.
45. He sent flies that bit the people.He sent frogs that destroyed them.
46. He gave their crops to grasshoppersand what they worked for to locusts.
47. He destroyed their vines with hailand their sycamore trees with sleet.
48. He killed their animals with hailand their cattle with lightning.
49. He showed them his hot anger.He sent his strong anger against them,his destroying angels.
50. He found a way to show his anger.He did not keep them from dyingbut let them die by a terrible disease.
51. God killed all the firstborn sons in Egypt,the oldest son of each family of Ham.
52. But God led his people out like sheepand he guided them like a flock through the desert.
53. He led them to safety so they had nothing to fear,but their enemies drowned in the sea.
54. So God brought them to his holy land,to the mountain country he took with his own power.
55. He forced out the other nations,and he had his people inherit the land.He let the tribes of Israel settle there in tents.
56. But they tested Godand turned against God Most High;they did not keep his rules.