14. "And the Egyptians will tell the people who live in Canaan about it. Lord, they have already heard a lot about you. They've heard that you are with these people. They've heard that you have been seen face to face. They've been told that your cloud stays over them. They've heard that you go in front of them in a pillar of cloud by day. They've been told that you go in front of them in a pillar of fire at night.
15. "Suppose you put these people to death all at one time. Then the nations who have heard those things about you will talk. They'll say,
16. "The Lord took an oath. He promised to give these people the land of Canaan. But he wasn't able to bring them into it. So he killed them in the desert.'
17. "Now, Lord, show your strength. You have said,
18. "I am the Lord. I am slow to get angry. I am full of love. I forgive those who sin. I forgive those who refuse to obey. But I do not let guilty people go without punishing them. I punish the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren for the sin of their parents.'
19. "Lord, your love is great. So forgive the sin of these people. Forgive them just as you have done from the time they left Egypt until now."
20. The Lord replied, "I have forgiven them, just as you asked.
21. You can be sure that I live. You can be sure that my glory fills the whole earth.
22. "And you can be just as sure that these men will not see the land I promised to give them. They have seen my glory. They have seen the miraculous signs I did in Egypt. And they have seen what I did in the desert. But they did not obey me. And they have put me to the test ten times.
23. So not even one of them will ever see the land I promised with an oath to give to their people of long ago. No one who has made fun of me will ever see it.
24. "But my servant Caleb has a different spirit. He follows me with his whole heart. So I will bring him into the land he went to. And his children after him will receive land there.
25. "The Amalekites and Canaanites are living in the valleys. So turn back tomorrow. Start out toward the desert. Go along the way that leads to the Red Sea."
26. The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron. He said,
27. "How long will this evil community speak against me? I have heard these Israelites talk about how unhappy they are.
28. So tell them, 'Here is what I, the Lord, am announcing. You can be sure that I live. And you can be just as sure that I will do to you the very things that I heard you say.