BOOK V

Psalms 107–150

Psalm 107

Water From the Rock

20 In the first month the whole Israelite community arrived at the Desert of Zin,^(A) and they stayed at Kadesh.^(B) There Miriam^(C) died and was buried.

² Now there was no water^(D) for the community,^(E) and the people gathered in opposition^(F) to Moses and Aaron. ³ They quarreled^(G) with Moses and said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead^(H) before the Lord!^{(I) 4} Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this wilderness,^(J) that we and our livestock should die here?^{(K) 5} Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates.^(L) And there is no water to drink!^(M)”

⁶ Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting^(N) and fell facedown,^(O) and the glory of the Lord^(P) appeared to them. ⁷ The Lord said to Moses, ⁸ “Take the staff,^(Q) and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water.^(R) You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”

⁹ So Moses took the staff^(S) from the Lord’s presence,^(T) just as he commanded him. ¹⁰ He and Aaron gathered the assembly together^(U) in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?”^{(V) 11} Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water^(W) gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.

¹² But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy^(X) in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”^(Y)

¹³ These were the waters of Meribah,^[a](Z) where the Israelites quarreled^(AA) with the Lord and where he was proved holy among them.^(AB)

⁶ Now these things occurred as examples^(A) to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. ⁷ Do not be idolaters,^(B) as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.”^{[a](C) 8} We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.^{(D) 9} We should not test Christ,^[b](E) as some of them did—and were killed by snakes.^{(F) 10} And do not grumble, as some of them did^(G)—and were killed^(H) by the destroying angel.^(I)

¹¹ These things happened to them as examples^(J) and were written down as warnings for us,^(K) on whom the culmination of the ages has come.^{(L) 12} So, if you think you are standing firm,^(M) be careful that you don’t fall! ¹³ No temptation^[c] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful;^(N) he will not let you be tempted^[d] beyond what you can bear.^(O) But when you are tempted,^[e] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.