Numbers 14:6-20

New International Version

⁶ Joshua son of Nun^(A) and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes^{(B) 7} and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good.^{(C) 8} If the Lord is pleased with us,^(D) he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey,^(E) and will give it to us.^{(F) 9} Only do not rebel^(G) against the Lord. And do not be afraid^(H) of the people of the land,^(I) because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with^(J) us.^(K) Do not be afraid of them.”^(L)

¹⁰ But the whole assembly talked about stoning^(M) them. Then the glory of the Lord^(N) appeared at the tent of meeting to all the Israelites. ¹¹ The Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt?^(O) How long will they refuse to believe in me,^(P) in spite of all the signs^(Q) I have performed among them? ¹² I will strike them down with a plague^(R) and destroy them, but I will make you into a nation^(S) greater and stronger than they.”^(T)

¹³ Moses said to the Lord, “Then the Egyptians will hear about it! By your power you brought these people up from among them.^{(U) 14} And they will tell the inhabitants of this land about it. They have already heard^(V) that you, Lord, are with these people^(W) and that you, Lord, have been seen face to face,^(X) that your cloud stays over them,^(Y) and that you go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.^{(Z) 15} If you put all these people to death, leaving none alive, the nations who have heard this report about you will say, ¹⁶ ‘The Lord was not able to bring these people into the land he promised them on oath,^(AA) so he slaughtered them in the wilderness.’^(AB)

¹⁷ “Now may the Lord’s strength be displayed, just as you have declared: ¹⁸ ‘The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion.^(AC) Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.’^{(AD) 19} In accordance with your great love, forgive^(AE) the sin of these people,^(AF) just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now.”^(AG)

²⁰ The Lord replied, “I have forgiven them,^(AH) as you asked.