³ The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt!^(A) There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food^(B) we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”^(C)

Quail From the Lord

⁴ The rabble with them began to crave other food,^(A) and again the Israelites started wailing^(B) and said, “If only we had meat to eat! ⁵ We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic.^(C)

³ But the people were thirsty^(A) for water there, and they grumbled^(B) against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die^(C) of thirst?”

⁶⁷ In the morning you will say, “If only it were evening!” and in the evening, “If only it were morning!”—because of the terror that will fill your hearts and the sights that your eyes will see.^(A)

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

² All the Israelites grumbled^(A) against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt!^(B) Or in this wilderness!^(C)

⁸ Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich!^(A) You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you!

⁷ And Joshua said, “Alas, Sovereign Lord, why^(A) did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us?^(B) If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan!