The Complaint of Moses

10 Now Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, each one at the entrance of his tent; and the anger of the Lord became very hot, and [a]Moses was displeased. 11 (A)So Moses said to the Lord, “Why have You [b]been so hard on Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have put the burden of all this people on me? 12 Was it I who conceived all this people? Or did I give birth to them, that You should say to me, ‘Carry them [c]in your arms, as a [d](B)nurse carries a nursing infant, to the land which (C)You swore to their fathers’? 13 Where am I to get meat to give to (D)all this people? For they weep before me, saying, ‘Give us meat so that we may eat!’ 14 (E)I am not able to carry all this people by myself, because it is too [e]burdensome for me. 15 (F)So if You are going to deal with me this way, please kill me now, if I have found favor in Your sight, and do not let me see my misery.”

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Footnotes

  1. Numbers 11:10 Lit it was evil in Moses’ eyes
  2. Numbers 11:11 Lit treated badly
  3. Numbers 11:12 Lit against your chest
  4. Numbers 11:12 Or foster father
  5. Numbers 11:14 Lit heavy

10 And Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, every man at the door of his tent: and the anger of Jehovah was kindled greatly; and Moses was displeased. 11 And Moses said unto Jehovah, Wherefore hast thou dealt ill with thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favor in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? 12 Have I conceived all this people? have I brought them forth, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing-father carrieth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers? 13 Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat. 14 I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. 15 And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favor in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.

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