²⁰ Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened^(A) in his faith and gave glory to God,^(B)

¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight^(A) in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,^(B) in persecutions,^(C) in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.^(D)

¹³ Just as you, Judah and Israel, have been a curse^[a](A) among the nations, so I will save^(B) you, and you will be a blessing.^[b](C) Do not be afraid,^(D) but let your hands be strong.^(E)”

¹³ Where can I get meat for all these people?^(A) They keep wailing to me, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ ¹⁴ I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me.^{(B) 15} If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me^(C)—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.”

¹⁶ The Lord said to Moses: “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders^(D) who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people.^(E) Have them come to the tent of meeting,^(F) that they may stand there with you. ¹⁷ I will come down and speak with you^(G) there, and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them.^(H) They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone.^(I)

¹⁸ “Tell the people: ‘Consecrate yourselves^(J) in preparation for tomorrow, when you will eat meat. The Lord heard you when you wailed,^(K) “If only we had meat to eat! We were better off in Egypt!”^(L) Now the Lord will give you meat,^(M) and you will eat it. ¹⁹ You will not eat it for just one day, or two days, or five, ten or twenty days, ²⁰ but for a whole month—until it comes out of your nostrils and you loathe it^(N)—because you have rejected the Lord,^(O) who is among you, and have wailed before him, saying, “Why did we ever leave Egypt?”’”^(P)

²¹ But Moses said, “Here I am among six hundred thousand men^(Q) on foot, and you say, ‘I will give them meat to eat for a whole month!’ ²² Would they have enough if flocks and herds were slaughtered for them? Would they have enough if all the fish in the sea were caught for them?”^(R)

²³ The Lord answered Moses, “Is the Lord’s arm too short?^(S) Now you will see whether or not what I say will come true for you.^(T)”

⁴⁵ Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

¹⁹ “Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,”^(A) he said. “Peace!^(B) Be strong now; be strong.”^(C)

When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.”^(D)

¹⁶ “After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch^(A) son of Neriah, I prayed to the Lord:

²⁶ Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: ²⁷ “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind.^(AD) Is anything too hard for me?^(AE)

The Appeal Renewed

2 You then, my son,^(A) be strong^(B) in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.