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 Moses heard the people of every family wailing(A) at the entrance to their tents. The Lord became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled. 11 He asked the Lord, “Why have you brought this trouble(B) on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me?(C) 12 Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant,(D) to the land you promised on oath(E) to their ancestors?(F) 13 Where can I get meat for all these people?(G) 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.(H) 15 If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me(I)—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.”

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