38. But God, being compassionate,kept forgiving their sins,kept avoiding destruction;he took back his anger so many times,wouldn’t stir up all his wrath!
39. God kept remembering that they were just flesh,just breath that passes and doesn’t come back.
40. How often they rebelled against God in the wildernessand distressed him in the desert!
41. Time and time again they tested God,provoking the holy one of Israel.