12. With the tall cloud, you led them by day, and at night you used the column of fire. That is the way you lit their path and showed them where to go.
13. Then you came down to Mount Sinai. You spoke to them from heaven. You gave them good laws. You gave them true teachings. You gave them laws and commands that were very good.
14. You told them about your special day of rest—the Sabbath. Through your servant Moses, you gave them commands, laws, and teachings.
15. They were hungry, so you gave them food from heaven. They were thirsty, so you gave them water from a rock. You told them, ‘Come, take this land.’ You used your power, and took the land for them.
16. But our ancestors became proud and stubborn. They refused to obey your commands.
17. They refused to listen. They forgot the amazing things you did with them. They became stubborn. They decided to return to Egypt and become slaves again. “But you are a forgiving God! You are kind and full of mercy. You are patient and full of love. So you didn’t leave them!
18. You didn’t leave them even when they made golden calves and said, ‘These are the gods that led us out of Egypt.’