² So the people complained to Moses, “Give us water to drink.”

“Why are you complaining to me?” Moses replied to them. “Why are you testing^(A) the Lord?”

⁷ He named the place Massah^[a] and Meribah^[b](A) because the Israelites complained, and because they tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

⁵ Nevertheless God was not pleased with most of them, since they were struck down in the wilderness.^(A)

⁶ Now these things took place as examples for us, so that we will not desire^(B) evil things as they did.^{[a](C) 7} Don’t become idolaters^(D) as some of them were; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to party.^{[b][c](E) 8} Let us not commit sexual immorality^(F) as some of them did,^[d] and in a single day twenty-three thousand people died.^{(G) 9} Let us not test Christ as some of them did^[e] and were destroyed by snakes.^{(H) 10} And don’t grumble^(I) as some of them did,^[f](J) and were killed by the destroyer.^[g](K)