² Now there was no water^(A) for the community,^(B) and the people gathered in opposition^(C) to Moses and Aaron. ³ They quarreled^(D) with Moses and said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead^(E) before the Lord!^{(F) 4} Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this wilderness,^(G) that we and our livestock should die here?^{(H) 5} Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates.^(I) And there is no water to drink!^(J)”

⁶ Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting^(K) and fell facedown,^(L) and the glory of the Lord^(M) appeared to them. ⁷ The Lord said to Moses, ⁸ “Take the staff,^(N) and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water.^(O) You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”

⁹ So Moses took the staff^(P) from the Lord’s presence,^(Q) just as he commanded him. ¹⁰ He and Aaron gathered the assembly together^(R) in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?”^{(S) 11} Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water^(T) gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.

¹² But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy^(U) in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”^(V)

¹³ These were the waters of Meribah,^[a](W) where the Israelites quarreled^(X) with the Lord and where he was proved holy among them.^(Y)

² so that you, your children and their children after them may fear^(A) the Lord your God as long as you live^(B) by keeping all his decrees and commands^(C) that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.^(D)

³ Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey^(A) so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly^(B) in a land flowing with milk and honey,^(C) just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised^(D) you.

¹⁶ Do not put the Lord your God to the test^(A) as you did at Massah.