Psalm 78:18–31

¹⁸They deliberately tested God by demanding the food they craved. 

¹⁹They spoke against God by saying, 

“Can God prepare a banquet in the desert? 

²⁰True, he did strike a rock, 

and water did gush out, 

and the streams did overflow. 

But can he also give us bread or provide us, his people, with meat?” 

²¹When the Lord heard this, he became furious. 

His fire burned against Jacob 

and his anger flared up at Israel 

²²because they did not believe God 

or trust him to save them. 

²³In spite of that, he commanded the clouds above 

and opened the doors of heaven. 

²⁴He rained manna down on them to eat 

and gave them grain from heaven. 

²⁵Humans ate the bread of the mighty ones, 

and God sent them plenty of food. 

²⁶He made the east wind blow in the heavens 

and guided the south wind with his might. 

²⁷He rained meat down on them like dust, 

birds like the sand on the seashore. 

²⁸He made the birds fall in the middle of his camp, 

all around his dwelling place. 

²⁹They ate more than enough. 

He gave them what they wanted, 

³⁰but they still wanted more. 

While the food was still in their mouths, 

³¹the anger of God flared up against them. 

He killed their strongest men 

and slaughtered the best young men in Israel.