17 They refused to listen

and did not remember Your wonders

You performed among them. t

They became stiff-necked and appointed a leader

to return to their slavery in Egypt. u v

But You are a forgiving God,

gracious and compassionate,

slow to anger and rich in faithful love, w

and You did not abandon them.

18 Even after they had cast an image of a calf

for themselves and said,

“This is your God who brought you out of Egypt,” x

and they had committed terrible blasphemies,

19 You did not abandon them in the wilderness

because of Your great compassion.

During the day the pillar of cloud

never turned away from them,

guiding them on their journey.

And during the night the pillar of fire

illuminated the way they should go. y

20 You sent Your good Spirit z to instruct them.

You did not withhold Your manna a from their mouths,

and You gave them water for their thirst. b

21 You provided for them in the wilderness 40 years c

and they lacked nothing.

Their clothes did not wear out,

and their feet did not swell. d

22 You gave them kingdoms and peoples

and assigned them to be a boundary.

They took possession

of the land of Sihon e king of Heshbon

and of the land of Og king of Bashan. f

23 You multiplied their descendants

like the stars of heaven g

and brought them to the land

You told their ancestors to go in and take possession of it.

24 So their descendants went in and possessed the land:

You subdued the Canaanites who inhabited the land before them

and handed their kings and the surrounding peoples over to them, h

to do as they pleased with them.

25 They captured fortified cities and fertile land

and took possession of well-supplied houses,

cisterns cut out of rock, vineyards,

olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. i

They ate, were filled,

became prosperous, and delighted in Your great goodness.