9 Heb “I answered you in the hidden place of thunder.” This may allude to God’s self-revelation at Mount Sinai, where he appeared in a dark cloud accompanied by thunder (see Exod 19:16).
10 The name Meribah means “strife.” Two separate but similar incidents at the place called Meribah are recorded in the Pentateuch (Exod 17:1–7; Num 20:1–13). In both cases the Israelites complained about lack of water and the Lord miraculously provided for them.
11 The words “I said” are supplied in the translation for clarification. Verses 8–10 appear to recall what the Lord commanded the generation of Israelites that experienced the events described in v. 7. Note the statement in v. 11, “my people did not listen to me.”
12 Or perhaps “command.”
13 The Hebrew particle אִם (“if”) and following prefixed verbal form here express a wish ( §109.b). Note that the apodosis (the “then” clause of the conditional sentence) is suppressed.
14 The imperfect verbal forms in v. 9 have a modal function, expressing what is obligatory.
15 Heb “different”; “illicit.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

In distress you called, and I delivered you;

I answered you in the secret place of thunder;

I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah

Hear, O my people, while I admonish you!

O Israel, if you would but listen to me!

There shall be no strange god among you;

you shall not bow down to a foreign god.

I am the Lord your God,

who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.

Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

In your distress you called and I rescued you,

I answered you out of a thundercloud;

I tested you at the waters of Meribah.

Hear me, my people, and I will warn you—

if you would only listen to me, Israel!

You shall have no foreign god among you;

you shall not worship any god other than me.

I am the Lord your God,

who brought you up out of Egypt.

Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

You called out in distress, and I rescued you;

I answered you from the thundercloud.

I tested you at the Waters of Meribah.

Selah

Listen, my people, and I will admonish you.

Israel, if you would only listen to me!

There must not be a strange god among you;

you must not bow down to a foreign god.

I am the Lord your God,

who brought you up from the land of Egypt.

Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

NLTNew Living Translation

You cried to me in trouble, and I saved you;

I answered out of the thundercloud

and tested your faith when there was no water at Meribah.

Interlude

“Listen to me, O my people, while I give you stern warnings.

O Israel, if you would only listen to me!

You must never have a foreign god;

you must not bow down before a false god.

For it was I, the Lord your God,

who rescued you from the land of Egypt.

Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

In this trouble you called, and I rescued you.

Within the secret place of thunder I answered you;

I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah

Hear, O my people, and I will admonish you;

O Israel, if you would but listen to me.

There shall be no strange god among you,

and you shall not bow down to a foreign god.

I am Yahweh your God,

who brought you up from the land of Egypt.

Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.

KJV 1900King James Version

Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee;

I answered thee in the secret place of thunder:

I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah.

Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee:

O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me;

There shall no strange god be in thee;

Neither shalt thou worship any strange god.

I am the Lord thy God,

Which brought thee out of the land of Egypt:

Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

Public Domain