¹⁷ They sacrificed to demons, not God,
to gods they had not known,
new gods that had just arrived,
which your fathers did not fear.^(A)

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,”^(A)
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.^(B)
20 You sent Your good Spirit^(C) to instruct them.
You did not withhold Your manna^(D) from their mouths,
and You gave them water for their thirst.^(E)
21 You provided for them in the wilderness 40 years^(F)
and they lacked nothing.
Their clothes did not wear out,
and their feet did not swell.^(G)