They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image.
Thus they turned their glory into the similitude of a calf that eateth hay.
And they forgot God their Saviour, who had done so great things in Egypt, wondrous works in the land of Ham, and fearful things by the Red Sea.
So he said he would have destroyed them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the gap, to turn away his wrathful indignation, lest he should destroy them.
Yea, they thought scorn of that pleasant land, and gave no credence unto his word, but murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord.
Then lift he up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness, to cast out their seed among the nations, and to scatter them in the lands.
They joined themselves unto Baal-peor, and ate the offerings of the dead.
Thus they provoked him to anger with their
own inventions;
and the plague was great among them.
Then
stood up Phinehas and executed justice;
and so the plague
ceased.
And that was counted unto him for righteousness, among all posterities for evermore.
They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that he punished Moses for their sakes, because they provoked his spirit, so that he spoke unadvisedly with his lips.
Neither destroyed they the heathen, as the Lord commanded
them, but were mingled among the heathen, and
learned their works'insomuch that they worshipped their
idols, which became a snare unto them;
yea, they offered
their sons and their daughters unto devils, and shed innocent
blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters,
whom they offered unto the idols of Canaan.
And the land was defiled with blood.
Thus were they stained with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions.
Therefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.
And
he gave them over into the hand of the heathen;
and they that
hated them were lords over them.
Their enemies oppressed them, and had them in subjection.
Many a time did he deliver
them;
but they rebelled against him with their own inventions,
and were brought down in their wickedness.
Nevertheless, when he saw their adversity, he heard their complaint.
He thought upon his covenant, and pitied them,
according unto the multitude of his mercies;
yea, he made all
those that led them away captive to pity them.
Deliver us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the heathen, that we may give thanks unto thy holy Name, and make our boast of thy praise.
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, from everlasting, and world without end.
And let all the people say, Amen.