Do not hardenyour hearts,as at Meribah,As in the dayof Massahin the wilderness,
Therefore the peoplequarreledwith Mosesand said,"Giveus waterthat we may drink."And Mosessaidto them, "Whydo you quarrelwith me? Whydo you testthe LORD?"
He namedthe placeMassahand Meribahbecauseof the quarrelof the sonsof Israel,and becausethey testedthe LORD,saying,"Is the LORDamongus, ornot?"
But when Pharaohsawthat there was relief,he hardenedhis heartand did not listento them, as the LORDhad said.
"But whenhis heartwas liftedup and his spiritbecameso proudthat he behavedarrogantly,he was deposedfrom his royalthroneand [his] glorywas takenawayfrom him.
The LORDsaidto Moses,"Howlongwill thispeoplespurnMe? And howlongwill they not believein Me, despite allthe signswhichI have performedin their midst?
"Surelyallthe menwho have seenMy gloryand My signswhichI performedin Egyptand in the wilderness,yet have putMe to the testthesetentimesand have not listenedto My voice,
"Howlong[shall I bear] with thisevilcongregationwhoare grumblingagainstMe? I have heardthe complaintsof the sonsof Israel,whichthey are makingagainstMe.
Those[were] the watersof Meribah,becausethe sonsof Israelcontendedwith the LORD,and He provedHimself holyamong them.
But whensomewere becoming hardenedand disobedient,speaking evilof the Waybeforethe people,he withdrewfrom them and took awaythe disciples,reasoningdailyin the schoolof Tyrannus.
But becauseof your stubbornnessand unrepentantheartyou are storingup wrathfor yourselfin the dayof wrathand revelationof the righteous judgmentof God,
"You shall not putthe LORDyour Godto the test,as you tested[Him] at Massah.
Seeto it that you do not refuseHim who is speaking.For ifthosedid not escapewhen they refusedhim who warned[them] on earth,muchless[will] we [escape] who turn awayfrom Him who [warns] from heaven.
But encourageone anotherdayafterday,as longas it is [still] called"Today,"sothat noneof you will be hardenedby the deceitfulnessof sin.
NowI desireto remindyou, though you knowall thingsonce for all,that the Lord,after savinga peopleout of the landof Egypt,subsequentlydestroyedthosewho did not believe.
"Whythen do you hardenyour heartsas the Egyptiansand Pharaohhardenedtheir hearts?WhenHe had severelydealtwith them, did they not allow the people to go,and they departed?
