¹⁰ Moses heard the people of every family wailing^(A) at the entrance to their tents. The Lord became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled. ¹¹ He asked the Lord, “Why have you brought this trouble^(B) on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me?^{(C) 12} Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant,^(D) to the land you promised on oath^(E) to their ancestors?^{(F) 13} Where can I get meat for all these people?^(G) They keep wailing to me, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ ¹⁴ I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me.^{(H) 15} If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me^(I)—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.”

¹⁸ “Tell the people: ‘Consecrate yourselves^(A) in preparation for tomorrow, when you will eat meat. The Lord heard you when you wailed,^(B) “If only we had meat to eat! We were better off in Egypt!”^(C) Now the Lord will give you meat,^(D) and you will eat it. ¹⁹ You will not eat it for just one day, or two days, or five, ten or twenty days, ²⁰ but for a whole month—until it comes out of your nostrils and you loathe it^(E)—because you have rejected the Lord,^(F) who is among you, and have wailed before him, saying, “Why did we ever leave Egypt?”’”^(G)

²¹ But Moses said, “Here I am among six hundred thousand men^(H) on foot, and you say, ‘I will give them meat to eat for a whole month!’ ²² Would they have enough if flocks and herds were slaughtered for them? Would they have enough if all the fish in the sea were caught for them?”^(I)

²³ The Lord answered Moses, “Is the Lord’s arm too short?^(J) Now you will see whether or not what I say will come true for you.^(K)”