so you let their enemies conquer and rule them. In their trouble they called to you for help, and you answered them from heaven. In your great mercy you sent them leaders who rescued them from their foes.

The LORD has made a solemn promise, and he will not abandon you, for he has decided to make you his own people.

Our ancestors in Egypt did not understand God's wonderful acts; they forgot the many times he showed them his love, and they rebelled against the Almighty at the Red Sea.

But he saved them, as he had promised, in order to show his great power.

For their sake he remembered his covenant, and because of his great love he relented.

The LORD says, "Israel, remember this; remember that you are my servant. I created you to be my servant, and I will never forget you.

The LORD's unfailing love and mercy still continue,

But I did not, since that would have brought dishonor to my name among the nations which had seen me lead Israel out of Egypt.

But I did not, since that would have brought dishonor to my name among the nations which had seen me bring Israel out of Egypt.

You are merciful and forgiving, although we have rebelled against you.

Listen to us, O God; look at us and see the trouble we are in and the suffering of the city that bears your name. We are praying to you because you are merciful, not because we have done right.

"I am the LORD, and I do not change. And so you, the descendants of Jacob, are not yet completely lost.

With a cloud you led them in daytime, and at night you lighted their way with fire.

During the day the LORD went in front of them in a pillar of cloud to show them the way, and during the night he went in front of them in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel night and day.

The pillar of cloud was always in front of the people during the day, and the pillar of fire at night.

During all their wanderings they could see the cloud of the LORD's presence over the Tent during the day and a fire burning above it during the night.

On the day the Tent of the LORD's presence was set up, a cloud came and covered it. At night the cloud looked like fire.

Whenever the cloud lifted, the people of Israel broke camp, and they set up camp again in the place where the cloud came down.

When the cloud stayed over the Tent for a long time, they obeyed the LORD and did not move on.

Sometimes the cloud remained only from evening until morning, and they moved on as soon as the cloud lifted. Whenever the cloud lifted, they moved on.

they will tell it to the people who live in this land. These people have already heard that you, LORD, are with us, that you appear in plain sight when your cloud stops over us, and that you go before us in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

Then over Mount Zion and over all who are gathered there, the LORD will send a cloud in the daytime and smoke and a bright flame at night. God's glory will cover and protect the whole city.

His glory will shade the city from the heat of the day and make it a place of safety, sheltered from the rain and storm.

I want you to remember, my friends, what happened to our ancestors who followed Moses. They were all under the protection of the cloud, and all passed safely through the Red Sea.

In the cloud and in the sea they were all baptized as followers of Moses.