In spite of all this the people kept sinning; in spite of his miracles they did not trust him. So he ended their days like a breath and their lives with sudden disaster. Whenever he killed some of them, the rest would turn to him; they would repent and pray earnestly to him.
[restrict] They remembered that God was their protector, that the Almighty came to their aid. But their words were all lies; nothing they said was sincere. They were not loyal to him; they were not faithful to their covenant with him.
But God was merciful to his people. He forgave their sin and did not destroy them. Many times he held back his anger and restrained his fury. He remembered that they were only mortal beings, like wind that blows by and is gone. Psalm 78.32-39, TEV [/restrict]