And all the Israelites murmured ¹  against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died ²  in the land of Egypt, or if only we had perished ³  in this wilderness!

Therefore you and all your company have assembled together against the Lord! And Aaron – what is he that you murmur against him?” ¹ 

“I ¹  am weary ²  of my life; I will complain without restraint; ³  I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

Why do you say, Jacob, Why do you say, Israel, “The Lord is not aware of what is happening to me, ¹  My God is not concerned with my vindication”? ² 

There was ¹  a lot of grumbling ²  about him among the crowds. ³  Some were saying, “He is a good man,” but others, “He deceives the common people.” ⁴ 

Lord, you have always been fair whenever I have complained to you. ¹  However, I would like to speak with you about the disposition of justice. ²  Why are wicked people successful? ³  Why do all dishonest people have such easy lives?

You must not put the Lord your God to the test as you did at Massah. ¹ 

“Does the wild donkey ¹  bray ²  when it is near grass? ³  Or ⁴  does the ox low near its fodder? ⁵ 

Can food that is tasteless ¹  be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white ²  of an egg?

Is my ¹  complaint against a man? ²  If so, ³  why should I not be impatient? ⁴ 

“If I have disregarded the right of my male servants or my female servants when they disputed ¹  with me,

Take heed, do not turn to evil, for because of this you have been tested ¹  by affliction.

Tremble with fear and do not sin! ¹  Meditate as you lie in bed, and repent of your ways! ²  (Selah)

During the evening, morning, and noontime I will lament and moan, ¹  and he will hear ²  me. ³ 

The fishermen will mourn and lament, all those who cast a fishhook into the river, and those who spread out a net on the water’s surface will grieve. ¹ 

“To ¹  what should I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to one another, ² 

Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were complaining, ¹  “Jacob has taken everything that belonged to our father! He has gotten rich ²  at our father’s expense!” ³ 

They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to one another, ¹  ‘We played the flute for you, yet you did not dance; ²  we wailed in mourning, ³  yet you did not weep.’

After all, there was no one in the entire house of my grandfather ¹  who did not deserve death from my lord the king. But instead you allowed me to eat at your own table! ²  What further claim do I have to ask ³  the king for anything?”

The young advisers with whom Rehoboam ¹  had grown up said to him, “Say this to these people who have said to you, ‘Your father made us work hard, but now lighten our burden.’ ²  Say this to them: ‘I am a lot harsher than my father! ³