⁸ Lord our God,
    you answered them;
you were to Israel a forgiving God,^(A)
    though you punished^(B) their misdeeds.^[a]

²³ So he said he would destroy^(A) them—
    had not Moses, his chosen one,
stood in the breach^(B) before him
    to keep his wrath from destroying them.

¹⁸ Who is a God^(A) like you,
    who pardons sin^(B) and forgives^(C) the transgression
    of the remnant^(D) of his inheritance?^(E)
You do not stay angry^(F) forever
    but delight to show mercy.^(G)
19 You will again have compassion on us;
    you will tread our sins underfoot
    and hurl all our iniquities^(H) into the depths of the sea.^(I)
20 You will be faithful to Jacob,
    and show love to Abraham,^(J)
as you pledged on oath to our ancestors^(K)
    in days long ago.^(L)