1 Ibandla lonke labantwana bakwa-Israyeli lasuka ehlane laseSini, bahamba ngamabanga njengesiyalo sikaJehova, bamisa eRefidimi; kwakungekho manzi okuba abantu baphuze.
2 Ngalokho abantu baphikisana noMose, bathi: “Siphe amanzi, siphuze.”UMose wathi kubo: “Yini ukuba niphikisane nami na? Nimlingelani uJehova na?”
3 Abantu bomela khona amanzi; abantu bakhonona ngoMose, bathi: “Usikhuphuleleni eGibithe ukuba usibulale, thina nabantwana bethu nezinkomo zethu ngokoma, na?”
4 UMose wayesekhala kuJehova, ethi: “Ngizakwenzani kulaba bantu na? Sekukancane ukuba bangikhande ngamatshe.”
5 UJehova wathi kuMose: “Dlulela phambi kwabantu, uthathe amalunga akwa-Israyeli; nenduku yakho owashaya ngayo umfula, yiphathe ngesandla sakho, uhambe.
6 Bheka, ngiyakuma phambi kwakho edwaleni laseHorebe; uzakushaya itshe, kuphume amanzi kulo, abantu baphuze.” Wenze njalo uMose emehlweni amalunga akwa-Israyeli.
7 Waqamba igama laleyo ndawo ngokuthi iMasa* neMeriba* ngenxa yokuphikisana kwabantwana bakwa-Israyeli, nangokuba bemlinga uJehova, bethi: “Ukhona yini uJehova phakathi kwethu noma qha?”