33 Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘You must now leave here with the people that you brought out of Egypt. You must take them to the land that I promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I made a serious promise to them that I would give the land to their descendants. 2 I will send an angel to lead you. I will chase the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites out of the land. 3 You will go to that land where there is plenty of food and drink, enough for everyone. But I will not travel with you. You are proud people who refuse to obey me. If I go with you, I might destroy you as you travel.’
4 The Israelites heard God's strong words. His message made them very upset. They stopped wearing their jewels, to show that they were sad. 5 The Lord had said to Moses, ‘Tell the Israelites, “You are proud people who refuse to obey me. If I go with you, even for a moment, I might destroy you. Now remove your jewels. Then I will decide what I should do with you.” ’
6 So the Israelites no longer wore their jewels after they left Sinai mountain.
7 As they travelled, Moses put up a special tent outside the camp. It was not near the other tents. He called it the Tent of Meeting. Anyone could go there to ask the Lord about something. They would go to the Tent of Meeting that was outside the camp. [ a ]
8 When Moses went out to the special tent, all the people would stand at the doors of their tents. They would watch Moses until he went into the special tent. 9 When Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down. The cloud would stay at the door of the tent while the Lord spoke to Moses.
10 Every time that the people saw the pillar of cloud at the door of the special tent, they all stood up. Then each person would stand at the door of his tent. They would bend low to worship the Lord . 11 The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp. But Nun's son Joshua always stayed in the special tent. Joshua was a young man who helped Moses.
12 Moses said to the Lord , ‘You have said to me, “Lead these people to their new land.” But you have not told me who my helper will be on the journey. You have told me, “I know you by your name. I am very pleased with you.” 13 If you are really pleased with me, tell me your thoughts. I want to understand you properly. Then I can continue to please you. Remember that this nation, the Israelites, are your own people.’
14 The Lord replied, ‘I myself will go with you. I will give you rest.’ [ b ]
15 Then Moses said, ‘If you do not agree to go with us, do not let us go anywhere. 16 If you do not go with us, nobody will know that you are pleased with me. Nobody will know that you are pleased with us as your special people. I, and all your people, will be the same as all the other people in the world.’
17 The Lord said to Moses, ‘I will certainly do what you have asked for. This is because I am pleased with you. I know you by your name.’
18 Then Moses said, ‘Please, show me your glory!’
19 The Lord said, ‘I will let you see how great and good I am. I will tell you my name, that I am the Lord . If I choose to be kind to someone, I will be kind to them. If I choose to forgive someone, I will forgive them. 20 But you will never see my face. Nobody can see my face and still be alive.’
21 Then the Lord said, ‘Look! There is a place near to me. You can stand there on a rock. 22 When my glory passes in front of you, I will put you in a hole in the rock. I will cover your eyes with my hand as I pass by there. 23 Then I will remove my hand so that you will see my back. But nobody must ever see my face.’
33 Then the Lord said to Moses, “You and the people you brought out of Egypt must leave this place. Go to the land that I promised to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I promised them that I would give that land to their descendants. 2 So I will send an angel to go before you, and I will defeat the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. I will force them to leave your land. 3 So go to the land filled with many good things, [ a ] but I will not go with you. You people are very stubborn. If I go with you, I might destroy you along the way.”
4 The people heard this bad news and became very sad, so they stopped wearing jewelry. 5 This was because the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stubborn people. I might destroy you even if I travel with you only a short time. So take off all your jewelry while I decide [ b ] what to do with you.’” 6 So the Israelites stopped wearing their jewelry at Mount Horeb.
7 Moses used to take a tent a short way outside the camp. He called it “the meeting tent. [ c ] ” Anyone who wanted to ask something from the Lord would go to the meeting tent outside the camp. 8 Any time Moses went out to the tent, all the people watched him. They stood at the entrance of their tents and watched Moses until he entered the meeting tent. 9 Whenever Moses went into the tent, the tall cloud would come down and stay at the entrance to the tent. And the Lord would speak with Moses. 10 So when the people saw the cloud at the entrance of the tent, they would go to the entrance of their own tents and bow down to worship God.
11 In this way the Lord spoke to Moses face to face like a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would go back to the camp, but his helper, Joshua son of Nun, always stayed in the tent.
12 Moses said to the Lord , “You told me to lead these people, but you did not say who you would send with me. You said to me, ‘I know you very well, and I am pleased with you.’ 13 If I have really pleased you, then teach me your ways. I want to know you. Then I can continue to please you. Remember that these people are your nation.”
14 The Lord answered, “I myself will go with you. I will lead you.” [ d ]
15 Then Moses said to him, “If you don’t go with us, then don’t make us leave this place. 16 Also, how will we know if you are pleased with me and these people? If you go with us, we will know for sure. If you don’t go with us, these people and I will be no different from any other people on the earth.”
17 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will do what you ask. I will do this because I am pleased with you and because I know you very well.” [ e ]
18 Then Moses said, “Now, please show me your Glory.”
19 Then the Lord answered, “I will show my love and mercy to anyone I want to. So I will cause my perfect goodness to pass by in front of you, and I will speak my name, Yahweh , so that you can hear it. 20 But you cannot see my face. No one can see me and continue to live.”
21 Then the Lord said, “Here is a place for you to stand by me on this large rock. 22 I will put you in a large crack in that rock. Then I will cover you with my hand, and my Glory will pass by. 23 Then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back. But you will not see my face.”
33 And the Lord said unto Moses, Depart, and go up hence, thou and the people which thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land which I sware unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, Unto thy seed will I give it:
2 And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:
3 Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way.
4 And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned: and no man did put on him his ornaments.
5 For the Lord had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee.
6 And the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by the mount Horeb.
7 And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the Lord went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp.
8 And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the tabernacle, that all the people rose up, and stood every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the tabernacle.
9 And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses.
10 And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door.
11 And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.
12 And Moses said unto the Lord , See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight.
13 Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.
14 And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.
15 And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.
16 For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.
17 And the Lord said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.
18 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.
19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.
20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.
21 And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:
22 And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:
23 And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.
33 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, “Depart, go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought up from the land of Egypt, to the land of which ( A ) I swore to Abraham, ( B ) Isaac, and ( C ) Jacob, saying, ‘ ( D ) To your [ a ] descendants I will give it.’ 2 And I will send ( E ) an angel before you and ( F ) I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. 3 Go up to a land ( G ) flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, because you are [ b ] ( H ) an obstinate people, and ( I ) I might destroy you on the way.”
4 When the people heard this [ c ] sad word, ( J ) they went into mourning, and none of them put on his jewelry. 5 For the Lord had said to Moses, “Say to the sons of Israel, ‘You are [ d ] ( K ) an obstinate people; if I [ e ] were to go up in your midst for just one moment, I would destroy you. So now, take off your [ f ] jewelry that I may know what I shall do to you.’” 6 So the sons of Israel stripped themselves of their jewelry, from Mount Horeb onward .
7 Now Moses used to take ( L ) the tent and pitch it outside the camp, a good distance from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And ( M ) everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting which was outside the camp. 8 And it came about, whenever Moses went out to the tent, that all the people would arise and stand, each at the entrance of his tent, and gaze after Moses until he entered the tent. 9 Whenever Moses entered the tent, ( N ) the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent; ( O ) and [ g ] the Lord would speak with Moses. 10 When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would stand and worship, each at the entrance of his tent. 11 So ( P ) the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. When [ h ] Moses returned to the camp, ( Q ) his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.
12 Then Moses said to the Lord , “See, You say to me, ‘ ( R ) Bring up this people!’ But You Yourself have not let me know ( S ) whom You will send with me. ( T ) Moreover, You have said, ‘I have known you by name, and you have also found favor in My sight.’ 13 Now then, if I have found favor in Your sight in any way, please ( U ) let me know Your ways so that I may know You, in order that I may find favor in Your sight. ( V ) Consider too, that this nation is Your people.” 14 And He said, “ ( W ) My presence shall go with you , and ( X ) I will give you rest.” 15 Then he said to Him, “ ( Y ) If Your presence does not go with us , do not lead us up from here. 16 For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Is it not by Your going with us, so that ( Z ) we, I and Your people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are on the face of the [ i ] earth?”
17 The Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing of which you have spoken; ( AA ) for you have found favor in My sight and I have known you by name.” 18 ( AB ) Then Moses said, “Please, show me Your glory!” 19 And He said, “ ( AC ) I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you; and ( AD ) I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion to whom I will show compassion.” 20 He further said, “You cannot see My face, ( AE ) for mankind shall not see Me and live!” 21 Then the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place [ j ] by Me, and ( AF ) you shall stand there on the rock; 22 and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and ( AG ) cover you with My hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but ( AH ) My face shall not be seen.”
33 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath ( A ) to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ ( B ) 2 I will send an angel ( C ) before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. ( D ) 3 Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. ( E ) But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked ( F ) people and I might destroy ( G ) you on the way.”
4 When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn ( H ) and no one put on any ornaments. 5 For the Lord had said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. ( I ) If I were to go with you even for a moment, I might destroy ( J ) you. Now take off your ornaments and I will decide what to do with you.’” 6 So the Israelites stripped off their ornaments at Mount Horeb. ( K )
7 Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.” ( L ) Anyone inquiring ( M ) of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. 8 And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, ( N ) watching Moses until he entered the tent. 9 As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud ( O ) would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke ( P ) with Moses. 10 Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent. ( Q ) 11 The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, ( R ) as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua ( S ) son of Nun did not leave the tent.
12 Moses said to the Lord , “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ ( T ) but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name ( U ) and you have found favor ( V ) with me.’ 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways ( W ) so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” ( X )
14 The Lord replied, “My Presence ( Y ) will go with you, and I will give you rest.” ( Z )
15 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence ( AA ) does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? ( AB ) What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” ( AC )
17 And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, ( AD ) because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” ( AE )
18 Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” ( AF )
19 And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass ( AG ) in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, ( AH ) the Lord , in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. ( AI ) 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see ( AJ ) me and live.”
21 Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock ( AK ) and cover you with my hand ( AL ) until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”
