Exodus

Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.

1Moses took care of the sheep of Jethro, his wife's father. Jethro was a priest in the land of Midian. Moses led the sheep far across the desert. He came to Horeb, the mountain of God.

2And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

2The angel of the LORD came to Moses in a flame of fire. The fire was inside a bush. Moses looked and saw the bush burning. But the bush did not burn up.

3And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

3Moses said, "I will go over and look at this strange thing. Why does the bush not burn up?"

4And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

4The LORD saw that Moses came over to look. God called to him from inside the bush. God said, "Moses, Moses." Moses said, "I am here."

5And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

5God said, "Do not come any closer. Take your sandals off your feet. The ground where you are standing is holy."

6Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

6God also said, "I am the God of your father. I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." Moses covered his face. He was afraid to look at God.

7And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;

7The LORD said, "I have truly seen how my people hurt in Egypt. I have heard them crying because of the men who force them to work. I know their pain."

8And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

8"I have come down to save them from the Egyptians. I will bring them up out of that land. I will take them to a good, wide land. It is a land full of milk and honey. The Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites live there now."

9Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.

9"Now the cry of the people of Israel has come to me. I have seen how cruelly the Egyptians treat them."

10Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.

10"So come now. I am sending you to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. You will bring my people Israel out of Egypt."

11And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

11Moses said to God, "Who am I to do this? How can I go to Pharaoh and bring Israel out of Egypt?"

12And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.

12God said, "I will surely be with you. Here is your sign that I sent you. After you bring the people out of Egypt, you will all worship God on this mountain."

13And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

13Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the people of Israel. I will tell them, 'The God of your fathers sent me to you.' Then they may ask me, 'What is his name?' What should I tell them?"

14And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

14God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." God said, "Tell the people of Israel this: 'I AM has sent me to you.'"

15And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.

15God said more to Moses. "Tell the people of Israel this. The LORD, the God of your fathers, has sent me to you. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This is my name forever. This is how people will remember me for all time."

16Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt:

16"Go and bring the elders of Israel together. Elders are the older leaders of the people. Tell them the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, appeared to you. Tell them he said, 'I have come to help you. I have seen what is being done to you in Egypt.'"

17And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.

17"'I have promised to bring you out of your suffering in Egypt. I will take you to the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. It is a land full of milk and honey.'"

18And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.

18"The elders will listen to what you say. Then you and the elders will go to the king of Egypt. Tell him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Please let us go three days into the desert. We want to give offerings there to the LORD our God.'"

19And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.

19"But I know the king of Egypt will not let you go. Only a strong hand will make him do it."

NoteThe old wording says the king "will not let you go." Here "let" means allow. It does not mean stop or hold back.

20And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.

20"So I will reach out my hand. I will strike Egypt with all my wonders. After that, he will let you go."

21And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty:

21"I will make the Egyptians want to be kind to my people. When you leave, you will not go with empty hands."

22But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.

22"Every woman will ask her neighbor for gifts. She will also ask any woman staying in her house. They will give silver and gold jewelry and clothes. You will put them on your sons and daughters. In this way you will carry away the riches of Egypt."

NoteThe old wording says each woman will "borrow" from her neighbor. It really means she will ask for the things and keep them.