Moses

1And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.

A man from the family of Levi married a woman from that same family.

2And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.

She had a baby boy. She saw he was a fine child. She hid him for three months.

3And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river’s brink.

Soon she could not hide him any longer. She made a basket from tall river plants. She covered it with sticky black tar to keep the water out. She put the baby inside. Then she set the basket in the tall grass at the edge of the river.

4And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.

The baby's sister stood far away. She watched to see what would happen to him.

5And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river’s side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it.

Pharaoh's daughter came to the river to wash. Pharaoh was the king of Egypt. Her helpers walked along the water's edge. She saw the basket in the tall grass. She sent her servant girl to get it.

6And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews’ children.

She opened the basket and saw the baby. He was crying. She felt sorry for him. She said, "This is one of the Hebrew babies." The Hebrews were the people of Israel.

7Then said his sister to Pharaoh’s daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?

Then the baby's sister spoke to Pharaoh's daughter. She said, "Should I go get a Hebrew woman to feed the baby for you?"

8And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child’s mother.

Pharaoh's daughter said, "Yes, go." So the girl went and brought the baby's own mother.

9And Pharaoh’s daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it.

Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Take this baby and feed him for me. I will pay you." So the woman took the baby and cared for him.

10And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.

The boy grew bigger. Then his mother brought him to Pharaoh's daughter. The princess took him as her own son. She named him Moses. She said, "I pulled him out of the water."

11And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren.

Moses grew up. One day he went out to see his own people. He saw how hard they had to work. He saw an Egyptian man beating a Hebrew man, one of his own people.

12And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.

Moses looked one way and then the other. He saw that nobody was watching. So he killed the Egyptian and hid the body in the sand.

13And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?

The next day he went out again. Two Hebrew men were fighting each other. Moses asked the one who was in the wrong, "Why are you hitting your own friend?"

14And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known.

The man said, "Who made you our leader and our judge? Are you going to kill me, like you killed the Egyptian?" Moses was afraid. He thought, "People know what I did."

15Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.

Pharaoh heard about it and tried to kill Moses. So Moses ran away from Pharaoh. He went to live in a land called Midian. There he sat down beside a well.

16Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock.

The priest of Midian had seven daughters. A priest was a man who led people in worship. The daughters came to draw water. They filled the water troughs for their father's sheep and goats.

17And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.

Some shepherds came and pushed the girls away. But Moses stood up and helped them. He got water for their animals.

18And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day?

The girls went home to their father, Reuel. He asked them, "Why are you home so early today?"

19And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock.

They said, "An Egyptian man saved us from the shepherds. He even drew water for us and gave it to the animals."

20And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread.

Their father said, "Where is he? Why did you leave him there? Go and ask him to come eat with us."

21And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.

Moses was glad to stay and live with Reuel. Reuel gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses to be his wife.

22And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land.

Zipporah had a baby boy. Moses named him Gershom. He said, "I am a stranger living in a land that is not mine."

1Now 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.

Moses 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.

The 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.

Moses 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.

The 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.

God 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.

God 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;

The 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.

"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.

"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.

"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?

Moses 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.

God 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?

Moses 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.

God 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.

God 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:

"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.

"'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.

"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.

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

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.

"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:

"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.

"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."

1And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.

Moses answered, "But they will not believe me. They will not listen to me. They will say, 'The LORD did not show himself to you.'"

2And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.

The LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?" Moses said, "A rod." It was a long walking stick.

3And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.

God said, "Throw it on the ground." Moses threw it down. It turned into a snake. Moses ran away from it.

4And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand:

The LORD said, "Reach out your hand and grab it by the tail." Moses reached out and caught it. In his hand it turned back into a stick.

5That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.

God said, "Do this so the people will believe me. Then they will know I showed myself to you. I am the God their fathers knew, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."

6And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow.

The LORD said something more to him. "Put your hand inside your coat." Moses did. When he pulled it out, his hand was sick and white as snow.

7And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh.

God said, "Put your hand back inside your coat." Moses did. When he pulled it out, his hand was well again, like the rest of his skin.

8And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.

God said, "They may not believe you or trust the first sign. Then they will believe the second sign."

9And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land.

"They may not believe either sign, or listen to you. Then take water from the river. Pour it on the dry ground. That water will turn into blood on the ground."

10And Moses said unto the LORD, O my LORD, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

Moses said, "Please, Lord, I am not good with words. I never was. I still am not, even now that you have talked to me. I speak slowly, and words come out hard."

11And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?

The LORD said to him, "Who made a person's mouth? Who makes someone unable to speak or to hear? Who makes someone able to see, or not see? I do. I am the LORD."

12Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

"So go now. I will help you when you speak. I will teach you what to say."

13And he said, O my LORD, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.

Moses said, "Please, Lord, send somebody else instead of me."

14And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.

Then the LORD grew angry with Moses. He said, "What about your brother Aaron, from the family of Levi? I know he speaks well. He is already on his way to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad."

15And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.

"You will talk to him and tell him what to say. I will help you both speak. I will teach you both what to do."

16And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.

"He will speak to the people for you. He will be like a mouth for you. And you will be like God to him."

17And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.

"Take this stick in your hand. You will do the signs with it."

18And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father in law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace.

Moses went back to Jethro, his wife's father. He said, "Please let me go back to my own people in Egypt. I want to see if they are still alive." Jethro said, "Go in peace."

19And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life.

The LORD had said to Moses in Midian, "Go back to Egypt. All the men who wanted to kill you are dead."

20And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.

Moses took his wife and his sons. He put them on a donkey. They started back to the land of Egypt. Moses carried God's stick in his hand.

21And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.

The LORD said to Moses, "When you get back to Egypt, do every wonder I gave you power to do. Do them in front of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. But I will make his heart hard. He will not let the people go."

22And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:

"Say to Pharaoh, 'This is what the LORD says. Israel is my son, my oldest son.'"

23And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.

"'I told you to let my son go so he can serve me. You said no. So I will kill your son, your oldest son.'"

24And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him.

On the way, they stopped at a place to sleep. There the LORD met Moses and was about to kill him.

25Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me.

Then Zipporah took a sharp stone. She cut the skin off her son, the way God's people did. She touched it to Moses' feet. She said, "You are a husband of blood to me."

26So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision.

So the LORD let him go. She had said "husband of blood" because of that cutting.

27And the LORD said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mount of God, and kissed him.

The LORD said to Aaron, "Go out to the dry, empty land to meet Moses." Aaron went. He met Moses at God's mountain and kissed him.

28And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him, and all the signs which he had commanded him.

Moses told Aaron everything the LORD had said when he sent him. He told him about all the signs God said to do.

29And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel:

Then Moses and Aaron went and called together all the leaders of the people of Israel.

30And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people.

Aaron told them every word the LORD had said to Moses. He also did the signs where the people could see.

31And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.

The people believed. They heard that the LORD had come to help them. He had seen how much they were hurting. So they bowed their heads low and worshipped.

1And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.

Later Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. They said, "The LORD, the God of Israel, says this: Let my people go. They must hold a feast for me out in the empty desert."

2And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.

Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD? Why should I obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD. I will not let Israel go."

3And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days’ journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the LORD our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.

They said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us walk three days into the desert. There we will give gifts to the LORD our God. If we do not, he may send sickness or war against us."

4And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens.

The king of Egypt said, "Moses and Aaron, why are you stopping the people from working? Get back to your own work."

5And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens.

Pharaoh said, "Look how many of these people there are now. And you want them to stop working."

6And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,

That same day Pharaoh gave orders to the bosses over the workers. He also spoke to the helpers who worked under them.

7Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.

"Do not give the people straw for making bricks anymore. Straw was mixed into the mud to hold the bricks together. Now let them go and find their own straw."

8And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.

"But make them turn in the same number of bricks as before. Do not let them make even one less. They are lazy. That is why they cry out, 'Let us go and give gifts to our God.'"

9Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words.

"Pile more work on the men. Keep them busy. Then they will not listen to lies."

10And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spake to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.

So the bosses and their helpers went out to the people. They said, "Pharaoh says this: I will not give you straw anymore."

11Go ye, get you straw where ye can find it: yet not ought of your work shall be diminished.

"Go and get straw wherever you can find it. But you must still make just as many bricks."

12So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw.

So the people spread out all over Egypt. They gathered dry, leftover stalks from the fields instead of straw.

13And the taskmasters hasted them, saying, Fulfil your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw.

The bosses kept pushing them. They said, "Finish your work each day, just like when we gave you straw."

14And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and to day, as heretofore?

Pharaoh's bosses had put some Israelite men in charge of the workers. Those men were beaten. They were asked, "Why didn't you make enough bricks yesterday and today?"

15Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?

So the Israelite leaders went to Pharaoh and begged him. They said, "Why are you treating us this way?"

16There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thine own people.

"No one gives us straw. Yet they still tell us, 'Make bricks!' Now we are being beaten. But the fault belongs to your own people."

17But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the LORD.

Pharaoh said, "You are lazy! You are lazy! That is why you keep saying, 'Let us go and give gifts to the LORD.'"

18Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks.

"Now go and work. No one will give you straw. But you must still hand over the same number of bricks."

19And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, after it was said, Ye shall not minish ought from your bricks of your daily task.

The Israelite leaders saw they were in real trouble. They had been told they could not make fewer bricks.

20And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh:

They left Pharaoh and found Moses and Aaron waiting for them on the way.

21And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.

They said, "May the LORD see what you did and judge you. You made Pharaoh and his men hate us. Now they have a reason to kill us."

22And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, LORD, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me?

Moses went back to the LORD. He said, "Lord, why have you brought trouble on these people? Why did you even send me?"

23For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all.

"Ever since I spoke to Pharaoh for you, he has hurt them more. And you have not saved your people at all."

1Then the LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Now you will see what I do to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. My strong hand will make him let my people go. He will even push them out of his land."

2And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD:

God also spoke to Moses. He said, "I am the LORD.

3And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.

I let Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob see me as God Almighty. But they did not know me by my name, the LORD.

4And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers.

I also made a covenant with them, a promise I will always keep. I said I would give them the land of Canaan. They lived there as strangers, far from home.

5And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant.

I have heard the people of Israel groaning. The Egyptians are keeping them as slaves. I have remembered my promise.

6Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:

So tell the people of Israel this: I am the LORD. I will take Egypt's heavy loads off your backs. I will set you free from being slaves. I will save you with my strong arm and with mighty acts of judging.

7And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

I will make you my own people. I will be your God. Then you will know I am the LORD your God. I am the one who lifts Egypt's heavy loads off you.

8And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD.

I will bring you into the land I promised long ago. I promised it to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will give it to you to keep. I am the LORD."

9And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.

Moses told all this to the people of Israel. But they would not listen to him. They were worn out with sadness and cruel, hard slave work.

10And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Then the LORD spoke to Moses. He said,

11Go in, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land.

"Go and tell Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, to let the people of Israel leave his land."

12And Moses spake before the LORD, saying, Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips?

But Moses said to the LORD, "Look, the people of Israel will not listen to me. So why would Pharaoh listen to me? I am not good at speaking."

13And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, and gave them a charge unto the children of Israel, and unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.

Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron. He gave them a job to do. They were to speak to the people of Israel and to Pharaoh, king of Egypt. They were to bring the people of Israel out of Egypt.