Moses

1When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt;

Jethro was a priest in a land called Midian. A priest is a man who leads people in worship. He was the father of Moses' wife. He heard all that God had done for Moses and for God's people, Israel. He heard that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.

2Then Jethro, Moses’ father in law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back,

Moses had sent his wife Zipporah back to her home before this. Now Jethro brought her to Moses again.

3And her two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land:

Jethro also brought her two sons. One boy was named Gershom. Moses had named him that because he said, "I have lived in a land that was not my own."

4And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh:

The other boy was named Eliezer. Moses had named him that because he said, "My father's God helped me. God saved me from Pharaoh's sword."

5And Jethro, Moses’ father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God:

So Jethro came to Moses in the desert. He brought Moses' wife and sons with him. Moses was camping near the mountain of God.

6And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.

Jethro sent this word to Moses: "It is me, Jethro. I am coming to you. Your wife and her two sons are with me."

7And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent.

Moses went out to meet him. He bowed low and kissed him. They asked each other how they were doing. Then they went into the tent.

8And Moses told his father in law all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the LORD delivered them.

Moses told Jethro everything the LORD had done. He told how God dealt with Pharaoh and the Egyptians to help Israel. He told about the hard times on the road. He told how the LORD had saved them.

9And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.

Jethro was very glad about all the good things the LORD had done for Israel. God had saved them from the power of the Egyptians.

10And Jethro said, Blessed be the LORD, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

Jethro said, "Praise the LORD! He saved you from the Egyptians and from Pharaoh. He saved these people from the Egyptians who held them down.

11Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.

"Now I know the LORD is greater than all other gods. He showed this when the Egyptians acted proud against Israel."

12And Jethro, Moses’ father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses’ father in law before God.

Then Jethro gave gifts to God. He burned one gift on an altar and gave other gifts too. Aaron and all the leaders of Israel came. They ate a meal with Jethro in God's presence.

13And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.

The next day Moses sat down to be the judge for the people. A judge helps people settle their fights. The people stood around him from morning until night.

14And when Moses’ father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?

Jethro watched all that Moses did. He asked, "Why are you doing it this way? Why do you sit and judge all alone? Why do the people stand here all day long?"

15And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God:

Moses said, "The people come to me to find out what God says.

16When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.

"When two people argue, they come to me. I decide who is right. And I teach them the rules and laws of God."

17And Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.

Jethro said to him, "What you are doing is not good.

18Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.

"You will wear yourself out. The people will wear out too. This job is too big for you. You cannot do it all alone.

19Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:

"Listen to me. I will give you good advice, and may God be with you. You should speak to God for the people. Bring their problems to him.

20And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.

"Teach the people God's rules and laws. Show them how to live and what work to do.

21Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

"Then pick good men from among the people. Choose men who honor God and tell the truth. Choose men who will not take money to cheat. Put them in charge of groups. Some will lead a thousand people. Some will lead a hundred. Some will lead fifty. Some will lead ten.

22And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.

"Let these men judge the people all the time. They can bring the big problems to you. But they can settle the small ones themselves. That will make your work easier. They will carry the load with you.

23If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.

"If you do this, and if God tells you to, then you will be able to keep going. And all these people will go home happy and calm."

24So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.

Moses listened to Jethro. He did everything Jethro had said.

25And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

Moses chose good men from all Israel. He made them leaders over the people. Some led a thousand. Some led a hundred. Some led fifty. Some led ten.

26And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

These men judged the people all the time. They brought the hard problems to Moses. But they settled the small ones themselves.

27And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went his way into his own land.

Then Moses said goodbye to Jethro. Jethro went back to his own land.

1In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.

It was the third month after Israel left Egypt. On that same day they reached the Sinai desert.

2For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount.

They had left a place called Rephidim. Now they came into the Sinai desert and set up camp. Israel camped right in front of the mountain.

3And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;

Moses climbed up toward God. The LORD called to him from the mountain. He said, "Tell this to the family of Jacob, the people of Israel."

4Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.

"You saw what I did to the Egyptians. I carried you the way an eagle carries its young. I brought you to myself."

5Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:

"So obey my voice and keep our agreement. Then out of all peoples you will be my own special treasure. The whole earth belongs to me."

6And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

"You will be a kingdom of priests for me. Priests are people who help others come close to God. You will be a holy nation, set apart for me. Tell all this to the people of Israel."

7And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.

Moses went back and called for the elders, the older leaders of the people. He told them everything the LORD had said.

8And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.

All the people answered together, "We will do everything the LORD said." Moses brought their answer back to the LORD.

9And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD.

The LORD said to Moses, "I am coming to you in a thick cloud. The people will hear me speaking with you. Then they will always trust you." And Moses told the LORD what the people had said.

10And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to the people. Make them ready for me today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes."

11And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.

"Have them ready for the third day. On that day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai. Everyone will see it."

12And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:

"Mark a line all around the mountain. Tell the people, 'Be careful. Do not go up the mountain. Do not even touch its edge. Anyone who touches the mountain must be put to death.'"

13There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.

"No one may lay a hand on that person. He must be killed with stones or with arrows. Whether it is an animal or a person, it must not live. Only when the horn blows one long blast may they come up to the mountain."

14And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.

Moses came down the mountain to the people. He got them ready for God, and they washed their clothes.

15And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.

He said to the people, "Be ready on the third day. Do not go near your wives."

16And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.

On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning. A thick cloud sat on the mountain. A horn blew very loud. Everyone in the camp shook with fear.

17And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.

Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God. They stood at the bottom of the mountain.

18And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.

Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD came down on it in fire. The smoke rose like smoke from a hot oven. The whole mountain shook hard.

19And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.

The horn blew longer and grew louder and louder. Moses spoke, and God answered him with a voice like thunder.

20And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.

The LORD came down onto the top of Mount Sinai. He called Moses to come up to the top. So Moses went up.

21And the LORD said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish.

The LORD said to Moses, "Go down and warn the people. They must not push past the line to look at the LORD. If they do, many of them will die."

22And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them.

"Even the priests who come near the LORD must make themselves ready. If they do not, the LORD will break out against them."

23And Moses said unto the LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.

Moses said to the LORD, "The people cannot come up Mount Sinai. You already warned us to mark a line around it and keep it holy."

24And the LORD said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the LORD, lest he break forth upon them.

The LORD said, "Go down now. Then come back up, and bring Aaron with you. But the priests and the people must not push past to come up. If they do, he will break out against them."

25So Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto them.

So Moses went down to the people and told them everything.

18And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.

The people saw the lightning and the smoking mountain. They heard the thunder and the loud horn. They shook with fear and backed away, and they stood far off.

19And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.

They said to Moses, "You talk to us, and we will listen. But do not let God talk to us, or we will die."

20And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.

Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you. He wants you to respect him, so you will not do wrong."

21And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.

So the people stayed far away. But Moses walked toward the thick darkness where God was.

1And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the LORD, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off.

The LORD said to Moses, "Come up to me. Bring Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu with you. Bring seventy of Israel's leaders too. All of you must worship from far away."

2And Moses alone shall come near the LORD: but they shall not come nigh; neither shall the people go up with him.

"Only Moses may come close to me. The others must stay back. The people must not come up the mountain at all."

3And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do.

Moses came and told the people everything the LORD had said. He told them all of God's rules. All the people answered together, "We will do everything the LORD said."

4And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.

Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. Early the next morning he got up. He built an altar at the bottom of the mountain. An altar is a stone table for giving gifts to God. He also set up twelve stone posts, one for each family group of Israel.

5And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto the LORD.

He sent some young men of Israel to bring gifts to God. They burned whole animals as gifts to the LORD. They also gave young bulls as peace offerings, gifts that are shared as a meal.

6And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.

Moses took half of the blood and poured it into bowls. He splashed the other half on the altar.

7And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient.

Then he took the book of the agreement and read it out loud to the people. They said, "We will do all that the LORD said. We will obey."

8And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.

Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people. He said, "This is the blood of the agreement. The LORD has made this agreement with you, and these are its words."

9Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel:

Then Moses went up the mountain. Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu went with him. Seventy of Israel's leaders went too.

10And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.

They saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a floor of blue stone. It was as clear and bright as the sky itself.

11And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink.

God did not raise his hand against these leaders of Israel. They saw God, and they ate and drank.

12And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.

The LORD said to Moses, "Come up the mountain to me and stay here. I will give you flat stones. I have written the law and the commands on them. Then you can teach them to the people."

13And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God.

So Moses got up, and so did Joshua his helper. Moses went up the mountain of God.

14And he said unto the elders, Tarry ye here for us, until we come again unto you: and, behold, Aaron and Hur are with you: if any man have any matters to do, let him come unto them.

Moses said to the leaders, "Wait here for us until we come back. Aaron and Hur are here with you. If anyone has an argument, he can go to them."

15And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount.

Moses went up the mountain, and a cloud covered it.

16And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud.

The bright glory of the LORD rested on Mount Sinai. The cloud covered the mountain for six days. On the seventh day God called to Moses from inside the cloud.

17And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.

The people of Israel watched from below. To them, the glory of the LORD looked like a burning fire on top of the mountain.

18And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.

Moses went into the middle of the cloud and climbed higher up the mountain. He stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

1And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

Moses was taking a long time up on the mountain. The people came to Aaron, the brother of Moses. They said, "Get up and make us gods to walk ahead of us. Moses brought us out of Egypt, but we do not know where he is."

2And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me.

Aaron said to them, "Take off the gold earrings your wives, your sons, and your daughters are wearing. Bring them to me."

3And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron.

So all the people took off their gold earrings. They brought them to Aaron.

4And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

Aaron took the gold from them. He melted it and shaped it with a tool into a young cow. The people said, "Israel, these are your gods! They brought you out of Egypt."

5And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD.

Aaron saw this. So he built an altar in front of the calf. An altar is a stone table for giving gifts to God. Then Aaron told everyone, "Tomorrow we will have a feast for the LORD."

6And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.

The next morning the people got up early. They gave burnt gifts and friendship gifts on the altar. Then they sat down to eat and drink. After that they got up and had a wild party.

7And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves:

The LORD said to Moses, "Go down the mountain now. Your people have done a very bad thing. These are the people you brought out of Egypt.

8They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

"They have turned away from my rules very fast. They made a gold calf and bowed down to it. They gave gifts to it and said, 'Israel, these are your gods. They brought you out of Egypt.'"

9And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:

The LORD said to Moses, "I have watched these people. They are stubborn and will not listen.

10Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.

"Now leave me alone. My anger will burn against them, and I will destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation."

11And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?

But Moses begged the LORD his God to be kind. He said, "LORD, why are you so angry with your own people? You brought them out of Egypt with great power and a strong hand.

12Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.

"Why should the Egyptians say, 'He led them out to hurt them'? They would say you killed them in the mountains and wiped them off the earth. Please stop being angry. Please do not bring this harm on your people.

13Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.

"Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, who served you. You made a promise on your own name. You said, 'I will give you so many children and grandchildren that they will be like the stars. I will give all this land to them forever.'"

14And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.

So the LORD did not send the harm he had said he would send on his people.

15And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written.

Moses turned and walked down the mountain. He carried the two stone tablets with God's words on them. Both sides of the stones had writing on them.

16And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.

God himself had made the stones. God himself had cut the writing into them.

17And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp.

Joshua heard the people shouting far below. He said to Moses, "That sounds like fighting down in the camp."

18And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear.

Moses said, "It is not the shout of winners. It is not the cry of people who lost. What I hear is singing."

19And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses’ anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.

Moses came close to the camp. He saw the calf and the dancing. He got very angry. He threw the stone tablets down and broke them at the foot of the mountain.

20And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it.

He took the calf they had made and burned it in the fire. He ground it into powder. He mixed the powder in water and made the people of Israel drink it.

21And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them?

Moses said to Aaron, "What did these people do to you? You led them into such a big sin."

22And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief.

Aaron said, "Please do not be angry with me, my lord. You know these people. They want to do wrong.

23For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us: for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

"They said to me, 'Make us gods to walk ahead of us. Moses brought us out of Egypt, but we do not know where he is.'

24And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.

"So I said, 'Anyone with gold, take it off.' They gave the gold to me. I threw it in the fire, and out came this calf."

25And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:)

Moses saw that the people were wild and out of control. Aaron had let them act this way. Now their enemies would laugh at them.

26Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD’s side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.

So Moses stood at the way into the camp. He called out, "Who is on the LORD's side? Come to me." All the men of the family of Levi came to him.

27And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour.

He said to them, "The LORD, the God of Israel, says this. Put on your swords. Walk through the camp from one end to the other. Kill your brother, your friend, and your neighbor."

28And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.

The men of Levi did what Moses said. About three thousand people died that day.

29For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves today to the LORD, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day.

Moses said, "Today you have been set apart to serve the LORD. You obeyed even against your own sons and brothers. So the LORD will give you a blessing today."

30And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin.

The next day Moses said to the people, "You have done a very great wrong. Now I will go up to the LORD. Maybe I can get your sin forgiven."

31And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.

So Moses went back to the LORD. He said, "These people have done a very great wrong. They made gods out of gold.

32Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.

"Please forgive their sin. But if you will not, then erase my name from your book."

33And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

The LORD said to Moses, "I will erase from my book the one who sinned against me.

34Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them.

"Now go. Lead the people to the place I told you about. My angel will walk ahead of you. But when the time comes to settle this, I will punish them for their sin."

35And the LORD plagued the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made.

The LORD sent a sickness on the people. It came because of the calf that Aaron made for them.

7And 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.

Moses would take the tent and set it up outside the camp, far away. He called it the Tent of Meeting. Anyone who wanted to ask God something went out to that tent.

8And 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.

Whenever Moses walked out to the tent, all the people stood up. Each one stood at the door of his own tent. They watched Moses until he went inside.

9And 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.

When Moses went into the tent, a tall cloud came down. It stood at the door of the tent. And the LORD talked with Moses.

10And 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.

All the people saw the cloud standing at the tent door. Then they all stood up and worshiped. Each one did this at the door of his own tent.

11And 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.

The LORD spoke to Moses face to face, the way a man talks with his friend. Then Moses went back to the camp. But his young helper Joshua, son of Nun, stayed in the tent.

12And 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.

Moses said to the LORD, "Look, you tell me to lead these people. But you have not told me who will go with me. You said, 'I know you by name, and I am pleased with you.'

13Now 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.

"So if you are pleased with me, please show me your ways. Then I will really know you. Then I will keep pleasing you. And remember, this nation is your people."

14And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.

The LORD said, "I myself will go with you. And I will give you rest."

15And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.

Moses said to him, "If you do not go with us, please do not send us away from here.

16For 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.

"How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and your people? Only if you go with us. That is what makes us different from every other people on earth."

17And 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.

The LORD said to Moses, "I will do this thing you asked. I am pleased with you, and I know you by name."

18And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.

Then Moses said, "Please show me your glory. Let me see how great and bright you are."

19And 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.

God said, "I will let all my goodness pass by in front of you. I will say my name, the LORD, out loud to you. I choose who to be kind to. I choose who to show mercy to."

20And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.

God said, "But you cannot see my face. No one can see me and stay alive."

21And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:

The LORD said, "Look, there is a place near me. Go stand on a rock there.

22And 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:

"While my glory goes by, I will put you in a crack in the rock. I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by.

23And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.

"Then I will take my hand away. You will see my back. But my face must not be seen."