Exodus 33

1 And the Lord said to Moses, Go forward, go up hence, you and your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt, into the land which I swore to Abraam, and Isaac, and Jacob, saying, I will give it to your seed.

Then the Lord told Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you led out of Egypt, and go to the land I promised with an oath to give to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, telling them, ‘I will give this land to your descendants.’

2 And I will send at the same time my angel before your face, and he shall cast out the Amorite and the Chettite, and the Pherezite and Gergesite, and Evite, and Jebusite, and Chananite.

I will send an angel out in front of you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.

3 And I will bring you into a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up with you, because you are a stiff-necked people, lest I consume you by the way.

Enter a land flowing with milk and honey, but I will not accompany you because you are a rebellious people. Otherwise I would destroy you on the way.”

4 And the people having heard this grievous saying, mourned in mourning apparel.

When the people heard these words of criticism, they mourned and didn't put on their jewelry.

5 For the Lord said to the children of Israel, You are a stiff-necked people; take heed lest I bring on you another plague, and destroy you: now then put off your glorious apparel, and [your] ornaments, and I will show you what I will do to you.

For the Lord had previously told Moses, “Tell the people of Israel, ‘You are a rebellious people. If I was with you for just a moment, I would wipe you out. Now remove your jewelry, and I'll decide what to do with you.’”

6 So the sons of Israel took off their ornaments and their array at the mount of Choreb.

So the Israelites took off their jewelry from the time they left Mount Sinai.

7 And Moses took his tabernacle and pitched it without the camp, at a distance from the camp; and it was called the Tabernacle of Testimony: and it came to pass [that] every one that sought the Lord went forth to the tabernacle which was without the camp.

Moses used to set up the Tent of Meeting some way outside the camp. Anyone who wanted to ask the Lord anything could go out there to the Tent of Meeting.

8 And whenever Moses went into the tabernacle without the camp, all the people stood every one watching by the doors of his tent; and when Moses departed, they took notice until he entered into the tabernacle.

Whenever Moses went out to the Tent, all the people would go and stand at the entrance of their tents. They would watch him until he had gone inside.

9 And when Moses entered into the tabernacle, the pillar of the cloud descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and [God] talked to Moses.

As soon as Moses went into the Tent, the cloud column would descend and stand in the doorway as the Lord spoke with Moses.

10 And all the people saw the pillar of the cloud standing by the door of the tabernacle, and all the people stood and worshipped every one at the door of his tent.

When the people saw the cloud column standing in the doorway to the Tent, everyone would stand up and bow in worship at the entrance of their tents.

11 And the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as if one should speak to his friend; and he retired into the camp: but his servant Joshua the son of Naue, a young man, departed not forth from the tabernacle.

Moses would speak to the Lord face to face as you would talk to a friend, and then returned to the camp. However, his young assistant Joshua, son of Nun, stayed in the Tent.

12 And Moses said to the Lord, Behold! you say to me, Lead on this people; but you have not showed me whom you will send with me, but you have said to me, I know you above all, and you have favour with me.

Moses said to the Lord, “Look, you've been telling me, ‘Go and lead these people,’ but you haven't let me know who you're going to send with me. And yet you have stated, ‘I know you personally, and I'm happy with you.’

13 If then I have found favour in your sight, reveal yourself to me, that I may evidently see you; that I may find favour in your sight, and that I may know that this great nation [is] your people.

Now if it's true that you're happy with me, please teach me your ways so I can get to know you, and go on pleasing you. Remember that the people of this nation are yours.”

14 And he says, I myself will go before you, and give you rest.

The Lord replied, “I myself will go with you, and I will support you.”

15 And he says to him, If you go not up with us yourself, bring me not up hence.

“If you don't go with us yourself, then please don't take us away from here,” Moses responded.

16 And how shall it be surely known, that both I and this people have found favour with you, except only if you go with us? So both I and your people shall be glorified beyond all the nations, as many as are upon the earth.

“How will others know that you are happy with me, and with your people, if you don't accompany us? How would anyone tell us apart—me and your people—from every other people who live on the earth?”

17 And the Lord said to Moses, I will also do for you this thing, which you have spoken; for you have found grace before me, and I know you above all.

The Lord told Moses, “I promise do what you've asked, because I'm happy with you and I know you personally.”

18 And [Moses] says, Manifest yourself to me.

“Now please reveal to me your glory,” Moses asked.

19 And [God] said, I will pass by before you with my glory, and I will call by my name, the Lord, before you; and I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and will have pity on whom I will have pity.

“I will make all the goodness of my character pass in front of you, I will call out the name ‘Yahweh,’ I will show grace to those I want to show grace, and I will show mercy to those I want to show mercy.

20 And [God] said, You shall not be able to see my face; for no man shall see my face, and live.

But you won't be able to see my face, because no one can see my face and live.”

21 And the Lord said, Behold, [there is] a place by me: you shall stand upon the rock;

“Come here and stand by me on this rock,” the Lord went on,

22 and when my glory shall pass by, then I will put you into a hole of the rock; and I will cover you over with my hand, until I shall have passed by.

“and as my glory goes by I'll put you in a crevice of the rock, and I'll cover you with my hand until I have passed by.

23 And I will remove my hand, and then shall you see my back parts; but my face shall not appear to you.

Then I'll take my hand away and you'll see my back; but you won't see my face.”