Exodus 33
The Command to Leave Sinai
1Then the LORD said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of the land of Egypt, and go to the land that I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’
1And YHWH said to Moses, “Depart, go up from this place, you and the people whom you have brought up from the land of Egypt, to the land that I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, ‘To your seed I will give it.’
3Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people; otherwise, I might destroy you on the way.”
3Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up among you, for you are a stiff-necked people, lest I consume you on the way.”
5For the LORD had said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I should go with you for a single moment, I would destroy you. Now take off your jewelry, and I will decide what to do with you.’”
5And YHWH had said to Moses, “Say to the sons of Israel, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. In one moment I will come up among you and I will consume you. And now put down your ornaments from on you, and I will know what I shall do to you.’”
The Tent of Meeting
7Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it at a distance outside the camp. He called it the Tent of Meeting, and anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the Tent of Meeting outside the camp.
7And Moses took the tent and he pitched it outside of the camp, far from the camp, and he called it the Tent of Meeting. And it came to pass that everyone seeking YHWH went out to the Tent of Meeting that was outside of the camp.
8Then, whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would stand at the entrances to their own tents and watch Moses until he entered the tent.
8And it came to pass, as Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose, and each man stood at the door of his tent and they looked after Moses until he had gone into the tent.
10When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they would stand up and worship, each one at the entrance to his own tent.
10And all the people saw the pillar of cloud remaining at the door of the tent; and all the people rose and bowed down, each man, at the door of his tent.
11Thus the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young assistant Joshua son of Nun would not leave the tent.
11And YHWH would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, and his minister, Joshua son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the midst of the tent.
The Promise of God’s Presence
12Then Moses said to the LORD, “Look, You have been telling me, ‘Lead this people up,’ but You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have found favor in My sight.’
12And Moses said to YHWH, “See, You are saying to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ and You have not made known to me whom You will send with me. And You, You have said, ‘I have known you by name, and also you have found favor in My eyes.’
13Now if indeed I have found favor in Your sight, please let me know Your ways, that I may know You and find favor in Your sight. Remember that this nation is Your people.”
13And now if, please, I have found favor in Your eyes, make known to me, please, Your ways, and I shall know You, in order that I may find favor in Your eyes. And consider that this nation is Your people.”
16For how then can it be known that Your people and I have found favor in Your sight, unless You go with us? How else will we be distinguished from all the other people on the face of the earth?”
16And by what will it be known then that I have found favor in Your eyes, I and Your people? Is it not by Your going with us, and we will be distinguished—I and Your people—from all the people who are upon the face of the earth?”
19“I will cause all My goodness to pass before you,” the LORD replied, “and I will proclaim My name—the LORD—in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”a
19And He said, “I will cause all My goodness to pass before your face, and I will proclaim in the name of YHWH before your face, and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”