1Yahweh said to Moses, “Leave here, you and the people you brought out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’
2I will send an angel ahead of you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
3Go to a land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stubborn people, and I might destroy you along the way.”
4When the people heard this harsh news, they grieved, and no one wore their ornaments.
5Yahweh told Moses, “Tell the Israelites: ‘You are a stubborn people. If I were to go among you for even a moment, I would destroy you. So now, take off your ornaments, and I will decide what to do with you.’”
6The Israelites removed their ornaments from Mount Horeb onward.
7Moses used to set up a special tent outside the camp, far away from it, and he called it “The Tent of Meeting.” Everyone who wanted to ask Yahweh for guidance would go out to the Tent of Meeting, which was outside the camp.
8Whenever Moses went out to the Tent, all the people would stand up, everyone at the entrance of their own tent, and watch Moses until he went inside.
9As Moses entered the Tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stand at the entrance of the Tent, and Yahweh would speak with Moses.
10When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the Tent, they would all stand up and worship, each at the entrance of their own tent.
11Yahweh spoke to Moses face to face, just as a person speaks to a friend. Afterward, Moses would return to the camp, but his young assistant, Joshua son of Nun, never left the Tent.
12Moses said to Yahweh, “Look, you tell me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you haven’t told me whom you will send with me. Yet you said, ‘I know you by name, and you have found favor with me.’”
13So now, if I have found favor with you, please show me your ways, so I can know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”
14He replied, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
15Moses said to him, “If your presence doesn’t go with us, don’t make us leave this place.
16How else will anyone know that I and your people have found favor with you, unless you go with us? Your going with us is what sets us, your people, apart from all other people on the face of the earth.”
17Yahweh said to Moses, “I will do this thing you have asked, because you have found favor with me, and I know you by name.”
18He said, "Please show me your glory."
19He said, "I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will announce Yahweh's name to you. I will be kind to whomever I choose to be kind, and show mercy to whomever I choose to show mercy."
20He said, "You cannot see my face, for no one can see me and live."
21Yahweh also said, "Look, there is a place near me, and you will stand on the rock.
22It will happen, as my glory passes by, that I will put you in a crevice of the rock, and will cover you with my hand until I have passed by.
23Then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back; but my face will not be seen."