起程的吩咐
耶和华吩咐摩西说：“去，离开这里，你和你从埃及地领出来的百姓要上到我起誓应许给亚伯拉罕、以撒和雅各之地去；我曾对他们说：‘我要将这地赐给你的后裔’。
And the LORD said unto Moses, Depart, and go up hence, thou and the people which thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land which I sware unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, Unto thy seed will I give it:
2我要差遣使者在你前面，把迦南人、亚摩利人、赫人、比利洗人、希未人、耶布斯人赶出And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:
3那流奶与蜜之地。但我不与你们上去，因为你们是硬着颈项的百姓，免得我在路上把你们灭绝。”Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way.
4百姓一听见这坏的信息，他们就悲哀，没有人佩戴首饰。And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned: and no man did put on him his ornaments.
5耶和华对摩西说：“你对以色列人说：‘你们是硬着颈项的百姓，我若在你们中间一起上去，只一瞬间，就必把你们灭绝。现在把你们身上的首饰摘下来，我好知道该怎样处置你们。’”For the LORD had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee.
6以色列人离开何烈山以后，就把身上的首饰摘下来。And the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by the mount Horeb.
摩西进会幕
7摩西拿一个帐棚支搭在营外，离营有一段距离，他称这帐棚为会幕。凡求问耶和华的，就到营外的会幕那里去。And 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.
8当摩西出营到会幕去的时候，百姓就都起来，各人站在自己帐棚的门口，望着摩西，直到他进了会幕。And 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.
9摩西进会幕的时候，云柱就降下来，停在会幕的门前，耶和华就与摩西说话。And 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.
10众百姓看见云柱停在会幕的门前，就都起来，各人在自己帐棚的门口下拜。And 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.
11耶和华与摩西面对面说话，好像人与朋友说话。摩西回到营里去，他的年轻助手嫩的儿子约书亚却没有离开会幕。And 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.
耶和华应许跟百姓同去
12摩西对耶和华说：“看，你曾对我说：‘将这百姓领上去’；却没有让我知道你要差派谁与我同去。你还说：‘我按你的名认识你，你也在我眼前蒙了恩。’And 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.
13我如今若在你眼前蒙恩，求你将你的道指示我，使我可以认识你，并在你眼前蒙恩。求你顾念这国是你的子民。”Now 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.
14耶和华说：“我必亲自去，让你安心。”And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.
15摩西说：“你若不亲自去，就不要把我们从这里领上去。And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.
16现在，人如何得知我和你的百姓在你眼前蒙恩呢？岂不是因为你与我们同去，使我和你的百姓与地面上的万民有分别吗？”For 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.
17耶和华对摩西说：“你所说的这件事，我也会去做，因为你在我眼前蒙了恩，并且我按你的名认识你。”And 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.
18摩西说：“求你显出你的荣耀给我看。”And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.
19耶和华说：“我要显示我一切的美善，在你面前经过，并要在你面前宣告耶和华的名。我要恩待谁就恩待谁，要怜悯谁就怜悯谁。”And 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.
20他又说：“只是你不能看见我的面，因为没有人看见我还可以存活。”And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.
21耶和华说：“看哪，靠近我这里有个地方，你可以站在这磐石上。And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:
22当我的荣耀经过的时候，我必将你放在磐石缝里，用我的手掌遮掩你，等我过去，And 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:
23然后我要将我的手掌收回，你就可以看见我的背，却看不到我的面。”And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.