And the Lord said to Moses, (A)“Go down, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have (B)corrupted themselves. They have turned aside quickly out of the way that (C)I commanded them. They have made for themselves a golden calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’” And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, (D)it is a stiff-necked people. 10 Now therefore (E)let me alone, that (F)my wrath may burn hot against them and (G)I may consume them, in order that (H)I may make a great nation of you.”

11 But (I)Moses implored the Lord his God and said, “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12 (J)Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your burning anger and (K)relent from this disaster against your people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you (L)swore by your own self, and said to them, (M)‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.’” 14 And the Lord (N)relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people.

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Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt,(A) have become corrupt.(B) They have been quick to turn away(C) from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol(D) cast in the shape of a calf.(E) They have bowed down to it and sacrificed(F) to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’(G)

“I have seen these people,” the Lord said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked(H) people. 10 Now leave me alone(I) so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy(J) them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”(K)

11 But Moses sought the favor(L) of the Lord his God. “Lord,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand?(M) 12 Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’?(N) Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster(O) on your people. 13 Remember(P) your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self:(Q) ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars(R) in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land(S) I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’” 14 Then the Lord relented(T) and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.

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7-8 God spoke to Moses, “Go! Get down there! Your people whom you brought up from the land of Egypt have fallen to pieces. In no time at all they’ve turned away from the way I commanded them: They made a molten calf and worshiped it. They’ve sacrificed to it and said, ‘These are the gods, O Israel, that brought you up from the land of Egypt!’”

9-10 God said to Moses, “I look at this people—oh! what a stubborn, hard-headed people! Let me alone now, give my anger free reign to burst into flames and incinerate them. But I’ll make a great nation out of you.”

11-13 Moses tried to calm his God down. He said, “Why, God, would you lose your temper with your people? Why, you brought them out of Egypt in a tremendous demonstration of power and strength. Why let the Egyptians say, ‘He had it in for them—he brought them out so he could kill them in the mountains, wipe them right off the face of the Earth.’ Stop your anger. Think twice about bringing evil against your people! Think of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants to whom you gave your word, telling them ‘I will give you many children, as many as the stars in the sky, and I’ll give this land to your children as their land forever.’”

14 And God did think twice. He decided not to do the evil he had threatened against his people.

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