Exodus 33:12-23

New International Reader's Version

Moses and the Glory of the Lord

¹² Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people.’ But you haven’t let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know your name. I know all about you. And I am pleased with you.’ ¹³ If you are pleased with me, teach me more about yourself. Then I can know you. And I can continue to please you. Remember that this nation is your people.”

¹⁴ The Lord replied, “I will go with you. And I will give you rest.”

¹⁵ Then Moses said to him, “If you don’t go with us, don’t send us up from here. ¹⁶ How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and your people? You must go with us. How else will we be different from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

¹⁷ The Lord said to Moses, “I will do exactly what you have asked. I am pleased with you. And I know your name. I know all about you.”

¹⁸ Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”

¹⁹ The Lord said, “I will make all my goodness pass in front of you. And I will announce my name, the Lord, in front of you. I will have mercy on whom I have mercy. And I will show love to those I love. ²⁰ But you can’t see my face,” he said. “No one can see me and stay alive.”

²¹ The Lord continued, “There is a place near me where you can stand on a rock. ²² When my glory passes by, I will put you in an opening in the rock. I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. ²³ Then I will remove my hand. You will see my back. But my face must not be seen.”