出埃及記 33
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
33 耶和華對摩西說:「我曾向亞伯拉罕、以撒和雅各起誓,應許把迦南賜給他們的後代。現在你和你從埃及領出來的百姓要動身去那裡。 2 我必差遣天使走在你們前面,趕出當地的迦南人、亞摩利人、赫人、比利洗人、希未人和耶布斯人, 3 帶你們進入那奶蜜之鄉。但我不會跟你們一起去,免得我在途中就把你們滅絕了,因為你們是頑固不化的百姓。」
4 百姓聽見這壞消息,都非常哀傷,不再佩戴飾物了。 5 耶和華對摩西說:「你去向以色列百姓宣佈,『你們這些頑固不化的人,我就是跟你們在一起待一刻,都恐怕會滅絕你們。現在你們要摘下自己身上的飾物,我再決定怎樣處置你們。』」 6 因此,以色列百姓從何烈山開始就不再佩戴飾物了。
耶和華的會幕
7 摩西通常把帳幕支搭在營外離百姓較遠的地方,摩西稱帳幕為會幕。凡求問耶和華的,都會去那裡。 8 當摩西離營去會幕的時候,百姓就都一同起來,各人站在自己的帳篷門口目送摩西走進會幕。 9 摩西進入會幕後,便有雲柱降下來,停在會幕門口,耶和華就跟摩西說話。 10 每當百姓看見這景象,他們都站在自己的帳篷門口敬拜耶和華。 11 在會幕內,耶和華跟摩西面對面說話,好像兩個朋友談話一樣。然後,摩西返回營中,但他的年輕助手、嫩的兒子約書亞仍然留在會幕。
耶和華的榮耀
12 摩西對耶和華說:「你吩咐我帶領這些百姓,卻沒有告訴我你將要派誰與我同去,只說,『我憑名字認識你,你在我面前蒙了恩。』 13 我若已經在你面前蒙恩,就求你把你的道路指示我,好讓我認識你,繼續在你面前蒙恩。求你顧念這些百姓是你的子民。」 14 耶和華回答他說:「我必親自與你同去,使你平安穩妥。」 15 摩西說:「你若不與我們同去,就不要讓我們離開這裡。 16 你若不與我們同去,誰會知道我和你的子民在你面前蒙了恩呢?豈不是因為你的同在才使我們不同於地上其他民族嗎?」
17 耶和華回答說:「我答應你的請求,因為你在我面前蒙了恩,我憑名字認識你。」 18 摩西說:「求你向我彰顯你的榮耀。」 19 耶和華說:「我必叫你看見我一切的美善,我要在你面前宣告我的名——耶和華,我要恩待誰就恩待誰,我要憐憫誰就憐憫誰。 20 但你不能看我的臉,因為凡看見的,都不能存活。 21 你要站在我旁邊的磐石上, 22 我的榮耀經過你面前的時候,我會先把你安置在石縫裡,用我的手遮掩你,直到我從你面前走過。 23 然後我會收回我的手,你就可以看見我的背,但看不到我的臉。」
Exodus 33
EasyEnglish Bible
33 Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘You must now leave here with the people that you brought out of Egypt. You must take them to the land that I promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I made a serious promise to them that I would give the land to their descendants. 2 I will send an angel to lead you. I will chase the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites out of the land. 3 You will go to that land where there is plenty of food and drink, enough for everyone. But I will not travel with you. You are proud people who refuse to obey me. If I go with you, I might destroy you as you travel.’
4 The Israelites heard God's strong words. His message made them very upset. They stopped wearing their jewels, to show that they were sad. 5 The Lord had said to Moses, ‘Tell the Israelites, “You are proud people who refuse to obey me. If I go with you, even for a moment, I might destroy you. Now remove your jewels. Then I will decide what I should do with you.” ’
6 So the Israelites no longer wore their jewels after they left Sinai mountain.
The special tent
7 As they travelled, Moses put up a special tent outside the camp. It was not near the other tents. He called it the Tent of Meeting. Anyone could go there to ask the Lord about something. They would go to the Tent of Meeting that was outside the camp.[a]
8 When Moses went out to the special tent, all the people would stand at the doors of their tents. They would watch Moses until he went into the special tent. 9 When Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down. The cloud would stay at the door of the tent while the Lord spoke to Moses.
10 Every time that the people saw the pillar of cloud at the door of the special tent, they all stood up. Then each person would stand at the door of his tent. They would bend low to worship the Lord. 11 The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp. But Nun's son Joshua always stayed in the special tent. Joshua was a young man who helped Moses.
God's great glory
12 Moses said to the Lord, ‘You have said to me, “Lead these people to their new land.” But you have not told me who my helper will be on the journey. You have told me, “I know you by your name. I am very pleased with you.” 13 If you are really pleased with me, tell me your thoughts. I want to understand you properly. Then I can continue to please you. Remember that this nation, the Israelites, are your own people.’
14 The Lord replied, ‘I myself will go with you. I will give you rest.’[b]
15 Then Moses said, ‘If you do not agree to go with us, do not let us go anywhere. 16 If you do not go with us, nobody will know that you are pleased with me. Nobody will know that you are pleased with us as your special people. I, and all your people, will be the same as all the other people in the world.’
17 The Lord said to Moses, ‘I will certainly do what you have asked for. This is because I am pleased with you. I know you by your name.’
18 Then Moses said, ‘Please, show me your glory!’
19 The Lord said, ‘I will let you see how great and good I am. I will tell you my name, that I am the Lord. If I choose to be kind to someone, I will be kind to them. If I choose to forgive someone, I will forgive them. 20 But you will never see my face. Nobody can see my face and still be alive.’
21 Then the Lord said, ‘Look! There is a place near to me. You can stand there on a rock. 22 When my glory passes in front of you, I will put you in a hole in the rock. I will cover your eyes with my hand as I pass by there. 23 Then I will remove my hand so that you will see my back. But nobody must ever see my face.’
Exodus 33
The Voice
33 Eternal One (instructing Moses): The time has now arrived. Leave, and take all the people you have led out of Egypt with you. Go to the land I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to whom I said, “I will give this land to your future generations.” 2 I will send a messenger to guide you, and I will force out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and the Jebusites. 3 Travel to the land that flows with milk and honey, the land of your inheritance. However, because you are such an incredibly stubborn people, I will not be going with you. Otherwise, I would completely destroy you during the journey.
4 When everyone heard the dreadful news, they began to grieve and stopped wearing their jewelry to remind them of the calf made from their gold earrings. 5 You see the Eternal One had instructed Moses, “Give the Israelites this message: ‘You are such an incredibly stubborn people, therefore I am not going to travel with you. If I allowed Myself to travel with you for only a moment, I would completely destroy you. Stop wearing your jewelry so I can figure out what to do with you.’” 6 So the Israelites took off all of their jewelry from the time they left Mount Horeb.
7 Moses used to take a tent[a] and put it up far away from the camp. He referred to it as the meeting tent. Everyone who sought the Eternal One would go out to the meeting tent, which was located well outside the camp. 8 When the people heard that Moses was going out to the tent, they would get up and stand at the entrance of their own tents and watch him until he had gone inside. 9 When Moses entered the tent, the cloud pillar descended to the tent’s entrance, and the Eternal would talk with Moses. 10 When people witnessed the cloud pillar standing at the meeting tent’s entrance, they would stand and bow in worship at the entrance of their own tents. 11 The Eternal spoke with Moses face-to-face, just as a friend speaks to another friend. After they were done, Moses would come back to camp but his young assistant Joshua (Nun’s son) would remain behind.
The golden-calf incident creates a deep rift between God and His people. For their safety, God refuses to travel with them to the land of promise; instead, He sends His messenger to guide them. The people’s response to God’s threatened absence is to mourn and refuse to wear their jewelry and fine clothes. The meeting tent and the congregation tent reflect this rift too. The congregation tent is to be God’s unique dwelling with His people, so it is located right in the middle of the camp. But now there is another tent, the meeting tent set up a long way from camp, far from the contagion of evil spreading there. From time to time, God and Moses meet there to talk; and Joshua stands watch over this intimate encounter, for only Joshua and Moses are not imperiled when the rest of Israel violates God’s directive and worships the golden calf. Moses speaks with God and does his best to get God back on good terms with His covenant people.
Moses (to the Lord): 12 Look, You tell me, “Lead these people!” but You haven’t yet told me whom You will send to accompany me. Yet You tell me, “I know you by name, and you have gained My trust and blessing.” 13 If I have gained Your trust and blessing, reveal Your way to me so that I can truly know You, and so that I may gain Your favor. Remember that this nation is Your covenant people.
Eternal One: 14 My presence will travel with you, and I will give you rest.
Moses: 15 If Your presence doesn’t travel with me, then don’t lead us away from here. 16 How will the people know that I have gained Your trust and blessing if You do not travel with us? Isn’t it the very fact that Your presence travels with us that distinguishes us from every other people on earth?
Eternal One: 17 I will do what you have said because you have gained My trust and blessing, and I know you by name.
Moses: 18 If Your presence will go with us, then let me see Your glory!
Eternal One: 19 I will cause all My goodness to pass before you, and I will declare My name, the Eternal One, before you. I will show mercy to whomever I choose to show mercy, and I will demonstrate compassion on whomever I choose to have compassion.[b] 20 You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live. 21 Look, there is a place next to Me on the rock where you may stand. 22 While My glory is passing by you, I will place you in a large crevice of the rock and hide you beneath My hand until I have completely passed by. 23 Then I will remove My hand, and you will see only My back. But you won’t be able to see My face.
Footnotes
- 33:7 Greek manuscripts read “his tent.”
- 33:19 Romans 9:15
EasyEnglish Bible Copyright © MissionAssist 2019 - Charitable Incorporated Organisation 1162807. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.