¹⁰ But Moses replied to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent—either in the past or recently or since you have been speaking to your servant—because my mouth and my tongue are sluggish.”^[a](A)

¹¹ The Lord said to him, “Who placed a mouth on humans? Who makes a person mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?^{(B) 12} Now go! I will help you speak^[b] and I will teach you what to say.”^(C)

¹¹ Whenever^(A) they bring you before synagogues and rulers and authorities,^(B) don’t worry^(C) about how you should defend^(D) yourselves or what you should say. ¹² For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what must be said.”^(E)

¹⁹ Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness^(A) the mystery of the gospel. ²⁰ For this I am an ambassador^(B) in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough to speak about it as I should.