Exodus 33:12-23

Christian Standard Bible

The Lord’s Glory

¹² Moses said to the Lord, “Look, you have told me, ‘Lead this people up,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You said, ‘I know you by name,^(A) and you have also found favor with me.’ ¹³ Now if I have indeed found favor with you, please teach me your ways,^(B) and I will know you, so that I may find favor with you. Now consider that this nation is your people.”^(C)

¹⁴ And he replied, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”^(D)

¹⁵ “If your presence does not go,” Moses responded to him, “don’t make us go up from here. ¹⁶ How will it be known that I and your people have found favor with you unless you go with us? I and your people will be distinguished by this from all the other people on the face of the earth.”^(E)

¹⁷ The Lord answered Moses, “I will do this very thing you have asked, for you have found favor with me, and I know you by name.”

¹⁸ Then Moses said, “Please, let me see your glory.”^(F)

¹⁹ He said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim the name ‘the Lord’ before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”^{(G) 20} But he added, “You cannot see my face, for humans cannot see^(H) me and live.” ²¹ The Lord said, “Here is a place near me. You are to stand on the rock, ²² and when my glory passes by, I will put you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by.^{(I) 23} Then I will take my hand away, and you will see my back, but my face will not be seen.”