²³ During that long period,^(A) the king of Egypt died.^(B) The Israelites groaned in their slavery^(C) and cried out, and their cry^(D) for help because of their slavery went up to God. ²⁴ God heard their groaning and he remembered^(E) his covenant^(F) with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. ²⁵ So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned^(G) about them.

¹⁰ So now, go. I am sending^(A) you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”^(B)

¹¹ But Moses said to God, “Who am I^(C) that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

¹² And God said, “I will be with you.^(D) And this will be the sign^(E) to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you^[a] will worship God on this mountain.^(F)”

¹³ Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’^(G) Then what shall I tell them?”

¹⁴ God said to Moses, “I am who I am.^[b] This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am^(H) has sent me to you.’”

¹⁵ God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord,^[c] the God of your fathers^(I)—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob^(J)—has sent me to you.’

¹⁰ Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”^(A)

¹¹ The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute?^(B) Who gives them sight or makes them blind?^(C) Is it not I, the Lord? ¹² Now go;^(D) I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”^(E)

¹³ But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”^(F)

¹⁴ Then the Lord’s anger burned^(G) against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet^(H) you, and he will be glad to see you. ¹⁵ You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth;^(I) I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. ¹⁶ He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth^(J) and as if you were God to him.^{(K) 17} But take this staff^(L) in your hand^(M) so you can perform the signs^(N) with it.”