The Golden Calf

32 When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain,^(A) they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods^[a] who will go before^(B) us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.”^(C)

² Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings^(D) that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.” ³ So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. ⁴ He took what they handed him and made it into an idol^(E) cast in the shape of a calf,^(F) fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods,^[b](G) Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”^(H)

33 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath^(A) to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’^{(B) 2} I will send an angel^(C) before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.^{(D) 3} Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey.^(E) But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked^(F) people and I might destroy^(G) you on the way.”

⁴ When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn^(H) and no one put on any ornaments. ⁵ For the Lord had said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people.^(I) If I were to go with you even for a moment, I might destroy^(J) you. Now take off your ornaments and I will decide what to do with you.’” ⁶ So the Israelites stripped off their ornaments at Mount Horeb.^(K)

⁹ As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud^(A) would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke^(B) with Moses. ¹⁰ Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent.^{(C) 11} The Lord would speak to Moses face to face,^(D) as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua^(E) son of Nun did not leave the tent.

Moses and the Glory of the Lord

¹² Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’^(F) but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name^(G) and you have found favor^(H) with me.’ ¹³ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways^(I) so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”^(J)

¹⁴ The Lord replied, “My Presence^(K) will go with you, and I will give you rest.”^(L)

¹⁵ Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence^(M) does not go with us, do not send us up from here. ¹⁶ How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us?^(N) What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”^(O)

¹⁷ And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked,^(P) because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”^(Q)

¹⁸ Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”^(R)

²³ Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”

The New Stone Tablets

34 The Lord said to Moses, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones,^(A) and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets,^(B) which you broke.^(C)