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)

13 Moses said, “Please, Lord, send someone else.”[c]

14 Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses, and he said, “Isn’t Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, he is on his way now to meet you. He will rejoice when he sees you. 15 You will speak with him and tell him what to say.(D) I will help both you and him to speak[d] and will teach you both what to do. 16 He will speak to the people for you. He will serve as a mouth for you, and you will serve as God to him. 17 And take this staff in your hand that you will perform the signs with.”(E)

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Footnotes

  1. 4:10 Lit heavy of mouth and heavy of tongue
  2. 4:12 Lit will be with your mouth
  3. 4:13 Lit send by the hand of whom you will send
  4. 4:15 Lit will be with your mouth and with his mouth

10 But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but (A)I am slow of speech and of tongue.” 11 Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now therefore go, and (B)I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” 13 But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” 14 Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, “Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, (C)he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. 15 (D)You shall speak to him and (E)put the words in his mouth, and (F)I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do. 16 (G)He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth, and (H)you shall be as God to him. 17 And take in your hand (I)this staff, with which you shall do the signs.”

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