¹⁰ Then Moses told the Lord, “Please, Lord, I’m not eloquent.^[a] I never was in the past^[b] nor am I now since you spoke to your servant. In fact, I talk too slowly^[c] and I have a speech impediment.”^[d]

¹¹ Then God asked him, “Who gives a person a mouth? Who makes him unable to speak, or deaf, or able to see, or blind, or lame? Is it not I, the Lord? ¹² Now, go! I myself will help you with your speech,^[e] and I’ll teach you what you are to say.”

¹³ Moses said, “Please, Lord, send somebody else.”^[f]

¹⁴ Then the Lord was angry with Moses and said, “There’s your brother Aaron, a descendant of Levi, isn’t there? I know that he certainly is eloquent.^[g] Right now he’s coming to meet you and he will be pleased to see you. ¹⁵ You’re to speak to him and tell him what to say.^[h] I’ll help both you and him with your speech,^[i] and I’ll teach both of you what you are to do. ¹⁶ He is to speak to the people for you as your spokesman^[j] and you are to act in the role of^[k] God for him. ¹⁷ Now pick up that staff with your hand. You’ll use it to perform the signs.”