Yahweh Provides Signs And Help For Speaking

1 Then Moses said, “What if they will not believe me or (A)listen (a)to what I say? For they may say, ‘(B)The Lord has not appeared to you.’”

1 And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.

1 Then Moses answered, “What if they won’t believe me and will not obey me but say, ‘The Lord did not appear(A) to you’?”

1 Then Moses answered, "Look, they won't believe me and they won't listen to me. Instead, they'll say, "The LORD didn't appear to you.'"

1 Then Moses answered [the Lord] and said, “What if they will not believe me or take seriously what I say? For they may say, ‘The Lord has not appeared to you.’”

2 The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” And he said, “(C)A staff.”

2 And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.

2 The Lord asked him, “What is that in your hand?”“A staff,” he replied.

2 "What's that in your hand?" the LORD asked him. Moses answered, "A staff."

2 And the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” And he said, “A staff.”

3 Then He said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and (D)it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it.

3 And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.

3 Then He said, “Throw it on the ground.” He threw it on the ground, and it became a snake. Moses ran from it,

3 Then God said, "Throw it to the ground." He threw it to the ground and it became a snake. Moses ran away from it.

3 Then He said, “Throw it on the ground.” So Moses threw it on the ground, and it became a [living] serpent [like the royal symbol on the crown of Pharaoh]; and Moses ran from it.

4 But the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand and grasp it by its tail”—so he stretched out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his (b)hand—

4 And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand:

4 but the Lord told him, “Stretch out your hand and grab it by the tail.” So he stretched out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand.

4 Then God told Moses, "Reach out and grab its tail." So he reached out, grabbed it, and it became a staff in his hand.

4 But the Lord said to Moses, “Reach out your hand and grasp it by the tail.” So he reached out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand—

5 “that (E)they may believe that (F)the Lord, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”

5 That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.

5 “This will take place,” He continued, “so they will believe that Yahweh, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”(B)

5 God said, "I've done this so that they may believe that the LORD God of their ancestors the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob has appeared to you."

5 [“You shall do this,” said the Lord,] “so that the elders may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has [most certainly] appeared to you.”

6 The Lord furthermore said to him, “Now put your hand into your bosom.” So he put his hand into his bosom, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was (G)leprous like snow.

6 And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow.

6 In addition the Lord said to him, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” So he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, his hand was diseased, white as snow.(a)(C)

6 Again the LORD told him, "Put your hand into your bosom." He put his hand into his bosom and as soon as he brought it out it was leprous, like snow.

6 The Lord also said to him, “Put your hand into your robe [where it covers your chest].” So he put his hand into his robe, and when he took it out, his hand was (a)leprous, as white as snow.

7 Then He said, “Put your hand into your bosom again.” So he put his hand into his bosom again, and when he took it out of his bosom, behold, (H)it was restored like the rest of his flesh.

7 And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh.

7 Then He said, “Put your hand back inside your cloak.” He put his hand back inside his cloak, and when he took it out,(b) it had again become like the rest of his skin.(D)

7 Then God said, "Put your hand back into your bosom." He returned it to his bosom and as soon as he brought it out, it was restored like the rest of his skin.

7 Then God said, “Put your hand into your robe again.” So he put his hand back into his robe, and when he took it out, it was restored [and was] like the rest of his body.

8 “If they will not believe you or (c)heed the (d)witness of the first sign, they may believe the (e)witness of the last sign.

8 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.

8 “If they will not believe you and will not respond to the evidence of the first sign, they may believe the evidence of the second sign.

8 "Then if they don't believe you and respond to the first sign, they may respond to the second sign.

8 “If they will not believe you or pay attention to the evidence of the first sign, they may believe the evidence of the second sign.

9 But if they will not believe even these two signs or heed what you say, then you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground; and the water which you take from the Nile (I)will become blood on the dry ground.”

9 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land.

9 And if they don’t believe even these two signs or listen to what you say, take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground. The water you take from the Nile will become blood on the ground.”(E)

9 But if they don't believe even these two signs, and won't listen to you, then take some water out of the Nile River and pour it on the dry ground. The water you took from the Nile River will turn into blood on the dry ground."

9 But if they will not believe these two signs or pay attention to what you say, you are to take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground; and the water which you take out of the river will turn into blood on the dry ground.”

10 Then Moses said to the Lord, “Please, Lord, (J)I have never been (f)eloquent, neither (g)recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am (h)slow of speech and (i)slow of tongue.”

10 And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

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(c)—because I am slow and hesitant in speech.”(d)(F)

10 Then Moses told the LORD, "Please, LORD, I'm not eloquent. I never was in the past nor am I now since you spoke to your servant. In fact, I talk too slowly and I have a speech impediment."

10 Then Moses said to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I am not a man of words (eloquent, fluent), neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am (b)slow of speech and tongue.”

11 The Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or (K)who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?

11 And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?

11 Yahweh said to him, “Who made the human mouth? Who makes him mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, Yahweh?(G)

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?

11 The Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute or the deaf, or the seeing or the blind? Is it not I, the Lord?

12 Now then go, and (L)I, even I, will be with your mouth, and (M)teach you what you are to say.”

12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

12 Now go! I will help(e) you speak and I will teach you what to say.”(H)

12 Now, go! I myself will help you with your speech, and I'll teach you what you are to say."

12 Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and will teach you what you shall say.”

13 But he said, “Please, Lord, now (j)send the message by whomever You will.”

13 And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.

13 Moses said, “Please, Lord, send someone else.”(f)

13 Moses said, "Please, LORD, send somebody else."

13 But he said, “Please my Lord, send the message [of rescue to Israel] by [someone else,] whomever else You will [choose].”

14 Then the anger of the Lord burned against Moses, and He said, “Is there not your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that (k)he speaks fluently. And moreover, behold, (N)he is coming out to meet you; when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.

14 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.

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.

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. Right now he's coming to meet you and he will be pleased to see you.

14 Then the anger of the Lord was kindled and burned against Moses; He said, “Is there not your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. Also, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be overjoyed.

15 You are to speak to him and (O)put the words in his mouth; and I, even I, will be with your mouth and his mouth, and I will teach you what you are to do.

15 And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.

15 You will speak with him and tell him what to say.(I) I will help(g) both you and him to speak and will teach you both what to do.

15 You're to speak to him and tell him what to say. I'll help both you and him with your speech, and I'll teach both of you what you are to do.

15 You must speak to him and put the words in his mouth; I, even I, will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you what you are to do.

16 Moreover, (P)he shall speak for you to the people; and he will be as a mouth for you and you will be as God to him.

16 And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.

16 He will speak to the people for you. He will be your spokesman, and you will serve as God to him.

16 He is to speak to the people for you as your spokesman and you are to act in the role of God for him.

16 Moreover, he shall speak for you to the people; he will act as a mouthpiece for you, and you will be as God to him [telling him what I say to you].

17 You shall take in your hand (Q)this staff, (R)with which you shall perform the signs.”

17 And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.

17 And take this staff in your hand that you will perform the signs with.”(J)

17 Now pick up that staff with your hand. You'll use it to perform the signs."

17 You shall take in your hand this staff, with which you shall perform the signs [the miracles which prove I sent you].”

Moses Leaves Midian And Returns To Egypt

18 Then Moses departed and returned to (l)Jethro (S)his father-in-law and said to him, “Please, let me go, that I may return to my brethren who are in Egypt, and see if they are still alive.” And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.”

18 And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father in law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace.

18 Then Moses went back to his father-in-law Jethro and said to him, “Please let me return to my relatives in Egypt and see if they are still living.”Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.”

18 Moses left and returned to his father-in-law Jethro. Moses told him, "Please let me go and return to my own people in Egypt so I can see whether they're still alive." Jethro told Moses, "Go in peace."

18 Then Moses went away and returned to Jethro his father-in-law, and said to him, “Please, let me go back so that I may return to my (c)relatives in Egypt, and see if they are still alive.” And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.”

19 Now the Lord said to Moses in Midian, “Go (m)back to Egypt, for (T)all the men who were seeking your life are dead.”

19 And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life.

19 Now in Midian the Lord told Moses, “Return to Egypt, for all the men who wanted to kill you are dead.”(K)

19 The LORD told Moses in Midian, "Go back to Egypt, because all the men who wanted to kill you are dead."

19 Then the Lord said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life [for killing the Egyptian] are dead.”(A)

20 So Moses took his wife and his (U)sons and mounted them on a donkey, and returned to the land of Egypt. Moses also took the (V)staff of God in his hand.

20 And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.

20 So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey, and returned to the land of Egypt. And Moses took God’s staff(L) in his hand.

20 So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on donkeys, and headed back to the land of Egypt. Moses took the staff of God in his hand.

20 So Moses took his wife [Zipporah] and his sons [Gershom and Eliezer] and seated them on donkeys, and returned to the land of Egypt. Moses also took the staff of God in his hand.

21 The Lord said to Moses, “When you go (n)back to Egypt see that you perform before Pharaoh all (W)the wonders which I have put in your (o)power; but (X)I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go.

21 And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.

21 The Lord instructed Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, make sure you do all the wonders before Pharaoh that I have put within your power. But I will harden his heart(h)(M) so that he won’t let the people go.

21 Then the LORD told Moses, "When you set out to return to Egypt, keep in mind all the wonders that I've put in your power, so that you may do them before Pharaoh. But I'll harden his heart so that he won't let the people go.

21 The Lord said to Moses, “When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders (miracles) which I have put in your hand, but I will harden his heart and make him stubborn so that he will not let the people go.

22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, “(Y)Israel is My son, My firstborn.

22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:

22 Then you will say to Pharaoh: This is what Yahweh says: Israel is My firstborn son.(N)

22 You are to say to Pharaoh, "This is what the LORD says: "Israel is my firstborn son.

22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Israel is My son, My firstborn.

23 So I said to you, ‘(Z)Let My son go that he may serve Me’; but you have refused to let him go. Behold, (AA)I will kill your son, your firstborn.”’”

23 And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.

23 I told you: Let My son go so that he may worship Me, but you refused to let him go. Now I will kill your firstborn son!”(O)

23 And I say to you, "Let my son go so he may serve me. If you refuse to let him go, then I will kill your firstborn son.'"'"

23 So I say to you, ‘Let My son go so that he may serve Me’; and if you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your son, your firstborn.”’”

24 Now it came about at the lodging place on the way that the Lord met him and (AB)sought to put him to death.

24 And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him.

24 On the trip, at an overnight campsite, it happened that the Lord confronted him and sought to put him to death.

24 But later on, at the lodging place along the way, the LORD met Moses and was about to kill him.

24 Now it happened at the lodging place, that the Lord met Moses and sought to kill him [making him deathly ill because he had not circumcised one of his sons].(B)

25 Then Zipporah took (AC)a flint and cut off her son’s foreskin and (p)threw it at Moses’ feet, and she said, “You are indeed a bridegroom of blood to me.”

25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me.

25 So Zipporah took a flint, cut off her son’s foreskin, and threw it at Moses’ feet.(i) Then she said, “You are a bridegroom of blood to me!”(P)

25 Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son's foreskin, and touched Moses' feet with it, saying while doing so, ""because you are a bridegroom of blood to me."

25 (d)Then Zipporah took a flint knife and cut off the foreskin of her son and threw it at Moses’ feet, and said, “Indeed you are a husband of blood to me!”

26 So He let him alone. At that time she said, “You are a bridegroom of blood”—(q)because of the circumcision.

26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision.

26 So He let him alone. At that time she said, “You are a bridegroom of blood,” referring to the circumcision.(j)

26 Then the LORD withdrew from him, and she said, ""a bridegroom of blood because of circumcision."

26 So He let Moses alone [to recover]. At that time Zipporah said, “You are a husband of blood”—because of the circumcision.

Reunion Of Moses And Aaron

27 (AD)Now the Lord said to Aaron, “Go to meet Moses in the wilderness.” So he went and met him at the (AE)mountain of God and kissed him.

27 And the LORD said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mount of God, and kissed him.

27 Now the Lord had said to Aaron, “Go and meet Moses in the wilderness.” So he went and met him at the mountain of God and kissed him.(Q)

27 The LORD told Aaron, "Go meet Moses in the desert." So Aaron went, found him at the mountain of God, and embraced him.

27 The Lord said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So he went and met him at the mountain of God (Sinai) and kissed him.

28 (AF)Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord with which He had sent him, and (AG)all the signs that He had commanded him to do.

28 And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him, and all the signs which he had commanded him.

28 Moses told Aaron everything the Lord had sent him to say, and about all the signs He had commanded him to do.

28 Moses told Aaron all of the LORD's messages that he had sent with Moses, and all of the signs that he commanded him to do.

28 Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord with which He had sent him, and all the signs that He had commanded him to do.

29 Then Moses and Aaron went and (AH)assembled all the elders of the sons of Israel;

29 And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel:

29 Then Moses and Aaron went and assembled all the elders of the Israelites.

29 Later, Moses and Aaron brought together all the elders of Israel.

29 Then Moses and Aaron went [into Egypt] and assembled all the elders of the Israelites;

30 and (AI)Aaron spoke all the words which the Lord had spoken to Moses. He then performed the (AJ)signs in the sight of the people.

30 And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people.

30 Aaron repeated everything the Lord had said to Moses and performed the signs before the people.

30 Aaron spoke everything that the LORD had spoken to Moses, and Moses performed the miracles before the very eyes of the people.

30 and Aaron said all the words which the Lord had spoken to Moses. Then Moses performed the signs [given to him by God] before the people.

31 So (AK)the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord (r)(AL)was concerned about the sons of Israel and that He had seen their affliction, then (AM)they bowed low and worshiped.

31 And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.

31 The people believed, and when they heard that the Lord had paid attention(R) to them and that He had seen their misery,(S) they bowed down and worshiped.

31 The people believed and understood that the LORD had paid attention to the Israelis and had seen their affliction. They bowed their heads and prostrated themselves in worship.

31 So the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord was concerned about the Israelites and that He had looked [with compassion] on their suffering, then they bowed their heads and worshiped [the Lord].

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