Exodus 33 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

Yahweh told Moses, "Get moving — you and the people you brought up from Egypt. Head toward the land I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, 'I will give it to your descendants.'

I'll send an angel ahead of you, and I'll drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.

Go to that land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you myself, because you are a stubborn people, and I might destroy you on the way."

When the people heard this devastating news, they grieved deeply, and no one put on any jewelry.

Yahweh had told Moses, "Tell the Israelites: 'You are a stubborn people. If I went with you even for a moment, I might destroy you. So take off your jewelry, and I'll decide what to do with you.'"

So from Mount Horeb onward, the Israelites stripped off their jewelry.

Moses would take the tent and set it up outside the camp, a good distance away, and he called it the "Tent of Meeting." Anyone who wanted to ask something of Yahweh would go out to the Tent of Meeting, outside the camp.

Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would stand at their own tent entrances and watch Moses until he disappeared inside.

As Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stand at the tent's entrance while Yahweh spoke with Moses.

When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tent's entrance, they would each stand and bow low at their own tent entrance.

Yahweh would speak to Moses face to face, the way someone talks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young assistant Joshua son of Nun stayed at the tent and never left it.

Moses said to Yahweh, "Look, you keep telling me, 'Lead this people forward,' but you haven't told me who you're sending with me. You've said, 'I know you by name, and you have my favor.'

So if I really do have your favor, show me your ways so I can truly know you and continue in your favor. And remember — this nation is your people."

Yahweh answered, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

Moses replied, "If your presence isn't going with us, don't send us from here.

How will anyone know that I have your favor — that your people and I have your favor — unless you go with us? That's the only thing that sets us apart from every other nation on the face of the earth."

Yahweh said to Moses, "I will do exactly what you've asked, because you have my favor, and I know you by name."

Then Moses said, "Please — show me your glory."

Yahweh said, "I will make all my goodness pass in front of you, and I will announce the name 'Yahweh' right in front of you. I show kindness to whoever I choose to show kindness, and I show compassion to whoever I choose to show compassion."

"But," he said, "you cannot see my face, because no one can see me and survive."

Then Yahweh said, "Look, there's a place near me where you can stand on the rock.

When my glory passes by, I'll put you in a gap in the rock and cover you with my hand until I've passed by.

Then I'll take my hand away and you'll see my back — but my face must never be seen."