The Lord spoke to Moses: "Leave this place, you and the people you brought out of Egypt, and go to the land I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, 'I will give it to your descendants.' I will send My angel before you, and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. Go to the land flowing with milk and honey—but I will not go with you, for you are a stiff-necked people, and I might destroy you along the way."
When the people heard these grave words, they mourned deeply and put away their ornaments. For the Lord had commanded, "Take off your ornaments, and I will decide what to do with you." So at Mount Horeb they stripped themselves of all finery, standing humbled and bare before Him.
Now Moses would pitch a tent outside the camp, calling it the tent of meeting. Whoever sought the Lord went out to it. Whenever Moses entered, the people rose and stood at the entrances of their tents, their eyes fixed on him until he went inside. Then the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the entrance, and the Lord spoke with Moses. Seeing this, the people bowed low in worship, each at his own tent.
The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with a friend. Then Moses returned to the camp—but his young aide Joshua son of Nun remained, never leaving the tent.
Moses said to the Lord, "You have told me, 'Lead these people,' but You have not declared whom You will send with me. Yet You say, 'I know you by name and you have found favor with Me.' If I have found favor, teach me Your ways, that I may know You more and walk in Your favor. Remember—this nation is Your people."
The Lord replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."
But Moses pressed further: "If Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us from here. For how will anyone know that You are pleased with me and with Your people unless You go with us? What else sets us apart from all the nations on the earth?"
The Lord answered, "I will do this very thing you ask, for I am pleased with you, and I know you by name."
Then Moses, bold in his longing, said, "Now, show me Your glory."
And the Lord declared, "I will cause all My goodness to pass before you, and I will proclaim My name—the Lord—in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and compassion on whom I will have compassion. But My face you cannot see, for no one may see Me and live."
Then He said, "There is a place near Me where you may stand on the rock. When My glory passes by, I will hide you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed. Then I will remove My hand, and you will see My back—but My face must not be seen."