Exodus 33

And the Lord said to Moses: Go, go up from here, you and your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt, into the land which I swore to Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, saying: To your seed I will give it.

And I will send my angel along before your face, and he will drive out the Amorite and Chettite and Pherezite and Gergesite and Heuite and Jebusite.

And I will bring you into a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up with you, because you are a stiff-necked people, lest I utterly consume you on the way.

And when the people heard this grievous word, they mourned deeply in mourning garments.

And the Lord said to the sons of Israel: You are a stiff-necked people. See that I do not bring another plague upon you and utterly consume you. Now therefore take off your glorious robes and your ornament, and I will show you what I will do to you.

And the sons of Israel took off their ornament and their apparel from Mount Choreb onward.

And Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp; and it was called the tent of testimony. And it came to pass that everyone who sought the Lord went out to the tent outside the camp.

And whenever Moses went into the tent outside the camp, all the people stood watching, each at the doors of his own tent, and they gazed after Moses as he departed, until he entered into the tent.

And whenever Moses entered into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stand at the door of the tent, and he spoke to Moses.

And all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the door of the tent; and all the people stood and worshipped, each from the door of his own tent.

And the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as if one were to speak to his own friend. And he would depart to the camp; but his attendant Joshua son of Naue, a young man, did not go out from the tent.

And Moses said to the Lord: Behold, you say to me: Lead up this people; but you have not made known to me whom you will send along with me. Yet you said to me: I know you above all, and you have favour with me.

If then I have found favour before you, reveal yourself to me, that I may see you knowingly, so that I may be one who has found favour before you; and that I may know that this great nation is your people.

And he says: I myself will go before you, and I will give you rest.

And he says to him: If you yourself do not go, do not lead me up from here.

And how shall it truly be known that I have found favour with you, both I and your people, except by your going along with us? So shall I and your people be glorified above all the nations that are on the earth.

And the Lord said to Moses: This word also which you have spoken I will do for you; for you have found favour before me, and I know you above all.

And he says: Show me your own glory.

And he said: I will pass by before you in my glory, and I will call by my name, Lord, before you; and I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will show compassion on whom I show compassion.

And he said: You will not be able to see my face; for no man shall see my face and live.

And the Lord said: Behold, there is a place beside me; you shall stand upon the rock.

And when my glory passes by, I will put you into a hole of the rock and will cover you with my hand over you until I have passed by.

And I will take away my hand, and then you shall see my back parts; but my face shall not be seen by you.