Exodus 3

Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.

Moses, tending to his father-in-law Jethro's sheep, guided them through the barren desert to the foot of God's mountain, Horeb, with a sense of reverence and awe.

And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

Suddenly, an angel of God revealed itself to him, emerging from a fiery blaze within a bush. He watched in awe as the bush danced with flames, yet remained unharmed.

And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

Moses thought, "I must go and witness this amazing spectacle, to understand why the bush remains unscorched."

And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

Seeing Moses approach, the LORD felt a surge of anticipation. From the heart of the bush, He called out gently, "Moses, Moses." Moses, feeling a pull, responded, "I am here."

And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

He gently warned, "Don't come closer. Remove your shoes, for you're standing on sacred ground."

Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

He declared, "I am your father's God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." Overwhelmed with awe and fear, Moses hid his face, too scared to gaze upon God.

And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;

With deep empathy, the Lord declared, "I've truly seen the suffering of my people in Egypt, and heard their desperate cries against their oppressors. I understand their pain."

And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

I have descended to free them from Egyptian control, guiding them from that place to a vast, beautiful land, a land abundant with prosperity and sweetness; a place where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites reside.

Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.

I hear the desperate pleas of the Israelites and I see the harsh treatment they endure from the Egyptians.

Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.

Now, I am asking you to go to Pharaoh. Your mission is to free my people, the Israelites, from their suffering in Egypt.

And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

Moses, overwhelmed, asked God, "Why choose me to confront Pharaoh and free the Israelites from Egypt?"

And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.

He assured, "I'll always be with you. You'll know it's me who sent you when you lead the people from Egypt and worship God on this mountain."

And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

Moses asked God, "When I go to the Israelites and tell them, 'The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,' they'll ask me, 'What's His name?' What should I tell them?"

And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

God spoke to Moses with a firm voice, "I am who I am." He instructed, "Tell the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"

And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, the LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.

God told Moses, "Tell the people of Israel, 'The eternal God of your ancestors - Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered for all generations to come."

Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt:

Go, unite Israel's wise elders and tell them, "The Lord, the God of our ancestors - Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - has spoken to me. He has seen your struggles in Egypt and promises to be with you."

And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.

I promise to rescue you from your suffering in Egypt and lead you to a land of abundance, home to many nations, a place filled with prosperity and sweetness.

And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.

The elders of Israel will listen to you. Then you and the elders will approach the Egyptian king. Tell him, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please, allow us to travel for three days into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to our God."

And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.

I'm certain, the Egyptian king won't release you easily, not even under immense pressure.

And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.

I will extend my power, striking Egypt with awe-inspiring miracles. After witnessing these, he will surely set you free.

And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty.

I promise to bless you with the respect and admiration of the Egyptians. When you leave, you won't leave empty-handed.

But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.

Every woman should kindly ask her neighbor or house guest for their silver and gold jewelry, and clothes. Dress your sons and daughters in these. In doing so, you'll plunder the Egyptians.