Exodus 6

1 But the Lord told Moses, “Now you'll see what I'm going to do to Pharaoh. Using my great strength I will force him to let them go; because of my power he will send them out from his country.”

And the Lord said to Moses: “Now you will see what I shall do to Pharaoh. For through a strong hand he will release them, and by a mighty hand he will cast them from his land.”

2 God spoke to Moses and told him, “I am Yahweh!

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “I am the Lord,

3 I revealed myself as God Almighty to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, but they didn't know my name, ‘Yahweh.’

who appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as Almighty God. And I did not reveal to them my name: ADONAI.

4 I also confirmed my solemn agreement with them to give them the land of Canaan, the country where they were living as foreigners.

And I formed a covenant with them, in order to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their sojourning, in which they were newcomers.

5 In addition I've heard the groans of the Israelites that the Egyptians are treating as slaves, and I haven't forgotten the agreement I promised them.

I have heard the groaning of the sons of Israel, with which the Egyptians have oppressed them. And I have remembered my covenant.

6 So tell the Israelites, ‘I am the Lord and I will save you from the forced labor the Egyptians are making you do; I will set you free from being their slaves. I will rescue you using my power and imposing heavy punishments.

For this reason, say to the sons of Israel: I am the Lord who will lead you away from the work house of the Egyptians, and rescue you from servitude, and also redeem you with an exalted arm and great judgments.

7 I will make you my own people. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from slavery in Egypt.

And I will take you to myself as my people, and I will be your God. And you will know that I am the Lord your God, who led you away from the work house of the Egyptians,

8 I will take you to the land that I solemnly promised to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will give it to you to own. I am the Lord!’”

and who brought you into the land, over which I lifted up my hand in order to grant it to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And I will grant it to you as a possession. I am the Lord.”

9 Moses explained this to the Israelites but they did not listen to him, because they were so discouraged and because of the hard labor they were forced to do.

And so, Moses explained all these things to the sons of Israel, who did not agree with him, because of their anguish of spirit and very difficult work.

10 Then the Lord said to Moses,

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

11 “Go and speak to Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Tell him to let the Israelites leave his country.”

“Enter and speak to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, so that he may release the sons of Israel from his land.”

12 But Moses replied, “Even my own people don't listen to me. Why would Pharaoh listen to me, especially since I'm such a poor speaker?”

Moses responded in the sight the Lord: “Behold, the sons of Israel do not listen to me. And how will Pharaoh listen to me, especially since I am of uncircumcised lips?”

13 But the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, and told them what to do regarding the people of Israel and Pharaoh, king of Egypt, in order to bring the Israelites out of Egypt.

And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, and he gave them a commandment for the sons of Israel, and for Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, that they should lead the sons of Israel away from the land of Egypt.

14 These were the Israelite family heads. The sons of Reuben, the firstborn son of Israel, were Hanok and Pallu, Hezron and Karmi. These were the families of Reuben.

These are the leaders of the houses by their families. The sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch and Pallu, Hezron and Carmi.

15 The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, (the son of a Canaanite woman). These were the families of Simeon.

These are the kindred of Reuben. The sons of Simeon: Jemuel and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite women. These are the progeny of Simeon.

16 These were the names of the sons of Levi according to their genealogical records: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Levi lived for 137 years.

And these are the names of the sons of Levi by their kindred: Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari. Now the years of the life of Levi were one hundred and thirty-seven.

17 The sons of Gershon, by families, were Libni and Shimei.

The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, by their kindred.

18 The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. Kohath lived for 133 years.

The sons of Kohath: Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron and Uzziel. Likewise, the years of the life of Kohath were one hundred and thirty-three.

19 The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. These were the families of the Levites according to their genealogical records.

The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the kindred of Levi by their families.

20 Amram married his father's sister Jochebed, and she had their sons Aaron and Moses. Amram lived for 137 years.

Now Amram took as a wife Jochebed, his paternal aunt, who bore for him Aaron and Moses. And the years of the life of Amram were one hundred and thirty-seven.

21 The sons of Izhar were Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri.

Likewise, the sons of Izhar: Korah, and Nepheg, and Zichri.

22 The sons of Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri.

Likewise, the sons of Uzziel: Mishael, and Elzaphan, and Sithri.

23 Aaron married Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab and sister of Nahshon. She had their sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.

Now Aaron took as a wife Elizabeth, the daughter of Amminadab, sister of Nahshon, who bore for him Nadab, and Abihu, and Eleazar, and Ithamar.

24 The sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph. These were the Korahite families.

Likewise, the sons of Korah: Assir, and Elkanah, and Abiasaph. These are the kindred of the Korahites.

25 Eleazar, son of Aaron, married one of the daughters of Putiel, and she had their son Phinehas. These are the ancestors of the Levite families, listed according to their clans. Eleazar son of Aaron married one of the daughters of Putiel, and she gave birth to his son, Phinehas. These are the heads of the Levite families, listed by family.

And truly Eleazar, the son of Aaron, took a wife from the daughters of Putiel. And she bore him Phinehas. These are the heads of the Levitical families by their kindred.

26 Aaron and Moses mentioned here are the ones the Lord told, “Lead the Israelites out of Egypt, divided up in their respective tribes.”

These are Aaron and Moses, whom the Lord instructed to lead the sons of Israel away from the land of Egypt by their companies.

27 Moses and Aaron were also the ones who went to speak with Pharaoh, king of Egypt, about the Israelites leaving Egypt.

These are those who speak to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, in order to lead the sons of Israel out of Egypt. These are Moses and Aaron,

28 When the Lord spoke to Moses in Egypt,

in the day when the Lord spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt.

29 he said to him, “I am the Lord. Tell Pharaoh, king of Egypt, all that I tell you.”

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “I am the Lord. Speak to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, all that I speak to you.”

30 But Moses replied, “I'm not a good speaker—why would Pharaoh listen to me?”

And Moses said in the sight of the Lord: “Lo, I am of uncircumcised lips, how will Pharaoh listen to me?”