1那時梅瑟為他的岳父，米德楊的司祭耶特洛放羊；一次他趕羊往曠野裡去，到了天主的山曷勒布。 1Now Moses fed the sheep of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Madian: and he drove the flock to the inner parts of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, Horeb.
2上主的使者從荊棘叢的火焰中顯現給他；他遠遠看見那荊棘為火焚燒，而荊棘卻沒有燒毀。 2And the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he saw that the bush was on fire and was not burnt.
3梅瑟心裡說：「我要到那邊看看這個奇異的現象，為什麼荊棘燒不毀？」 3And Moses said: I will go and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
4上主見他走來觀看，天主便由荊棘叢中叫他說：「梅瑟！梅瑟！」他答說：「我在這裡。」 4And when the Lord saw that he went forward to see, he called to him out of the midst of the bush, and said: Moses, Moses. And he answered: Here I am.
5天主說：「不可到這邊來！將你腳上的鞋脫下，因為你所站的地方是聖地。」 5And he said: Come not nigh hither, put off the shoes from thy feet: for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
6又說：「我是你父親的天主，亞巴郎的天主，依撒格的天主，雅各伯的天主。」梅瑟因為怕看見天主，就把臉遮起來。 6And he said: I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Moses hid his face: for he durst not look at God.
7上主說：「我看見我的百姓在埃及所受的痛苦，聽見他們因工頭的壓迫而發出的哀號；我已注意到他們的痛苦。 7And the Lord said to him: I have seen the affliction of my people in Egypt, and I have heard their cry because of the rigour of them that are over the works:
8所以我要下去拯救百姓脫離埃及人的手，領他們離開那地方，到一個美麗寬闊的地方，流奶流蜜的地方，就是客納罕人、赫特人、阿摩黎人、培黎齊人、希威人和耶步斯人的地方。 8And knowing their sorrow, I am come down to deliver them out of the hands of the Egyptians, and to bring them out of that land into a good and spacious land, into a land that floweth with milk and honey, to the places of the Chanaanite, and Hethite, and Amorrhite, and Pherezite, and Hevite, and Jebusite.
9現在以色列子民的哀號已達於我前，我也親自看見埃及人加於他們的壓迫。 9For the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have seen their affliction, wherewith they are oppressed by the Egyptians.
10所以你來，我要派你到法郎那裡，率領我的百姓以色列出離埃及。」 10But come, and I will send thee to Pharao, that thou mayst bring forth my people, the children of Israel out of Egypt.
11梅瑟對天主說：「我是誰，竟敢去見法郎，率領以色列子民出離埃及？」 11And Moses said to God: Who am I that I should go to Pharao, and should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?
12上主回答說：「我必與你同在；幾時你將我的百姓由埃及領出來，你們要在這座山上崇拜天主，你要以此作為我派你的憑據。」 12And he said to him: I will be with thee: and this thou shalt have for a sign, that I have sent thee: When thou shalt have brought my people out of Egypt, thou shalt offer sacrifice to God upon this mountain.
13梅瑟對天主說：「當我到以色列子民那裡，向他們說：你們祖先的天主打發我到你們這裡來時，他們必要問我：他叫什麼名字？我要回答他們什麼呢？」 13Moses said to God: Lo, I shall go to the children of Israel, and say to them: The God of your fathers hath sent me to you. If they should say to me: What is his name? what shall I say to them?
14天主向梅瑟說：「我是自有者。」又說：「你要這樣對以色列子民說：那「自有者」打發我到你們這裡來。」 14God said to Moses: I AM WHO AM. He said: Thus shalt thou say to the children of Israel: HE WHO IS, hath sent me to you.
15天主又對梅瑟說：「你要這樣對以色列子民說：上主，你們祖先的天主，亞巴郎的天主，依撒格的天主和雅各伯的天主，打發我到你們這裡來，這是我的名字，直到永遠；這是我的稱號，直到萬世。 15And God said again to Moses: Thus shalt thou say to 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 to you: This is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
16你去召集以色列的長老，對他們說：上主，你們祖先的天主，亞巴郎的天主，依撒格的天主和雅各伯的天主顯現給我說：我實在注意到你們和你們在埃及所遭遇的一切。 16Go, gather together the ancients of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared to me, saying: Visiting I have visited you: and I have seen all that hath befallen you in Egypt.
17因此我決意領你們擺脫埃及人的壓迫，到客納罕人，赫特人，阿摩黎人，培黎齊人，希威人和耶步斯人的地方，即流奶流蜜的地方去。 17And I have said the word to bring you forth out of the affliction of Egypt, into the land of the Chanaanite, the Hethite, and the Amorrhite, and Pherezite, and Hevite, and Jebusite, to a land that floweth with milk and honey.
18他們必會聽你的話。你要同以色列的長老去見埃及王，對他說：上主，希伯來人的天主遇見了我們；現今請讓我們走三天的路程，到曠野裡向上主我們的天主舉行祭獻。 18And they shall hear thy voice: and thou shalt go in, thou and the ancients of Israel, to the king of Egypt, and thou shalt say to him: The Lord God of the Hebrews hath called us: we will go three days' journey into the wilderness, to sacrifice unto the Lord our God.
19但是我知道，若不用強硬的手段，埃及王決不會讓你們走。 19But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go, but by a mighty hand.
20因此，我要在埃及伸手顯各種奇蹟，打擊那地；以後他才放你們走。 20For I will stretch forth my hand and will strike Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst of them: after these he will let you go.
21我必要使這百姓在埃及人眼中蒙恩，因此，你們離去時不致空手而去。 21And I will give favour to this people, in the sight of the Egyptians: and when you go forth, you shall not depart empty:
22每個婦人應向鄰舍的婦女，向住在自己家中的女人索取金飾、銀飾和衣服，穿戴在你們子女身上：這樣你們就剝奪了埃及人。」 22But every woman shall ask of her neighbour, and of her that is in her house, vessels of silver and of gold, and raiment: and you shall put them on your sons and daughters, and shall spoil Egypt.
3:1
曷勒布山又名「天主的山」（18:5；申4:10-15; 5:2；列上8:9）位於西乃半岛；此山与西乃山屡次混用，大概曷勒布是指全山而言，西乃是一山峰名。
3:2-8
2节所说的「上主的使者」，参阅创16:7-11 注释。8节「流奶流蜜的地方」一句，只是夸大渲染的语法，形容福地的肥沃美好。
3:12
「我必与你同在」：蒙天主宠召而为天主工作的人，天主必偕同他克服一切困难（依6；耶1:8；则3:14）。
3:14
「我是自有者」，亦可译作「我是永存者」，或「我是使万物生存者」。这个不可思议的名号，指出天主的超越性和他创造、照顾万物的全能。参阅依42:8; 43:10-11; 44:6; 45:5,18；若17:6,26；默1:4等处。这名号的音译是「雅威」。古时误读为「耶和华」。古代希腊、拉丁、叙利亚等译本，多译为「主」，今随古代习惯及圣教会的礼仪译为「上主」。
3:20
20节是天主预言要惩罚埃及的十大灾难（7:14-12:30）。
3:21-22
21,22两节参阅11:2-3; 12:35-36；智10:16-19。这种行为是基於赔偿损失的理由。埃及人无理的压迫和剥夺以色列人的一切所有，天主也让以色列子民剥夺他们。