6. So tell the Israelites that I say to them, ‘I am the Lord; I will rescue you and set you free from your slavery to the Egyptians. I will raise my mighty arm to bring terrible punishment upon them, and I will save you.
7. I will make you my own people, and I will be your God. You will know that I am the Lord your God when I set you free from slavery in Egypt.
8. I will bring you to the land that I solemnly promised to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as your own possession. I am the Lord.’ ”
9. Moses told this to the Israelites, but they would not listen to him, because their spirit had been broken by their cruel slavery.
10. Then the Lord said to Moses,
11. “Go and tell the king of Egypt that he must let the Israelites leave his land.”
12. But Moses replied, “Even the Israelites will not listen to me, so why should the king? I am such a poor speaker.”
13. The Lord commanded Moses and Aaron: “Tell the Israelites and the king of Egypt that I have ordered you to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.”