The Message Bible MSG
King James Version KJV
1 Miriam and Aaron talked against Moses behind his back because of his Cushite wife (he had married a Cushite woman).
1
And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.
2 They said, "Is it only through Moses that God speaks? Doesn't he also speak through us?" God overheard their talk.
2
And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it.
3 Now the man Moses was a quietly humble man, more so than anyone living on Earth.
3
(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
4 God broke in suddenly on Moses and Aaron and Miriam saying, "Come out, you three, to the Tent of Meeting." The three went out.
4
And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out.
5 God descended in a Pillar of Cloud and stood at the entrance to the Tent. He called Aaron and Miriam to him. When they stepped out,
5
And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth.
6 he said, Listen carefully to what I'm telling you. If there is a prophet of God among you, I make myself known to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams.
6
And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.
7 But I don't do it that way with my servant Moses; he has the run of my entire house;
7
My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.
8 I speak to him intimately, in person, in plain talk without riddles: He ponders the very form of God. So why did you show no reverence or respect in speaking against my servant, against Moses?
8
With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?
9 The anger of God blazed out against them. And then he left.
9
And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed.
10 When the Cloud moved off from the Tent, oh! Miriam had turned leprous, her skin like snow. Aaron took one look at Miriam - a leper!
10
And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.
11 He said to Moses, "Please, my master, please don't come down so hard on us for this foolish and thoughtless sin.
11
And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned.
12 Please don't make her like a stillborn baby coming out of its mother's womb with half its body decomposed."
12
Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb.
13 And Moses prayed to God: Please, God, heal her, please heal her.
13
And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.
14 God answered Moses, "If her father had spat in her face, wouldn't she be ostracized for seven days? Quarantine her outside the camp for seven days. Then she can be readmitted to the camp."
14
And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again.
15 So Miriam was in quarantine outside the camp for seven days. The people didn't march on until she was readmitted.
15
And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.
16 Only then did the people march from Hazeroth and set up camp in the Wilderness of Paran.
16
And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
The King James Version is in the public domain.