1 ¶ And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying,

And the Lord said to Moses,

2 S peak unto the sons of Israel and take of each of them a rod according to the houses of their fathers, of all their princes, twelve rods according to the houses of their fathers, and write thou each man’s name upon his rod.

Speak to the Israelites and get from them rods or staves, one for each father’s house, from all their leaders according to their father’s houses, twelve rods. Write every man’s name on his rod.

3 A nd thou shalt write Aaron’s name upon the rod of Levi, for each head of family of their fathers shall have one rod.

And you shall write Aaron’s name on the rod of Levi. For there shall be one rod for the head of each father’s house.

4 A nd thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the testimony, before the testimony, where I will testify of myself unto you.

You shall lay them up in the Tent of Meeting before the Testimony, where I meet with you.

5 A nd it shall come to pass regarding the man whom I shall choose that his rod shall blossom; and I will resolve the complaints of the sons of Israel, with which they murmur against you.

And the rod of the man whom I choose shall bud, and I will make to cease from Me the murmurings of the Israelites, which they murmur against you.

6 A nd Moses spoke unto the sons of Israel, and all their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one, according to their fathers’ houses, even twelve rods; and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.

And Moses spoke to the Israelites, and every one of their leaders gave him a rod or staff, one for each leader according to their fathers’ houses, twelve rods, and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.

7 A nd Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of the testimony.

And Moses deposited the rods before the Lord in the Tent of the Testimony.

8 ¶ And it came to pass that on the next day Moses went into the tabernacle of the testimony; and, behold, the rod of Aaron of the house of Levi had budded and blossomed and brought forth open flowers and yielded almonds.

And the next day Moses went into the Tent of the Testimony, and behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and brought forth buds and produced blossoms and yielded almonds.

9 T hen Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD unto all the sons of Israel; and they looked, and each one took his rod.

Moses brought out all the rods from before the Lord to all the Israelites; and they looked, and each man took his rod.

10 A nd the LORD said unto Moses, Return Aaron’s rod before the testimony to be kept for a sign unto the rebellious sons; and thou shalt cause their complaints to cease from upon me, that they not die.

And the Lord told Moses, Put Aaron’s rod back before the Testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebels; and you shall make an end of their murmurings against Me, lest they die.

11 A nd Moses did as the LORD commanded him, so did he.

And Moses did so; as the Lord commanded him, so he did.

12 T hen the sons of Israel spoke unto Moses, saying, Behold, we are dead, we are lost, we are all lost.

The Israelites said to Moses, Behold, we perish, we are undone, all undone!

13 A nyone who comes near unto the tabernacle of the LORD shall die; shall we all perish?

Everyone who comes near, who comes near the tabernacle of the Lord, dies or shall die! Are we all to perish?