Exodus 32:32

But now, if you will forgive their sin…, ¹  but if not, wipe me out ²  from your book that you have written.” ³ 

But now, please forgive their sin—but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written."

"But now, if You will, forgive their sin—and if not, please blot me out from Your book which You have written!"

But now, please forgive their sin––and if not, then blot me out of the record you are keeping."

And now, if you will only forgive their sin. ...But if not, erase me out of the book you've written."

But now, if you will give them forgiveness—but if not, let my name be taken out of your book.

But now, if you will only forgive their sin—but if not, blot me out of the book that you have written."

"Yet now, if You will forgive their sin––but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written."

But now, if you will forgive their sin…, ¹  but if not, wipe me out ²  from your book that you have written.” ³ 

¹ tn The apodosis is not expressed; it would be understood as “good.” It is not stated because of the intensity of the expression (the figure is aposiopesis, a sudden silence). It is also possible to take this first clause as a desire and not a conditional clause, rendering it “Oh that you would forgive!”

² tn The word “wipe” is a figure of speech indicating “remove me” (meaning he wants to die). The translation “blot” is traditional, but not very satisfactory, since it does not convey complete removal.

³ sn The book that is referred to here should not be interpreted as the NT “book of life” which is portrayed (figuratively) as a register of all the names of the saints who are redeemed and will inherit eternal life. Here it refers to the names of those who are living and serving in this life, whose names, it was imagined, were on the roster in the heavenly courts as belonging to the chosen. Moses would rather die than live if these people are not forgiven (S. R. Driver, Exodus, 356).