Exodus, 13

1. The LORD spoke to Moses and said,

1. Yahweh spoke to Moses and said,

2. "Consecrate to me every first-born that opens the womb among the Israelites, both of man and beast, for it belongs to me."

2. 'Consecrate all the first-born to me, the first birth from every womb, among the Israelites. Whether man or beast, it is mine.'

3. Moses said to the people, "Remember this day on which you came out of Egypt, that place of slavery. It was with a strong hand that the LORD brought you away. Nothing made with leaven must be eaten.

3. Moses said to the people, 'Remember this day, on which you came out of Egypt, from the place of slave-labour, for by the strength of his hand Yahweh brought you out of it; no leavened bread may be eaten.

4. This day of your departure is in the month of Abib.

4. On this day, in the month of Abib, you are leaving,

5. Therefore, it is in this month that you must celebrate this rite, after the LORD, your God, has brought you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites and Jebusites, which he swore to your fathers he would give you, a land flowing with milk and honey.

5. and when Yahweh has brought you into the country of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, flowing with milk and honey, which he swore to your ancestors that he would give you, then you must observe this rite in the same month.

6. For seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and the seventh day shall also be a festival to the LORD.

6. For seven days you will eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there must be a feast in Yahweh's honour.

7. Only unleavened bread may be eaten during the seven days; no leaven and nothing leavened may be found in all your territory.

7. During these seven days unleavened bread may be eaten; no leavened bread may be seen among you, no leaven among you throughout your territory.

8. On this day you shall explain to your son, 'This is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.'

8. And on that day you will explain to your son, "This is because of what Yahweh did for me when I came out of Egypt."

9. It shall be as a sign on your hand and as a reminder on your forehead; thus the law of the LORD will ever be on your lips, because with a strong hand the LORD brought you out of Egypt.

9. This will serve as a sign on your hand would serve, or a reminder on your forehead, and in that way the law of Yahweh will be ever on your lips: for with a mighty hand Yahweh brought you out of Egypt.

10. Therefore, you shall keep this prescribed rite at its appointed time from year to year.

10. You shall observe this law at its appointed time, year by year.

11. "When the LORD, your God, has brought you into the land of the Canaanites, which he swore to you and your fathers he would give you,

11. 'When Yahweh has brought you into the Canaanites' country, as he swore to you and your ancestors that he would, and given it to you,

12. you shall dedicate to the LORD every son that opens the womb; and all the male firstlings of your animals shall belong to the LORD.

12. to Yahweh you must make over whatever first issues from the womb, and every first-born cast by animals belonging to you: these males belong to Yahweh.

13. Every first-born of an ass you shall redeem with a sheep. If you do not redeem it, you shall break its neck. Every first-born son you must redeem.

13. But every first-born donkey you will redeem with a lamb or kid; if you do not redeem it, you must break its neck. All the human first-born, however, among your sons, you will redeem.

14. If your son should ask you later on, 'What does this mean?' you shall tell him, 'With a strong hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, that place of slavery.

14. And when your son asks you in days to come, "What does this mean?" you will tell him, "By the strength of his hand Yahweh brought us out of Egypt, out of the place of slave-labour.

15. When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed every first-born in the land of Egypt, every first-born of man and of beast. That is why I sacrifice to the LORD everything of the male sex that opens the womb, and why I redeem every first-born of my sons.'

15. When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, Yahweh killed all the first-born in Egypt, of man and beast alike. This is why I sacrifice every male first issuing from the womb to Yahweh and redeem every first-born of my sons."

16. Let this, then, be as a sign on your hand and as a pendant on your forehead: with a strong hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt."

16. This will serve as a sign on your hand would serve, or a headband on your forehead, for by the strength of his hand Yahweh brought us out of Egypt.'

17. Now, when Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the Philistines' land, though this was the nearest; for he thought, should the people see that they would have to fight, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.

17. When Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not let them take the road to the Philistines' territory, although that was the shortest, 'in case', God thought, 'the prospect of fighting makes the people change their minds and turn back to Egypt.'

18. Instead, he rerouted them toward the Red Sea by way of the desert road. In battle array the Israelites marched out of Egypt.

18. Instead, God led the people a roundabout way through the desert of the Sea of Reeds. The Israelites left Egypt fully armed.

19. Moses also took Joseph's bones along, for Joseph had made the Israelites swear solemnly that, when God should come to them, they would carry his bones away with them.

19. Moses took with him the bones of Joseph, since Joseph had put the Israelites on solemn oath with the words, 'It is sure that God will visit you,' he had said, 'and when that day comes you must take my bones away from here with you.'

20. Setting out from Succoth, they camped at Etham near the edge of the desert.

20. They set out from Succoth and encamped at Etham, on the edge of the desert.

21. The LORD preceded them, in the daytime by means of a column of cloud to show them the way, and at night by means of a column of fire to give them light. Thus they could travel both day and night.

21. Yahweh preceded them, by day in a pillar of cloud to show them the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could march by day and by night.

22. Neither the column of cloud by day nor the column of fire by night ever left its place in front of the people.

22. The pillar of cloud never left its place ahead of the people during the day, nor the pillar of fire during the night.