Exodus, 13

1. Yahweh spoke to Moses and said,

1. The LORD said to Moses,

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

2. "Consecrate to me all the first-born; whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine."

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.

3. And Moses said to the people, "Remember this day, in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage, for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place; no leavened bread shall be eaten.

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

4. This day you are to go forth, in the month of Abib.

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.

5. And when the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Hivites, and the Jeb'usites, which he swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, you shall keep this service in this month.

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

6. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the LORD.

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.

7. Unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days; no leavened bread shall be seen with you, and no leaven shall be seen with you in all your territory.

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."

8. And you shall tell your son on that day, `It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came 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.

9. And it shall be to you as a sign on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the law of the LORD may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand the LORD has brought you out of Egypt.

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

10. You shall therefore keep this ordinance at its appointed time from year to year.

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,

11. "And when the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and your fathers, and shall give it to you,

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.

12. you shall set apart to the LORD all that first opens the womb. All the firstlings of your cattle that are males shall be the LORD's.

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.

13. Every firstling of an ass you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. Every first-born of man among your sons you shall redeem.

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.

14. And when in time to come your son asks you, `What does this mean?' you shall say to him, `By strength of hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

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."

15. For when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD slew all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both the first-born of man and the first-born of cattle. Therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all the males that first open the womb; but all the first-born of my sons I redeem.'

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.'

16. It shall be as a mark on your hand or frontlets between your eyes; for by a strong hand the LORD brought us out of 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.'

17. When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, "Lest the people repent when they see war, and return to Egypt."

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

18. But God led the people round by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle.

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.'

19. And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him; for Joseph had solemnly sworn the people of Israel, saying, "God will visit you; then you must carry my bones with you from here."

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

20. And they moved on from Succoth, and encamped at Etham, on the edge of the wilderness.

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.

21. And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night;

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

22. the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.