Deuteronomy 16

Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto the LORD thy God: for in the month of Abib the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.

1Watch for the month called Abib. In that month, keep the Passover for the LORD your God. Passover is a special meal that helps you remember. In that month God led you out of Egypt at night.

2Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover unto the LORD thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which the LORD shall choose to place his name there.

2Bring an animal from your sheep or your cattle. Offer it to the LORD your God as the Passover gift. Do this at the place the LORD picks for his name.

3Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life.

3Do not eat bread made with yeast at this meal. For seven days eat flat bread with no yeast. It is called the bread of sad times. You left Egypt in a big hurry, with no time to wait. Eating it helps you remember that day all your life.

NoteThe KJV calls it "the bread of affliction." Affliction means suffering or hard times. The flat bread is a reminder of the hard days in Egypt.

4And there shall be no leavened bread seen with thee in all thy coast seven days; neither shall there any thing of the flesh, which thou sacrificedst the first day at even, remain all night until the morning.

4For seven days, no yeast may be found anywhere in your land. And the meat you offer on the first evening must all be eaten. None of it may be left until morning.

5Thou mayest not sacrifice the passover within any of thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee:

5You may not offer the Passover animal in just any town. Not even in the towns the LORD your God gives you.

6But at the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at even, at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou camest forth out of Egypt.

6Offer it only at the place the LORD your God picks for his name. Offer it in the evening, when the sun goes down. That is the time of day you left Egypt.

7And thou shalt roast and eat it in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose: and thou shalt turn in the morning, and go unto thy tents.

7Cook the meat and eat it there, at the place God picks. In the morning you may go back home to your tents.

8Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to the LORD thy God: thou shalt do no work therein.

8For six days eat flat bread with no yeast. On the seventh day, everyone meets together for the LORD your God. Do no work on that day.

9Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: begin to number the seven weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corn.

9Count seven weeks. Start counting on the day you first cut your grain.

NoteThe KJV says "corn." In old English, corn meant any grain, like wheat or barley. It did not mean the yellow corn on a cob.

10And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the LORD thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give unto the LORD thy God, according as the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:

10Then hold the Feast of Weeks for the LORD your God. Bring a gift you choose to give. Give as much as God has blessed you with.

11And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to place his name there.

11Be glad together before the LORD your God. This includes you, your sons, and your daughters. It includes your men and women servants too. It includes the Levites who live in your towns. Levites are the family who helped with God's worship. It also includes foreigners, children with no father, and widows. Do this at the place the LORD picks for his name.

12And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt: and thou shalt observe and do these statutes.

12Remember that you were once slaves in Egypt. So be careful to keep these rules.

13Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine:

13Keep the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days. Hold it after you gather your grain and press your grapes. During this feast, people live in little shelters made of branches.

14And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates.

14Be glad at your feast. This includes you, your sons, and your daughters. It includes your men and women servants too. It includes the Levites, foreigners, children with no father, and widows in your towns.

15Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD shall choose: because the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice.

15Hold this feast for the LORD your God for seven days. Hold it at the place the LORD picks. The LORD your God will bless all your crops and all your work. So be full of joy.

16Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:

16Three times each year, all your men must come before the LORD your God. They come to the place he picks. They come for the Feast of Flat Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles. No one should come with empty hands.

17Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee.

17Each man should bring a gift he is able to give. He gives as much as the LORD your God has blessed him.

18Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment.

18Choose judges and leaders for every town the LORD your God gives you. Choose them for each family group. They must decide what is right and fair for the people.

19Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.

19Do not twist what is fair. Do not treat one person better than another. Never take money to change your mind. Such money makes wise people blind. It turns good people's words the wrong way.

NoteThe KJV says "take a gift" and "respect persons." Here a "gift" means a bribe, money paid to a judge to get his help. "Respect persons" means treating important people better than others.

20That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

20Do only what is truly fair. Then you will live. And you will keep the land the LORD your God gives you.

21Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of the LORD thy God, which thou shalt make thee.

21Do not plant a wooden pole or trees for worship. Do not put them beside the altar you build for the LORD your God.

22Neither shalt thou set thee up any image; which the LORD thy God hateth.

22And do not set up a holy stone pillar. The LORD your God hates these things.