Exodus

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

1The LORD spoke to Moses. He said this:

2Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.

2"Every firstborn son in Israel belongs to me. Set him apart for me. The first male animal born to each mother belongs to me too."

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

3Moses told the people, "Remember this day. Today you left Egypt, where you were slaves. God used his great power to bring you out. Do not eat any bread made with yeast."

Note"Leavened bread" means bread made with yeast, which makes dough puff up. Bread without yeast is flat and can be made in a hurry. That is why it stands for the night they left Egypt fast.

4This day came ye out in the month Abib.

4"You are leaving today, in the month called Abib."

5And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this month.

5"God promised this land long ago to your grandfathers. Right now the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites, and Jebusites live there. It is a rich land with plenty of food. When God brings you in, keep this special week each year in this same month."

6Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the LORD.

6"For seven days eat bread made without yeast. On the seventh day, hold a happy feast for God."

7Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters.

7"Eat flat bread with no yeast all seven days. No yeast may be found anywhere in your land."

8And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the LORD did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt.

8"On that day, tell your son, 'I do this because of what God did for me when I came out of Egypt.'"

9And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD’s law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt.

9"This will be like a mark on your hand. It will be like a reminder on your forehead. Then God's teaching will stay on your lips. God brought you out of Egypt with great power."

10Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year.

10"So keep this rule at the same time every year."

11And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, as he sware unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee,

11"God promised this land to you and your grandfathers. He will bring you into the land of the Canaanites and give it to you."

12That thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the LORD’s.

12"Then give to God every firstborn male, both children and animals. Every firstborn male animal you own belongs to God."

13And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem.

13"For a firstborn donkey, give God a lamb instead. If you will not do that, you must break the donkey's neck. For each firstborn son, you must also give something instead."

14And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage:

14"Someday your son will ask you, 'What does this mean?' Then tell him, 'God used his great power to bring us out of Egypt. We were slaves there.'"

15And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast: therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that openeth the matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem.

15"'Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, stubbornly refused to let us go. So God caused every firstborn in Egypt to die, people and animals. That is why I give God every firstborn male animal. And for each of my firstborn sons, I give something instead.'"

NoteThe KJV says Pharaoh "would hardly let us go." It does not mean he almost let them go. It means he stubbornly refused for a long time.

16And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt.

16"This will be like a mark on your hand. It will be like a reminder on your forehead. God brought us out of Egypt with great power."

17And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:

17Pharaoh let the people go. God did not lead them on the road through Philistine land, even though it was shorter. God said, "If they see fighting, they may change their minds. Then they will go back to Egypt."

NoteThe KJV says the people might "repent." Here that old word just means change their minds.

18But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.

18So God led them around another way, through the empty desert toward the Red Sea. The people of Israel marched out of Egypt ready for battle.

NoteThe KJV says the people went out "harnessed." That old word means they marched out in order, armed and ready to fight.

19And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.

19Moses took the bones of Joseph with him. Long ago Joseph had made the people promise this. He said, "God will surely come to help you. Then carry my bones away from here with you."

20And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.

20They left a place called Succoth. They set up camp at Etham, at the edge of the desert.

21And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

21God went ahead of them. By day he was a tall cloud, showing them the way. By night he was a tall fire, giving them light. So they could travel by day or by night.

22He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

22The cloud stayed there every day. The fire stayed there every night. Neither one ever left the people.