Chapter 1
1 These are the names of the Sons of Israel that came to
6 [In time], Joseph, his brothers, and that
entire generation died. 7 But the children of
8 Then a
new king became the ruler over Egypt who didn’t know Joseph. 9 And he said
to his nation: ‘{Look!} The children of
11 So, he appointed [governors] over them, whose [job] was to make them do hard labor; and they built fortified cities for Pharaoh, including Pitho, Ramesses, and On (the City of the Sun). 12 But the more they held [the Israelites] down, the faster they grew.
Well, they multiplied so much and grew so strong that the
Egyptians hated the children of
15 Then the king of
17 However, the midwives feared God and wouldn’t do what
the king of
19 And the midwives answered Pharaoh, saying, ‘Hebrew women aren’t
like the women of
20 And [as the result], God dealt kindly with the midwives, while the [Israelites] continued to multiply and grow very strong. 21 And these midwives who feared God were able to start families.
22 Then Pharaoh told all his people: ‘Whenever a male is born to the Hebrews, you must throw it into the river, but let the females live.’
Chapter 2
1 Now, there was a certain man of the tribe of Levi who married one of the daughters of [his tribe]. 2 Then she got pregnant and gave birth to a male child. And when she saw how beautiful the child was, they hid him for three months. 3 But when they could no longer hide him, his mother got a box for him and coated it with tar, put the child inside, and set it in the mud by the river, 4 while his sister watched in the distance to see what would happen to him.
5 Then Pharaoh’s daughter came down to the river to bathe. And as her handmaids were walking along by the river, they saw the box lying in the mud, so she sent a handmaid out to pick it up. 6 And when she opened it, she found the baby inside the box, crying. Well Pharaoh’s daughter felt sorry for it and said, ‘This is a Hebrew child.’
7 Then [the baby’s] sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter: ‘Would you like me to call a Hebrew [woman] to nurse the child for you?’
8 And Pharaoh’s daughter replied, ‘Go!’ So the young woman went and called [her] mother.
9 Then Pharaoh’s daughter said to [the mother]: ‘Take care of this child and nurse it for me, and I’ll pay you.’
So, the woman took the child and nursed it. 10 And after the boy had grown, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. [Pharaoh’s daughter] named him Moses, because she said, ‘I took him from the water.’
11 In time, after Moses had grown, he went to see his
brothers, the sons of
13 And on the next day, he noticed two Hebrew men fighting, and he asked the bully, ‘Why are you beating your neighbor?’
14 And he replied, ‘Who appointed you our ruler and judge? Are you going to kill me like you killed that Egyptian yesterday?’
Well, Moses was stunned, and he thought: ‘If [he knows],
then others will know.’ 15 And when Pharaoh found out about it, he tried to have
Moses put to death. So, Moses left [the house of] Pharaoh and went to live in
the land of
16 Now, the Priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they were feeding their father Jethro’s sheep nearby. And when they came [to the well] to fill their jugs to water the flock, 17 some shepherds arrived and [started to] chase them away. So, Moses stood up and protected them, and then he drew water for them and watered their sheep.
18 After that, they returned to their home in RaguEl. And their father asked them: ‘Why have you returned so quickly today?’
19 And they replied, ‘An Egyptian protected us from the shepherds, then he drew water for us and watered our sheep.’
20 So, [Jethro] asked his daughters: ‘Where is he… why did you leave the man? Call him here and we will [provide a meal for him].’
21 Well [after that], Moses developed a good relationship with the man, and [Jethro] gave his daughter Zipporah to be Moses’ wife. 22 Thereafter, she got pregnant and gave birth to a son who Moses named Gersam, for he said, ‘I’m a visitor in a strange land.’
23 After some time, the king of
Chapter 3
1 Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro (the Priest of Midian), and he led the sheep into the desert to the dry mountain (Horeb). 2 There, Jehovah’s messenger appeared to him in a flame that was burning in a bush. He saw the flames in the bush, but [the bush] wasn’t really burning. 3 And Moses said: ‘I’m going to get closer, so I can see this great sight, and see why the bush isn’t being burned.’
4 And when the Lord saw him coming closer to look, Jehovah called him from the bush. He said, ‘Moses! Moses!’
And [Moses] asked, ‘What is it?’
5 And He said, ‘Don’t come any closer. Take your sandals off, because you’re standing on holy ground.’
6 Then He said, ‘I am the God of your ancestors; the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ Well at that, Moses turned his face away, because he was afraid to look at God.
7 Then Jehovah told Moses, ‘I’ve seen the hardships that My
people are enduring in
11 But Moses asked God: ‘Just who am I that I should go to
Pharaoh the king of
12 And God replied, ‘I will be with you! This [place] is
the sign that I’m sending you. So, when you bring My people out of
13 Then Moses said to God: ‘Look, I’ll go to the children
of
14 And God told Moses, ‘I am the One Who [Proves] to Be!
Just tell the children of
15 Then God said to Moses, ‘Say to the Sons of Israel: Jehovah the God of our ancestors – the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – has sent me to you. That’s My Name through the ages and it’s how I should be remembered from generation to generation.
16 ‘So, go and gather the elders of the children of
‘And then you and the elders of Israel must go to Pharaoh the king of Egypt, and tell him: The God of the Hebrews has called us, so we’re going on a three-day journey into the desert to offer a sacrifice to our God.
19 ‘However I know that Pharaoh (the king of
21 ‘I will also make [My] people look good in the sight of the Egyptians, so that when you escape, you won’t leave empty handed. 22 Women will ask their neighbors and landlords for clothing and for gold and silver [jewelry], then you will put them on your sons and your daughters, and you will plunder the Egyptians.’
Chapter 4
1 And Moses asked: ‘But, what if they don’t listen to me and do what I tell them? Or, what if they say, God hasn’t appeared to you… what should I say then?’
2 And Jehovah asked him: ‘What do you have in your hand?’
He replied: ‘My walking stick.’
3 Then [God] said: ‘Throw it on the ground.’
Well, when he threw it on the ground it became a snake, and Moses ran from it.
4 And Jehovah told Moses: ‘Now, reach out and grab it by the tail.’
So [Moses] reached out and grabbed it by the tail, 5 and it became a walking stick in his hand again. [And God continued]: ‘That’s why they will believe you when you say that the God of your ancestors has appeared to you… the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob.’
6 Then Jehovah told him: ‘Now, put your hand inside [your robe and touch] your chest.’ So, he reached inside and touched his chest, and when he brought his hand out it was [as white] as snow. 7 And [God] said, ‘Now, put your hand back in and touch your chest once more.’ So he reached in and touched his chest, and when he brought it out, its color returned to the regular color of his flesh.
8 [And God said): ‘So, if the first sign doesn’t make them listen and believe you, the second sign will. 9 And if they still won’t listen to you or believe you after these two signs, then draw some water from the river and pour it on the dry ground, and the river water will turn into blood.’
10 Then Moses said to Jehovah: ‘I beg you Lord, I’ve never been good at this in the past, and I’m still no good at it since You started talking to your servant… I’m a poor speaker and I talk slowly.’
11 And Jehovah asked Moses: ‘Who gave man his mouth, and who made both those who can hear and the deaf, and those who can see and the blind? Isn’t it I… God? 12 Now, go on and I will open your mouth and tell you what to say.’
13 But Moses said: ‘I beg you Lord, send someone who is more capable.’
14 Well, this made Jehovah very angry with Moses, so He said: ‘Look; isn’t Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he will speak for you. Look! He’s coming to meet you, and when he sees you, he will jump with joy. 15 Then you must talk to him and put My words in his mouth, and I will open both of your mouths and tell you what to do. 16 Then he can speak to the people for you. He will be your mouth and you will be the things of God to him. 17 So, take this walking stick that turned into a snake in your hands and work miracles with it!’
18 Thereafter, Moses returned to Jethro his father-in-law,
and said: ‘I‘m going to return to my brothers in
And Jethro said to Moses, ‘Go in health.’
Well, after some time, the king of
20 So, Moses took his wife and children, mounted them on
his animals, and returned to
21 And Jehovah said to Moses: ‘When you return to
24 It was [during their journey] that a messenger of Jehovah met them along the way at an inn and wanted to kill [his son]. 25 But Zipporah grabbed a [sharp] stone and cut off her son’s foreskin, and she fell at his feet and said: ‘The blood of my son’s circumcision is flowing.’ 26 So he left, because she said, ‘The blood of my son’s circumcision is flowing.’
27 Then Jehovah told Aaron: ‘Go into the desert to meet
Moses.’ So, he went and met him at the
29 So, Moses and Aaron went and gathered the elders of the
children of
Chapter 5
1 After that, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, ‘This is what Jehovah the God of Israel has said: Send My people away, so they can hold a feast to Me in the desert.’
2 And Pharaoh asked, ‘Just who is Jehovah so that I should have to pay
any attention to anything He has to say, and that I should send the children of
3 Then they said: ‘The God of the Hebrews has called us to Him. So, we’re going on a three-day journey into the desert to [offer] sacrifices to our God Jehovah. [We want to do this, because] we’re afraid that [something might happen to us] and we might die or be murdered.’
4 But the king of
5 Then Pharaoh added: ‘{Look!} There are a huge number of these people, so we can’t allow them to slack off from their jobs.’
6 So, Pharaoh gave orders to those who were in charge to tell the supervisors: 7 ‘Don’t give the people any straw for brick-making as you did yesterday and three days ago. Let them gather and carry the straw for themselves, 8 but maintain the quota for the daily brick making that they are required to perform. Don’t let up on them, because they’re lazy. Why, they came demanding that we allow them to [go out and] make a sacrifice to their God. 9 So, make the men’s work much harder, so they pay attention to that instead of idle chatter.’
10 Well, the taskmasters and the supervisors acted quickly, and they told the people: ‘This is what Pharaoh says: I’m not going to give you straw anymore. 11 Go get it yourselves! Take it from wherever you can find it… but you must still make the same number of [bricks].’
12 So, the people were scattered all over the
14 But then, the supervisors who were assigned over the children
of
15 So, the children of
17 And he said to them: ‘You’re lazy and you’re slackers, for you said: Let us go, and offer sacrifices to our God. 18 So, go and work instead, because you won’t be given any straw. However, you must meet the same quota of bricks!’
19 Well, the children of
22 Then Moses turned to Jehovah, and said: ‘I beg You, Lord; Why have You caused trouble for these people, and why did You send me? 23 For, from the time that I went to Pharaoh to speak in Your Name, he has oppressed these people; yet You haven’t taken Your people away.’
Chapter 6
1 And Jehovah replied to Moses: ‘Now you’re going to see what I will do to Pharaoh, for he will indeed send them away… with a strong hand and a hard pitch he’ll THROW them out of his land!’
2 And God said to Moses: ‘I am Jehovah… 3 I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I was their God. However, I didn’t show them My Name, Jehovah, 4 when I established My Sacred Agreement with them [and promised] to give them the land of the Canaanites… the land they were visiting and living in as strangers.
5 ‘Now, I’ve heard the groans of the children of
9 And that’s what Moses thereafter told the Sons of Israel. However, they
wouldn’t listen to Moses, because of their fear and their difficult work. 10 So
Jehovah told Moses: 11 ‘Go and tell Pharaoh the king of
12 And Moses replied to Jehovah, saying, ‘Look, the
children of
14 These were the family heads of each of the houses of [
15 The sons of Simeon were JemuEl, Jamin, Aod, JaChin,
16 The sons of Levi (and the family heads) were Gedson, CaAth, and Merari. And Levi lived to be a hundred and thirty-seven years old.
17 Now, Gedson’s sons (and the family heads) were Lobeni and Semei.
CaAth’s sons were 18 Ambram, IsSaar, Chebron, and Ozie. And CaAth lived to be a hundred and thirty-three years old.
19 The sons of Merari (and the family heads) were MoOli, and Omusi.
20 Now, Ambram married his cousin JochAbed (the daughter of his father’s brother), and she gave birth to Aaron, Moses, and Miriam (their sister). Ambram [died] when he was a hundred and thirty-two years old.
21 The sons of IsSaar were Cora, Naphec, and Zechri. 22 And the sons of OziEl were MisaEl, EliSaphan, and Segri.
23 Then Aaron married ElisaBeth, the daughter of AminAdab and the sister of NaAsson, and she gave birth to Nadab, AbiUd, EliEzer, and Ithamar.
24 Cora’s sons were Asir, ElKana, and AbiAsar. These were Cora’s children.
25 Aaron’s son EliEzer married one of the daughters of PhutiEl, and she gave birth to Phineas. These are the heads of the family of the Levites, by their generations.
26 And this is Aaron and Moses, who were told by God to
use their powers to bring the children of
27 So, this is what they said to Pharaoh the king of
29 Jehovah told Moses: ‘I am Jehovah! Speak to Pharaoh the king of E
30 And Moses replied to Jehovah: ‘Look, I’m not a good speaker, so how will Pharaoh listen to me?’
Chapter 7
1 Then Jehovah toldo Moses: ‘Look! I’ve made you a god to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron is your
Prophet. 2 So, tell Pharaoh everything that I’ve told you to say through your
brother Aaron… tell him that he must send the children of
6 So, Moses and Aaron did just as Jehovah commanded them.
7 Moses was eighty years old, and his brother Aaron was eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh.
8 Then Jehovah told Moses and Aaron: 9 ‘Now, if Pharaoh tells you to give him a sign or a miracle, then tell your brother Aaron to throw his walking stick on the ground in front of Pharaoh and his servants, and it will become a snake.’
10 So, when Moses and Aaron went in [and stood] before Pharaoh and his servants, they did just as Jehovah had instructed them. Aaron threw his walking stick before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a snake. 11 However, Pharaoh brought in all the Egyptian wise men, witches, and soothsayers, and they used their magic to do the same thing… 12 they each threw down their walking sticks and they became snakes. But then, Aaron’s walking stick swallowed down their walking sticks.
13 Well, Pharaoh’s heart became hard and he refused to listen to what Jehovah had instructed them to say. 14 Then Jehovah told Moses: ‘Now Pharaoh’s heart has become hard and he won’t let the people go. 15 So, approach Pharaoh when he goes down to the river tomorrow morning and meet him there on its bank. Then take his walking stick that turned into a snake 16 and stell him that Jehovah the God of the Hebrews has sent you to him, and that He says: Send My people away so they can serve Me in the desert! Look, you haven’t listened to Me so far, 17 but this is how I’m going to let you know that I am Jehovah.’
‘[Then tell him]: Look, I’m going to slap the water with this walking stick in my hand, and the river water will change into blood. 18 Then all the fish in the river will die and it will stink, and the Egyptians won’t be able to drink water from the river.’
19 And Jehovah continued, ‘Then tell your brother Aaron to
take the walking stick he is holding and hold his arms out over all the water
in Egypt (over their rivers, canals, ponds, and any standing water) and they
will turn into blood. This blood will be throughout the entire
20 So, Moses and Aaron did just as Jehovah commanded them.
[Aaron] held out the walking stick and slapped the river right there in front
of Pharaoh and his servants, and changed all the river water into blood. 21
Then, all the fish in the river died and the river had a foul odor, so the
Egyptians couldn’t drink water from it. And there was blood throughout the
entire
22 However, the Egyptian soothsayers used their magic to do the same thing, so the heart of Pharaoh became hard and he wouldn’t listen to them… which is just what Jehovah said [would happen]. 23 Then Pharaoh turned around and went back into his palace without looking at anything.
24 Thereafter, the Egyptians had to dig [pits] around the river to find drinking water, because they couldn’t drink the river water. 25 And Jehovah’s conquest of the river lasted for seven days.
Chapter 8
1 Then Jehovah told Moses: ‘Now go to Pharaoh [again] and tell him that this is what Jehovah has said: Send My people away so they can serve Me. 2 And if you don’t send them away, {Look!} I will fill your land with frogs… 3 the river will teem with frogs, and they’ll get into your houses, into your bedrooms, and onto your beds. [They will be] in the homes of your citizens, in the homes of your servants, on your dough, and on your ovens. 4 They will also climb on you, your servants, and your people.’
5 And Jehovah said to Moses, ‘Tell your brother Aaron to hold his arms out with his walking stick in his hand over the rivers, canals, and pools, to bring up the frogs.’
6 So, Aaron held his arms out over the waters of
7 Well, the Egyptian soothsayers used their magic and they
too brought frogs upon the
8 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, ‘Pray
to Jehovah for me and ask Him take the frogs away from my people and me. Then I
will send [the children of
9 And Moses said to Pharaoh: ‘Tell me; when I should pray for the frogs to disappear from you, your servants, and your people; [for, that’s when they will be gone] from you, your people, and your houses. However, they will remain in the river.’
10 And [Pharaoh] replied: ‘Tomorrow morning.’
Then [Moses] said: ‘It will be just as you’ve said… and then you will know that there is none other than Jehovah. 11 The frogs will be removed from you, your houses, your villages, your servants, and your people. However, they will remain in the river.’ 12 And at that, Moses and Aaron left Pharaoh.
Then Moses called to Jehovah and asked Him to remove the frogs, as Pharaoh had asked. 13 And Jehovah did what Moses asked, and the frogs died in the houses, villages, and fields. 14 So, they gathered them in piles, which caused the whole land to stink.
15 Well, when Pharaoh saw that there was some relief, his
heart became hard again, and he didn’t listen to the things that they told him that
Jehovah had said. 16 So, Jehovah told Moses: ‘Now tell Aaron to take his walking
stick in his hand and to hit the dirt on the ground, then fleas will cover the men and animals throughout
the entire
17 So, Aaron stuck out the walking stick and hit the dirt on the ground, and fleas covered the men and animals… there were fleas on the ground everywhere!
18 Well, the soothsayers tried to use their magic to do the same thing and bring out the fleas, but they were unable to do so. However, the fleas covered both men and animals, 19 so the soothsayers said to Pharaoh: ‘This is the finger of God.’
But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened and he wouldn’t listen to
them and do as Jehovah said. 20 So, Jehovah said to Moses: ‘Get up early in the
morning and stand before Pharaoh as he’s going to go down to the water. Then you
must tell him that this is what Jehovah has said: Send My people away, so
they can serve Me in the desert. 21 And if you won’t let My people go, {Look!}
I’m going to send stable flies to
you, your servants, your citizens, and into your homes. The houses of the
Egyptians will be filled with stable flies, wherever they live in the land. 22
[But this time], I will create a marvelous difference in the
24 Well, the stable flies came in huge numbers and they got
into the houses of Pharaoh, his servants, and everyone in the
26 But Moses said: ‘We can’t do that, because the things we will sacrifice to Jehovah our God are considered disgusting to the Egyptians. So, if we sacrifice such things in front of the Egyptians, they will stone us. 27 Rather, let us travel three-days into the desert, and we will offer our sacrifices to Jehovah our God there, as our Lord has told us.’
28 Then Pharaoh said, ‘Go and sacrifice to your God in the desert, but don’t go too far… and pray to Jehovah for me!’
29 And Moses said, ‘Now I will leave you and pray to God, so that the stable flies will leave your servants and your citizens tomorrow. But Pharaoh; don’t deceive me again and refuse to send the people away to sacrifice to Jehovah.’
30 Then Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to God. 31 And Jehovah did just as Moses said… He removed all the stable flies from Pharaoh, his servants, and his citizens. 32 However, Pharaoh’s heart became hard once again and he wouldn’t send the people away.
Chapter 9
1 So Jehovah told Moses, ‘Go to Pharaoh and say to him that
this
is what Jehovah, the God of the Hebrews
says: Send My people away so they can serve Me. 2 And if you don’t send My
people away and if you prevent them from going, 3 {Look!} Jehovah will touch
the cattle in the fields… the horses, burros, camels, bulls, and sheep, and
many will die. 4 I will also show a marvelous difference between [the
way I will treat] the cattle of the Egyptians and the cattle of the children of
5 Then God told him when this would happen. He said, ‘I will bring it on the land tomorrow.’
6 And the next day, cattle belonging to all the Egyptians
died, but none of the children of
8 Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: ‘Moses
should take handfuls of furnace ashes and throw them into the sky before Pharaoh and
his servants, 9 and let it blow like dust over the entire
10 So, Moses carried furnace ashes before Pharaoh and threw them in the sky, and they caused blisters to break out on both men and animals.
11 Well, the soothsayers were no longer able to stand before
Moses, because they were also covered with blisters, just like everyone else in
the
13 And Jehovah said to Moses, ‘Get up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh, then tell him that this is what Jehovah, the God of the Hebrews, has said: Send My people away so they can serve Me. 14 For, I’ve been sending all My plagues into your heart and into the hearts of your servants and your people, so you will know that there isn’t anyone else like Me in the entire earth. 15 For now I’m going to raise My hand to strike you and kill your people, wiping them off of the earth. 16 Why, the very reason that you’ve been allowed to live is so that I might display My strength through you, and so that My Name might be advertised throughout the whole earth!
17 ‘You’ve taken great pains to keep My people and not
to let them go… haven't you? 18 Look! At this same time tomorrow, I will
cause a hailstorm that will be the worst that
20 So, those servants of Pharaoh who were afraid of what Jehovah said, brought their cattle into their homes. 21 And those who didn’t pay any attention to what Jehovah said, left their cattle in the fields.
22 Then Jehovah told Moses: ‘Raise your hands to the sky, and there will be a
hailstorm throughout the entire
23 So, Moses raised his hands to the sky, and Jehovah sent
hail, thunder, and lightning that rolled around on the ground. And this hail
from Jehovah rained throughout the entire
27 So, Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron, and said: ‘I’ve sinned this time. Jehovah is righteous, and my people and I are wicked. 28 Pray to Jehovah for me and have Him stop the thunder, lightning, and the hail, then I will send you away and you won’t have to [live here] anymore.’
29 And Moses said to him: ‘After I leave the city, I will raise my hands to Jehovah, and then the thunder, lightning, hail, and rain will stop… and then you will know that the earth belongs to Jehovah. 30 However, I know that you and your servants don’t fear Jehovah yet.’
31 Now, [
33 So then, Moses left Pharaoh and [walked] out of the city. And he raised his hands to Jehovah and the thundering stopped, and the rain and hail stopped falling.
34 But when Pharaoh saw that the rain, hail, and
thundering had stopped, he continued to sin. He hardened his heart and the
hearts of his servants. 35 And it was because of this hard heart that Pharaoh
refused to send the children of
Chapter 10
1 Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ‘Go to Pharaoh [again], because I’ve hardened the hearts of him and his servants, so I can bring these signs upon them. 2 [I did this] so you could tell your children and your children’s children of the many ways that I’ve mocked the Egyptians, and of the wonders that I’ve brought upon them, so they will know that I am Jehovah.’
3 Then Moses and Aaron went before Pharaoh and said to
him, ‘This is what Jehovah the God of the Hebrews says: How much
longer will you refuse to respect Me? Send My people away, so they can serve
Then Moses turned
away and left Pharaoh. 7 And Pharaoh’s servants said to him: ‘How much longer are
you going to allow them to be a snare to us? Send those people away so they can
serve their God! Don’t you realize that
8 So, they went and brought Moses and Aaron back to Pharaoh, and he said to them: ‘You may go and serve Jehovah your God… but, just who will be going with you?’
9 And Moses replied, ‘We will be taking the young and the old, along with our sons, daughters, sheep, and bulls, because this is a feast of Jehovah.’
10 Then [Pharaoh] said to them, ‘May Jehovah be with you. But if I send you away, must I also [send away] all that you own? You have an evil [plan], 11 so, [I’m] not going to [allow that]! I’ll just allow the men to go and serve God, because that’s all you really wanted… now throw them out from before the presence of Pharaoh!’
12 Then Jehovah told Moses: ‘Now raise your hands over the
13 So, Moses lifted his walking stick to the sky, and
Jehovah sent a south wind [that blew] all day and all night long. Then the next
morning, the south wind brought the locusts 14 and sent them throughout the
16 Then Pharaoh hastily called Moses and Aaron, and said: ‘I have sinned before Jehovah your God and against you. 17 [Please] pardon my sin one more time and pray to Jehovah your God and have Him take away this death!’
18 So, Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to God. 19 Then
Jehovah sent a strong wind from the sea that blew in the opposite direction,
which picked up the locusts and threw them into the
21 Then Jehovah told Moses, ‘Lift your hands to the sky
and bring darkness to the
22 So, Moses raised his hands to the sky, and it stormed
throughout the
24 Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron, and said: ‘Go serve your God Jehovah, but leave your sheep, your bulls, and your belongings.’
25 However, Moses said: ‘No, for you must allow us the burnt offerings and sacrifices that we’re going to offer to Jehovah our God, 26 so our cattle will be going with us! We won’t leave a hoof behind, because we’re going to take them to serve Jehovah our God, and we won’t know how we’re going to serve Him until we get there.’
27 But Jehovah kept hardening Pharaoh’s heart, and he wouldn’t let them go. 28 So Pharaoh said: ‘Get away from me, and be careful not to see my face again! Because, the next time you appear before me, you’re going to die!’
29 And Moses replied: ‘That’s what you’ve said, so I won’t appear in your presence again.’
Chapter 11
1 Then Jehovah told Moses: ‘I’m going to bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt, and then he will send you away with everything… in fact, he’ll drive you out. 2 Now, go to the people secretly and tell them to ask their neighbors for clothing, as well as for silver and gold jewelry.’
3 So, Jehovah caused his people to be looked on favorably by the Egyptians, and they were willing to lend things to them, because the Egyptians considered Moses a great man… even greater than Pharaoh and his servants.
4 Then Moses told [the children of Israel]: ‘This is what
Jehovah said: About
9 Now, Moses had left Pharaoh [feeling very] angry. And as
Jehovah told Moses, ‘Pharaoh isn’t going to listen to you, so I can show great
signs and wonders in the
Chapter 12
1 Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and Aaron there in the
5 ‘So, choose a perfect male yearling lamb
from [your herd] of lambs and kids, 6 and keep it nearby until the fourteenth
day of this month. Then the whole group of the children of
9 ‘Now, you must not eat it raw or boiled in water, just roasted over a fire with the head, feet, and extremities. 10 Nothing should be left over until morning, and you shouldn’t break any of its bones. Any leftovers must be burned in the fire.
11 ‘And this is how you must eat it: with your thighs
covered for work, your sandals on your feet, and your walking sticks in your
hands. Then you must eat it quickly, for it is Jehovah’s
Passover. 12 Because, I will go throughout the
13 ‘Now, this blood will be the sign that you’re in the
house, so I will see the blood and protect you. That way, you won’t be a part
of the plague of destruction when I strike the
14 ‘You must always remember this day and keep it as a feast to Jehovah through all your generations. [Observance of] this feast will be the law through the ages.
15 ‘Now, you will eat yeast-free bread for seven days. And
starting on the first day, you must remove all yeast from your homes. And if
someone eats yeast between the first and seventh days, that person
must be destroyed in
16 ‘The first day will be called holy, and the seventh day will be your holy day. You aren’t to do any hired work then. The only work that you may do will be the things that you need to [survive].
17 ‘And you must keep this commandment, because this is the day that I will use My great power to bring you out of the land of Egypt, and you will make this day a law through the ages for every generation.
18 ‘You must eat yeast-free bread from the evening of the fourteenth-day
of the first month until the evening of the twenty-first day. 19 Yeast must
not be found in your homes during those seven days, and whoever eats anything
with yeast [in it] will have his life cut off from the gathering
of
21 Then Moses called all the elders of the children of
24 ‘Now, keep this as a Law for yourselves and for your
descendants through the age. 25 And if you should enter the land that Jehovah
promises to give you, you must keep on doing this. 26 Then, if your sons should
ever ask, Why are we doing this?, 27 you should tell them, The
Passover is a sacrifice to Jehovah, for when He protected the homes of the
children of
28 Well, the people bowed to their faces, then the
children of
29 It was
31 As the result, Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron that night and told
them: ‘Get up and leave us, both you and the children of
33 Then the Egyptians urged them to leave their land quickly, because they were saying, ‘We’re all going to die.’
34 So, the children of
37 So, the children of
39 Then they baked the dough that they had brought from Egypt into yeast-free loaves (there was still no yeast in the dough), because the Egyptians wouldn’t allow them to stay, and they had [virtually] thrown them out, so they didn’t have time to make provisions for their journey.
40 Now, it was four-hundred and thirty years that the children of Israel had stayed in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, 41 but the whole army of Jehovah left the land of Egypt that night. 42 It was [the night] when they kept watching for Jehovah to bring them out of the land of Egypt, so that same night must be kept as a night of watch to Jehovah by all the children of Israel throughout all their generations.
43 Then Jehovah told Moses and Aaron: ‘This is the Law regarding the Passover! No stranger may eat it, 44 and any slave or servant that you buy must be circumcised before he can eat it. 45 Visitors and people you hire can’t eat it.
46 ‘It must be eaten in one house, because you can’t carry
the flesh outside the house… and no bones should be broken. 47 The entire
gathering of the children of
50 Then the children of
Chapter 13
1 Then Jehovah told Moses, 2 ‘All the first-fathered and firstborn that open any womb among the children of
3 And Moses said to the people, ‘Remember this day! [It’s
the one] when you were brought out of the
4 ‘It was on this day of new grain that you left, 5 so
when Jehovah your God brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Chettites,
Amorites, Evites, Jebusites, Gergesites, and Pherezites, which He swore to your
ancestors that He would give you – a land that flows with milk and honey – you
must perform this same service during this month. 6 Six days you will eat
yeast-free bread, and the seventh day will be a feast day to Jehovah. 7 So, for
seven days you will eat yeast-free bread. Nothing with yeast may be seen among
you, nor may you have yeast inside all your borders. 8 And you will tell your
sons on this day: This is how
Jehovah dealt with me as I was leaving
9 ‘So, let it remain as a sign on your hand and something to remember before your eyes, that Jehovah’s Law may always stay on you [lips], because Jehovah God brought you out of Egypt with His strong hand. 10 So, each year at this time and season, you must observe this Law.
11 ‘And when Jehovah your God brings you into the land of the Canaanites, which He swore to your ancestors that he would give you, 12 you must set aside every male that opens a womb to Jehovah. This includes those among your flocks and herds of cattl… as many as you have. [All the] males must be [set aside as] holy to Jehovah.
13 ‘However, when it comes to burros, you must offer a sheep instead… you can’t exchange it, you must buy it back [from Jehovah], and you must buy back every firstborn son.
14 ‘And if your son should ever ask you, Why are you doing
this? You must tell him, Jehovah brought us out of
16 ‘So, may this be a sign on your hand and something that is always fixed in front of your eyes, because Jehovah brought you out of Egypt with His strong hand.’
17 Well, after Pharaoh sent the people away, God didn’t
lead them toward the land of the Philistines (although it wasn’t far away),
because God said, ‘[This is to keep] the people from having a change of heart
when they see war, and from returning to
It was the fifth generation of the children of
20 Thereafter, the children of
Chapter 14
1 Then Jehovah said to Moses, 2 ‘Tell the children of
4 ‘Then I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after you. And Pharaoh and his whole army will bring glory to Me, and all the Egyptians will know that I am Jehovah.’
And that’s what happened. 5 A report was carried to the
king of the Egyptians that the people had run away. And this changed the hearts
of Pharaoh and his servants against the [children of
6 So, Pharaoh prepared his chariots and took all his people with him. 7 They took along six hundred of their best chariots, the entire Egyptian cavalry, and all his generals.
8 It was because Jehovah had hardened the hearts of Pharaoh
(the king of
Well, there were all of Pharaoh’s cavalry, chariots,
horsemen, and his army at the village near Beel-Sepphon. 10 And as Pharaoh
approached, the children of
11 Then they asked Moses, ‘Aren’t there enough graves
in the
13 But Moses said to the people, ‘Don’t be afraid; stand here and watch the salvation that comes from Jehovah and the things He will do for us on this day. Why, you see all those Egyptians today, but you won’t see them again in this age, 14 because Jehovah is going to fight for you, so you will be at peace.’
15 Then Jehovah asked Moses, ‘Why are they shouting to Me?
Speak to the children of
17 ‘Then {Look!}, I will harden the hearts of Pharaoh and all the Egyptians, and they will follow you, so Pharaoh, his army, his chariots, and his horses will glorify Me, 18 and all the Egyptians will know that I am Jehovah when I’m glorified by Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horses.’
19 It was then that the messenger of
God that traveled in front of the camp of the children of
21 Then Moses lifted his arms over the sea, and Jehovah
pushed the sea back with a strong south wind [that blew] all night long. This
dried the seabed and divided the water. 22 So, the children of
23 But then the Egyptians went in after them and chased
them… all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and horsemen went through the middle
of the sea. 24 And it was during the morning watch that Jehovah looked at the
Egyptians through the columns of fire and clouds, and [He created] trouble in
their camp. 25 The wheels on their chariots sank to their axels, so they were
hard to pull. And the Egyptians said, ‘Let’s run from the face of
26 Then Jehovah told Moses: ‘Now, stretch your arms out over the sea and let the water fall back in its place… let it cover the Egyptian chariots and their riders.’
27 So, Moses stretched his arms out over the sea, and the water returned to its place around daybreak. The Egyptians tried to run from the water, but Jehovah just kept shaking them back into the middle of the sea. 28 So, the water returned and covered the chariots and their riders, along with the whole army of Pharaoh that followed them into the sea, and there were no survivors.
29 Yet, the children of
Chapter 15
1 Then Moses and the children of
Let’s sing to Jehovah, for He has been glorified.
He’s thrown the horses and riders in the sea.
2 He’s been our helper and protector,
And He has brought us salvation.
This is my God and I’ll praise Him.
He’s the God of my fathers and I’ll hold Him high.
3 Jehovah brings an end to all war,
[Yes, Jehovah] is His Name.
4 He threw the chariots of Pharao
And his army into the sea;
The Red Sea swallowed the best mounted generals,
5 Then He covered them up with the sea,
And they sank to its bottom like stones.
6 The strength of Your right hand, O God,
Has now been made [ever so] glorious.
And Your right hand, O God,
Has broken [all of] Your enemies.
7 In all of Your glory,
You have broken our enemies to pieces.
You sent [upon them] Your rage,
And it ate them up just like stubble.
8 By the spirit of Your rage,
The
waters thereafter parted.
The water became solid like a wall.
And the waves became solid in the midst of the sea.
9 The enemy said, ‘I will chase and overtake them…
I will divide the plunder and make myself happy.
I will destroy with my sword,
And I’ll dominate with my hand.
10 But then You sent out Your wind,
And the sea covered them over…
They sank like lead amid mighty waters.
11 Who is like You among the gods, O Lord?
Yes, who else is like You?
For, in holiness You are glorified,
And we marvel at all of Your glories.
12 Your right hand You raised and brought wonders,
For the earth swallowed them down.
13 But You righteously guided the people You purchased,
And by Your power, called them to Your holy place of rest.
14 The nations heard of this and were angry…
Pangs of birth grabbed hold of Philistines.
15 The princes of
Yes, they all started to tremble,
And all in
16 May they tremble in fear of the strength of Your arm,
And may they become just like stones, O Lord,
Until Your people pass them by…
Until the people You’ve purchased pass them by.
17 Take us and plant us in the mountain of our inheritance…
In the home You’ve prepared, O Lord…
In the place of safety You’ve prepared with Your hands,
18 For, Jehovah reigns through the age,
And on through the ages
of the ages.
19 Pharaoh’s horse went down into the sea,
Along with his chariots and horsemen.
Then Jehovah covered them over with water,
But the children of
Through the midst of the sea.
20 Then the Prophetess Miriam (Aaron’s sister) picked up
her tambourine, and all the other women went to get their tambourines, and they
all started dancing. 21 Miriam led them, saying,
‘Let’s sing to Jehovah, for He has been glorified.
The horses and riders have been thrown in the sea…’
22 Then Moses led the children of
24 At that, the people started complaining about Moses. They were asking, ‘What are we going to drink?’
25 So Moses called to Jehovah, and Jehovah showed him a tree, which [Moses] threw into the water and the water became sweet.
This is the place where [God] gave him His Laws and decisions, and where He showed His approval. 26 For [God] said: ‘If you will listen to the voice of Jehovah your God, do things that please Him, obey His Commandments, and keep all His Laws, I won’t bring any of the [plagues] upon you that I brought on the Egyptians, for I am Jehovah, the God who makes you well.’
27 And when they arrived at AiLim, they found twelve springs of water and seventy branching palm trees, so they camped there by the water.
Chapter 16
1 Then they left AiLim, and the entire gathering of the
children of
4 And Jehovah said to Moses, ‘{Look!} I will rain bread on you from the sky. The people will go out and gather their allotment for each day, so I can test them to see whether they will follow My Law or not. 5 Then on the sixth day, they will gather whatever they can, and it will be double what they gathered on the previous days.’
6 So Moses and Aaron spoke to the entire gathering of
the children of
8 Then Moses said: ‘This evening Jehovah will give you meat to eat, and in the morning He will provide enough bread to satisfy you, because Jehovah has heard all the complaints that you have against us… and what are we? You aren’t complaining against us, but against God.’
9 Then Moses said to Aaron, ‘Tell the entire gathering of
the children of
11 At that, Jehovah spoke to Moses, and said: 12 ‘I’ve
heard the children of
13 Well, that evening a [huge flock] of quail flew in and
covered the camp. 14 And the next morning, after the dew around about the camp
had dried, {Look!} there on the surface of the desert, lying there like frost,
were small things that looked like white coriander seeds. 15 And when the
children of
And Moses told them, 16 ‘This is the bread that Jehovah has given you to eat… it’s what Jehovah has approved. Each man should gather a third of a bushel for each person in his family. Go gather it along with those who are living with you.’
17 And that’s what the children of
19 However, Moses told them, ‘Nobody should save any for the next morning.’
20 But many wouldn’t listen to Moses, and they kept it until the next morning. However, by then it had worms and stunk… and this irritated Moses. 21 So, each morning, every man would collect all he needed, and everything melted after the sun went down. 22 Then on the sixth day, they gathered twice as much as they needed – two-thirds of a bushel per person. So, all the chiefs of their meeting place went and reported it to Moses. 23 And Moses asked, ‘Didn’t Jehovah tell us that tomorrow is the Sabbath… a holy [day of] rest to Jehovah? So, bake all that you can bake, and boil all that you can boil, so that the leftovers can be stored for tomorrow.’
24 As the result, they stored the leftovers until the next morning, just as Moses told them, and it didn’t stink and there weren’t any worms in it. 25 Then Moses said, ‘That’s what you must eat today, because today is a Sabbath to Jehovah… so you won’t find any in the fields. 26 You must collect it for six days, but the seventh day is a Sabbath, so there won’t be any then.’
27 However, on the seventh day, some of the people went out to collect it, but they couldn’t find any. 28 So, Jehovah asked Moses, ‘How long are you going to fail to listen to My commands and [obey] My laws? 29 Look, I have given you this day as the Sabbath, and I gave you enough bread to last two days on the sixth day. So, sit there in your homes, and don’t allow anyone to leave his place on the seventh day.’
30 And thereafter, the people kept the Sabbath on the seventh day.
31 Well, the children of
32 Then Moses said, ‘This is what Jehovah commanded: We are to collect a third of a bushel of manna and set it aside, so that future generations can see the bread that you ate in the desert after Jehovah led you from the land of Egypt.’ 33 And he told Aaron: ‘Take a golden pot and fill it with a full third of a bushel of manna, then store it away for God and keep it for future generations.’
34 And just as Jehovah told Moses, Aaron stored it away as
a testimony. 35 So, the children of
Chapter 17
1 Then the entire gathering of the children of
And Moses asked them, ‘Why are you shouting at me, and why are you asking Jehovah to prove Himself?
3 Well, the people were very thirsty there, and they
complained again to Moses, saying, ‘What’s the point? Did you bring us up out
of
4 Then Moses called to Jehovah, and said, ‘What should I do with these people? Why, before long they will stone me!’
5 And Jehovah replied to Moses, ‘Go before the people and
bring along some of their elders. Then take the walking stick that you slapped
the [
So, Moses went before the Sons of Israel. 7 And he named
that place Proof and Shouting, because of all the shouting of the children of
8 Then the Amalechites came to fight against
10 So, Joshua did just as Moses told him. He went out and
formed his army in battle lines against Amalechites, then Moses, Aaron, and Or
went up to the top of the hill. 11 And whenever Moses raised his arms,
13 So, Joshua drove the Amalechites and all their people away by slaughtering them with swords. 14 Then Jehovah told Moses: ‘Write this in a book so it will be remembered, and tell Joshua that I’m going to totally blot out all memory of the Amalechites from under the heavens.’
15 Moses then built an altar to Jehovah there and named it [Jehovah is] My Refuge, 16 because Jehovah was secretly waging war against all generations of the Amalechites.
Chapter 18
1 Well, Jethro (the priest of Midian and Moses’
father-in-law) heard of all that Jehovah had done for his people
5 Jethro took them to Moses in the
desert… to his camp on the M
6 And when Moses was told, ‘{Look!} Your father-in-law Jethro is coming and he’s bringing your wife and two sons with him,’ 7 Moses went out to meet them. Then [Moses] bowed before his father-in-law and kissed him, and they hugged each other, then he led them into his tent, 8 where Moses told his father-in-law everything that Jehovah had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake; of all the things that happened to them along the way; and of how Jehovah had rescued them from the hands of Pharaoh and the Egyptians.
9 Well, Jethro was amazed at all the good things that
Jehovah had done for them by rescuing them. 10 And Jethro said, ‘Praise Jehovah, because He rescued them from the
hands of Pharaoh and the Egyptians. 11 I now know that Jehovah is higher than
all [other] gods, and that’s why [the children of
12 Then Jethro presented whole-burnt offerings and
sacrifices for God, and Aaron and all the elders of
13 Well, the next morning, Moses sat down to [serve as] judge for the people, and they [kept coming to] Moses all day long. 14 And when Jethro noticed all that [Moses was doing], he asked, ‘Why are you sitting there all by yourself as the people come to you from morning til night?’
15 And Moses told his father-in-law, ‘Well, the people are coming to me to receive God’s decisions. 16 Because, whenever they have a disagreement, they come to me and I judge each [case]. I teach them the Laws of God and [I judge by] His Laws.’
17 But Moses’ father-in-law told him: ‘You aren’t handling this thing right, 18 for this will just wear you down, and your people will get tired of it too. You won’t be able to keep doing this all by yourself. 19 So, listen to me; I’m going to tell you what to do, and God will be with you.
‘You can be [the one] who [leads] the people in matters that pertain to God, and you can take their problems before God. 20 You should also [teach] them God’s [ways] and His Laws, and show them how to act and the things that they should be doing. 21 But, keep an eye out among the people for capable, righteous men who fear God… righteous men who hate pride. Then appoint [them to be] chiefs over thousands, chiefs over hundreds, chiefs over fifties, and chiefs over tens. 22 Then let them spend all their time judging. And whenever a problem is too great, then they should bring it to you. Let them help you free up your [time] by judging the smaller cases. 23 And if you do that, God will strengthen you, you will [have time to take care of more important matters], and these people will [return to their tents] more peacefully.’
24 Well, Moses paid attention to his father-in-law’s
suggestion and did everything he said. 25 He chose capable men throughout all
of
27 Then Moses [said goodbye] to his father-in-law and [Jethro] returned to his own land.
Chapter 19
1 It was on the same day, in the third month after the
children of
3 Then Moses climbed the
‘Now, [go] and tell this to the
children of
7 So, Moses went back and called the people’s elders, and laid out what God said and how He said it. 8 And all the people answered unanimously, saying, ‘We will listen to and obey everything that God has said.’ And Moses reported their words to God.
9 Then Jehovah told Moses, ‘{Look!} I’m going to come to you in a column of clouds, so the people can hear Me speaking to you. Then they will believe you through the age.’ And Moses reported what Jehovah said back to the people.
10 Then Jehovah said to Moses, ‘Go down and give solemn
instructions to the people. They must be cleansed both today and tomorrow, and
they must wash their clothes. 11 Make sure they are ready by the third day,
because on the third day the Lord will descend to
14 So, Moses went down the mountain to the people. He then cleansed them and [had them] wash their clothes. 15 And he told them: ‘Get ready!… and for the next three days, no [man] should even get close to a woman!’
16 So, as the morning of the third day dawned, there were voices; there was lightning; there was a dark cloud on Sinai; and there was trumpeting that was so loud the people in the camp trembled. 17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood there close to the camp.
18 Then the whole mountain started to smoke, because God had descended upon it in fire. And the smoke kept rising as though it was a furnace, and the people were all in awe.
19 Well, the trumpeting got even louder
as Moses spoke. Then God answered him with a voice… 20 Jehovah came down
to the top of
23 Then Moses said to God, ‘The people won’t be able to
approach
24 Then Jehovah told him: ‘Now, go down [the mountain] and bring Aaron back with you. But don’t allow the Priests or the people force their way up to God, for fear that Jehovah will destroy them.’
25 So, Moses went [back] down to the people and reminded them [again].
Chapter 20
1 Then Jehovah said all of this:
2 ‘I am Jehovah your God who brought you out of the
4 ‘You
must not make images for yourselves of anything in the skies above on the earth
below, or things that live in the water under the earth. 5 You must not bow
before them or serve them, for I Jehovah your God am a jealous
God, and I bring the sins of the ancestors upon the children, grandchildren,
and great-grandchildren of those who hate Me. 6 But I am merciful to the
thousands who love Me and keep My Commandments.
7 ‘You must not misuse the Name of your God Jehovah, for Jehovah your God will not forgive those who misuse His Name.
8 ‘Keep the Sabbath day and make it holy. 9 You may work and get everything done in six days, 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of your God Jehovah, and you must do no work… not you, your son, your daughter, your male servant, your female servant, your ox, your burro, any of your cattle, or any strangers that are visiting among you. 11 Because, Jehovah made the sky, the ground, the sea, and everything in them, then He rested on the seventh day. So, Jehovah blessed the seventh day and made it holy.
12 ‘Honor your father and mother, as Jehovah your God commanded you, so that things may go well for you and that you may live a long time in the land that Jehovah your God is giving you.
13 ‘You must not commit adultery.
14 ‘You must not steal.
15 ‘You must not commit murder.
16 ‘You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.
17 ‘You must not desire your neighbor’s wife, his house, his field, his male servant, his female servant, his ox, his burro, any other animal, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.’
18 Well, [during this time] the people were paying attention to all the thunder and lightning, the sounds of the trumpets, and the smoke on the mountain, and everyone was afraid and backed far away. 19 So they told Moses, ‘You talk to us… don’t let God talk to us, because we’re afraid that we might die.’
20 And Moses said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid, because God didn’t come here to test you or to make you afraid of Him so you won’t sin.’ 21 However, the people just backed away.
Then Moses went into the darkness where God was. 22 And Jehovah said to Moses, ‘This is what you must say to the house of Jacob, and what you will report to the children of Israel: You have seen Me speak to you from the sky, 23 so, don’t make gods of silver or gold for yourselves. 24 You must make an Altar to Me from the dirt wherever I record My name. And you must sacrifice your whole-burnt offerings upon it, as well as your peace offerings, and your sheep and calves. Then I will come to you and bless you.
25 ‘Now, if you build a stone Altar to Me, don’t use cut stones; because, if you use tools on them, they will become unclean. 26 Nor should you build any steps to My Altar, so the naked [parts of your bodies] can be seen from there.’
Chapter 21
1 ‘Now, these are the Laws that you are to show to them:
2 ‘If you buy a Hebrew slave, he may only serve you for six years, and in the seventh year he must be set free without cost. 3 If he comes alone, he must leave alone; but if his wife comes with him, then his wife must also leave with him. 4 However, if his master gives him a wife and she gives birth to sons or daughters, she and her children belong to the master, so [the slave] will leave alone. 5 But if the slave should say, I love my master, my wife, and my children, so I don’t want to leave free, 6 his master should bring him to the judgment-seat of God and take him up to the door, where he will use an awl to punch [a hole through] his [slave’s] ear against the doorframe. [This signifies] that he will serve [his master] through the age.
7 ‘And if anyone sells his daughter as a house slave, she isn’t to leave as other female slaves leave. 8 If she hasn’t been pleasing to her master after she has been involved with him, he may only set her free. He can’t sell her to some foreigner after he has messed with her. 9 But if he engages her to his son, he must treat her as a daughter. 10 However, if he takes someone for himself, he must never deprive her of her clothing, her needs, or her companionship with him. 11 If he refuses to do these three things for her, she must be set free at no cost.
12 ‘If any man hits another and kills him, he must absolutely be put to death. 13 But if it happens by accident, or if God [allows the situation that causes the death], I will provide a place where the killer can run to. 14 However, if someone who lies in wait and plans to murder his neighbor runs to the refuge, you must take him [far] from My Altar and put him to death.
15 ‘Whoever beats his father or mother must be put to death, 16 and whoever calls his father or mother bad names must die.
17 ‘If someone overpowers and kidnaps one of the children
of
18 ‘If two men are shouting at each other and one hits the other with a rock or his fist, and he doesn’t die but is laid up in bed, 19 the man who hit him will be cleared if the other can [eventually] get up and walk (even with the aid of a cane), as long as he pays for the lost time and the cost of his healing.
20 ‘If a man hits his male or female slave with a cane and the person dies as the result, he must be punished. 21 However, if the slave continues to live a few days after that, the master shouldn’t be punished, because it’s his own loss.
22 ‘If two men are fighting and hit a pregnant woman, and her child is born deformed as the result, he must be forced to pay whatever amount the woman’s husband demands of him. 23 But if the child is born perfectly formed [but injured], he must pay life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burning for burning, wound for wound, whipping for whipping.
26 ‘If someone should hit his male or female slave in the eye and put it out, that slave should be set free because of the eye injury. 27 And if he [breaks or knocks out] the tooth of his male or female slave, that slave should be set free because of the tooth.
28 ‘If a bull gores a man or woman and he or she dies, the bull must be stoned to death and its flesh can’t be eaten… however, the bull’s owner will be cleared. 29 But if the bull has been known to gore before and the owner was told and hasn’t done anything about it, and then it kills a man or woman, the bull must be stoned and its owner must also die. 30 However, if a ransom is demanded instead, he must pay whatever they ask for his life.
31 ‘If a bull gores someone’s son or daughter, it must be handled according to the law that was given. 32 But if the bull gores a male or female slave, their master must be paid thirty double-silver coins, and the bull must be stoned.
33 ‘If anyone digs an open pit or a hole in rock and then fails to cover it, and an ox or a burro falls into it, 34 the owner of the pit must pay a compensation to [the animal’s] owner, but the dead [animal] will be his.
35 ‘And if a man’s bull should gore his neighbor’s bull and kill it, they must sell the living bull and divide the money, then divide up the dead bull. 36 However, if the bull has been known to gore in the past and his owner knew and didn’t do anything about it, he must pay for the bull, and the dead one won’t be his.’
Chapter 22
1 ‘If someone steals an ox or a sheep and kills it or sells it, he must repay five calves for a calf, and four sheep for a sheep. 2 And if a thief should be caught inside a fence, and is beaten and dies as the result, no one will be found guilty [of killing him]. 3 However, if someone [kills a thief] the next day, he is guilty and should be [put to death].
‘If a thief has nothing left [of what he stole], he can be sold [as a slave] to repay what he has stolen. 4 But if the thing he stole is still around and can be found alive in his possession (as with an ox or a sheep), he must pay back twice as much.
5 ‘And if anyone [has allowed his cattle] to strip his field or vineyard, and then sends his animals to graze in someone else’s field, he must make [pay his neighbor back] from the produce of his own field. But if the animals strip [his neighbor’s] entire field, he must pay with the best of his field and the best of his vineyard.
6 ‘Now, if [someone sets a] fire (even if he thinks it has gone out) and it burns a threshing floor or a field of grain, the one who sets the fire must pay a compensation.
7 ‘And if anyone gives his neighbor money or other [valuables] to keep and they are stolen from the man’s house, the thief must repay double if he is caught. 8 But if the thief isn’t caught, the owner of the house must stand before God and swear that he hasn’t done anything wrong to whatever his neighbor left with him. 9 Then every accusation, whether it involved a calf, a burro, a sheep, some clothing (or whatever)… every claim of loss must be taken before God. And anyone that is found guilty by God must repay his neighbor double.
10 ‘And if anyone leaves a calf, a sheep, or any other animal with his neighbor and it is wounded or it dies – and no one knows for sure how it happened – 11 each must swear an oath to God that he isn’t guilty in any way. Then his master should find him innocent and he won’t have to pay any compensation. 12 However, if it was stolen from him, he must repay the owner. 13 And if someone stole any other type of animal, [he must] return the animal to its owner, and he won’t have to pay a compensation.
14 ‘If anyone borrows [an animal] from his neighbor and it is then wounded, or dies, or is stolen while its owner is away, he must be compensated for it. 15 But if the owner is there, he doesn’t have to pay compensation. And if it is something that he rented, [the owner] must be paid back in lieu of his rent.
16 ‘If anyone deceives a virgin that he isn’t engaged to and [has sex] with her, he must take her as his wife. 17 But if her father refuses and won’t consent to giving her as his wife, he must pay her father the amount of dowry that is required for a virgin.
18 ‘You shouldn’t save the lives of witches.
19 ‘Anyone who [has sex] with an animal must be put to death.
20 ‘Anyone who offers sacrifices to a god other than Jehovah must be put to death.
21 ‘You must not harm strangers or oppress them, because
you were once strangers in the
22 ‘You must not do anything to harm widows or orphans. 23 And if you do treat them badly, they should call out to Me and I will hear them, 24 which will make Me very angry. Then you will be killed with a sword, and your wife will be a widow and your children orphans.
25 If you lend money to one of your poor brothers who lives nearby, you shouldn’t be hard on him and you shouldn’t charge him interest. 26 And if you take your neighbor’s clothes as security, you must make sure that he has them back before sunset, 27 because they are all that cover his nakedness, so, where can he sleep? And if he calls to Me, I will listen, because I am merciful.
28 ‘You should never speak badly of those in power, or say bad things about the rulers of your people.
29 ‘You must never hold back the first fruitage of your threshing floor [or of your wine] press.
‘You must give your first-born sons to Me, 30 as well as those of your calves, sheep, and burros. They can stay under their mothers for seven days, but on the eighth day, you must offer them to Me.
31 ‘You must be a holy [people] to Me, so you may not eat the flesh of wild animals… you should throw it to the dogs.’
Chapter 23
1 ‘You shouldn’t listen to false testimony, nor should you allow someone who is crooked to provide false testimony.
2 ‘You must not join a mob to do bad things, nor should you agree with the majority when they are wrong.
3 ‘If a man is found guilty, you must not [free him from his responsibilities] just because he’s poor, 4 nor should you [find any man guilty] because he’s poor.
5 ‘If you find your enemy’s ox or burro wandering loose, you must catch it and return it to him. 6 And if you see your enemy’s burro collapsed under its load, you shouldn’t just pass it by. You should help him to get it back on its feet.
7 ‘Never do anything that’s unfair. You shouldn’t kill the innocent along with the guilty, or accept a bribe to find a guilty person innocent. 8 You shouldn’t accept gifts [when judging], because gifts blind the eyes of those who can see and twist the words of justice.
9 ‘You should never mistreat a stranger, because you know
how they feel, since you were once strangers in the
10 ‘You can plant your field and harvest it for six years. 11 However, every seven years you must leave it alone and allow it to rest, so the poor of your nation can [find] food there, and the wild animals can eat whatever is left. And that’s what you must do to your vineyard and to your olive grove as well.
12 ‘You should work for six days, but the seventh day is a day of rest, so your burro, ox, and the sons of your female slaves and strangers can be refreshed.
13 ‘Obey everything that I have commanded you, and don’t even mention the names of other gods or speak of them in any way.
14 ‘You must hold a feast to Me three times a year. 15 Make sure to observe the Feast of Yeast-Free Bread. You must eat yeast-free bread for seven days (as I told y