From the Greek Septuagint text as used by First Century Christians.

Written by Moses about 1549-BCE (according to our calculations) after the construction of the Tent of Proofs in the desert.

Chapter 1

1 These are the names of the Sons of IsraEl that came to Egypt with their father Jacob and their families:
2 ReuBen, SimeOn, Levi, Judah, 3 IshSachar, ZebuLun, BenJamin, 4 Dan, NaphTali, Gad, and Asher.
5 Then [there was] JoSeph [who lived] in Egypt; so altogether, there were seventy-five of these people that [descended] from Jacob.

6 [In time], JoSeph, his brothers, and that entire generation died. 7 But the children of IsraEl grew and multiplied into a large and strong [nation], and the land helped them to grow.

8 Then a new king became the ruler over Egypt that didn’t know JoSeph (possibly SobeKemsaf I). 9 And he said to his nation:
‘{Look!} The children of IsraEl have [grown tremendously] and they’re now more powerful than we are.
10 So, let’s be smooth in the ways that we deal with them, because if they continue to grow and then we find ourselves at war, they could side with our enemies.
And after they beat us in war, they will leave our land!’

11 So he appointed [governors] over them, whose [job] was to make them do hard labor; and they built fortified cities for Pharaoh, including Pithom, RaMesse, 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 IsraEl.
13 So the Egyptians became tyrants over IsraEl 14 and made their lives unbearable by forcing them to work hard by making bricks from clay and working in the fields… whatever needed to be done.
And they were also dealt with violently.

15 Then the king of Egypt told the midwives that [served] the Hebrews (one was SepPhora and the other was Poua):
16 ‘When you serve as midwives to the Hebrew women and they’re about to give birth, kill [the baby] if it’s a boy, but leave it alone if it’s a girl.’

17 However, the midwives feared God and wouldn’t do what the king of Egypt told them… they allowed the male [babies] to live.
18 So, the king of Egypt called for the midwives and asked them:
‘Why haven’t you [killed] the male [babies]?’

19 And the midwives answered Pharaoh, saying:
‘Hebrew women aren’t like the women of Egypt, because they give birth before the midwives arrive, so they [already] have their children!’

20 As the result, God dealt kindly with the midwives, while the [IsraElites] continued to multiply and grow very strong.
21 Also, these midwives that 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 that married one of the daughters of [his tribe]. 2 Then she got pregnant and gave birth to a male child. And after 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, then she set it in the mud by the river, 4 and she had his sister keep watch in the distance to see what would happen to him.

5 Well, Pharaoh’s daughter thereafter 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 went up and 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 (Egyptian: Mo-sheh, or, to draw), because she said:
‘I drew him from the water.’

11 In time, after Moses had grown, he went to see his brothers, the sons of IsraEl.
And as he was observing how bad things were, he noticed an Egyptian beating one of his Hebrew brothers of the children of IsraEl. 12
Then he looked around and he didn’t see anyone, so he bludgeoned the Egyptian and buried [his body] in the sand.

13 Well, 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 to be our ruler and judge? Are you going to kill me like you killed that Egyptian yesterday?’

This stunned Moses, 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 withdrew from the face of Pharaoh and went to live in the land of Midian.

Then, upon arriving in the land of Midian, he sat down next to a well. 16 And nearby, the seven daughters of the Priest of Midian happened to be grazing their father’s sheep.
Then, when they came [to the well] to fill their buckets to water the flock, 17 some shepherds arrived and [tried to] chase them away.
However, Moses stood up and protected them. And thereafter, he drew water for them and watered their sheep.

18 Well, after they returned to their home, their father (RagouEl) asked them:
‘Why have you returned so quickly today?’

19 And they replied:
‘An Egyptian protected us from the shepherds; and then he drew water for us and watered our sheep.’

20 So [RaguEl] asked his daughters:
‘Where is he… why did you leave the man? Invite him over [for a meal].’

21 Well [after that], Moses developed a good relationship with the man, and [RaguEl] gave his daughter SepPhoran to be Moses’ woman.
22 Then she got pregnant and gave birth to a son, whom Moses named Gersam (Visitor); for he said,
‘I’m a visitor in a strange land.’

23 After a while, the king of Egypt died. But the children of IsraEl kept groaning and crying because of their hard work. And the cries over their labor ascended to God.
24 [He] heard their groaning and God remembered the Sacred Agreement He had made with AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob. 25
So He [started paying attention] to the children of IsraEl, and He made Himself known to them.

Chapter 3

1 It was while Moses was out tending the flock of his father-in-law (His Excellence, the Priest of Midian) that he’d led the sheep into the desert to the dry mountain (Horeb).
2 And 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’ll get closer, so I can see this great sight… to find out why the bush isn’t being burned!’

4 And when [God] saw him drawing closer to look, the Lord called to 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 the Lord told Moses:
‘I’ve seen the hardships that My people are enduring in Egypt, and I’ve heard their cries about their task-masters, so I know what they’re going through.
8 Now, I’ve come down here to free them from the Egyptians and to take them away from that land, to a land that is good and has plenty of room… a land that is flowing with milk and honey. It’s the place where the CanaAnites, Chettites, Amorites, Pherezites, Gergeshites, Evites, and Jebusites [live].
9 For ,{Look!} the shouting of the children of IsraEl has now reached to Me, and I’ve seen the suffering that the Egyptians are bringing upon them.
10 So now, come; because, I’m going to send you to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and you’re going to bring My people (the children of IsraEl) out of the land of Egypt.’

11 But Moses asked God:
‘Just who am I that I should go to Pharaoh the king of Egypt and bring the children of IsraEl out that land?’

12 And God replied:
‘I will be with you! This [place] will serve as the sign that I am sending you.
Then when you bring My people out of Egypt, you must serve God on this mountain.’

13 But Moses said to God:
‘Look, I’ll go to the children of IsraEl and tell them,
The God of our ancestors has sent me to you.
But they’re going to ask,
What is His Name?
So, what should I tell them?’

14 And God told Moses:
‘I am The Being! Just tell the children of IsraEl that The Being has sent you.’

15 Then God said to Moses:
‘Tell the Sons of IsraEl that Jehovah the God of your ancestors – the God of AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob – has sent you to them.
That has been My Name through the ages, and it’s how I shall be remembered from generation to generation.

16 ‘So, go and gather the elders of the children of IsraEl, then tell them that Jehovah, the God of your ancestors, has appeared to you. He’s the God of AbraHam, the God of IsaAc, and the God of Jacob.
[And tell them that] He said:
I have looked [down] and [seen] all the bad things that are happening to you in Egypt.
17 And tell them that I will take them away from their oppression in Egypt into the land of the CanaAnites, Chettites, Amorites, Pherezites, Gergeshites, Evites, and Jebusites… a land that is flowing with milk and honey.
18 And then they will listen to what you have to say.

‘After that, you and the elders of IsraEl must go to Pharaoh the king of Egypt and tell him this:
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 Egypt) won’t let you go [unless he sees] a mighty hand [of power]. 20 So I will raise My hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I [wish to show] to them… and then he will allow you to leave.

21 ‘I will also make [My] people look good in the eyes 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], which you will then put on your sons and your daughters… so you will plunder the Egyptians.’

Chapter 4

1 Then Moses asked:
‘But, what if they don’t listen to me and do what I tell them to do? Or, what if they say,
God hasn’t appeared to you…
what should I tell them then?’

2 So the Lord asked him:
‘What do you have in your hand?’

And he replied:
‘My walking stick.’

3 Then [the Lord] 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 after that, the Lord 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 once 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 the Lord 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 Then [the Lord] 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 had returned to the regular shade of his flesh.

8 [Then the Lord said]:
‘So, if the first sign doesn’t make them listen to you and believe, the second sign will. 9 But if they still won’t listen to you or believe after these two signs, then draw some water from the river and pour it out on the dry ground… and the river water will turn into blood.’

10 Then Moses said to the Lord:
‘I beg you Lord; I’ve not been good at this in the past, and I’ve not become any better at it since You’ve started talking to your servant… I’m a poor speaker and I talk slowly!’

11 And the Lord asked Moses:
‘Who gave man his mouth? Who made both those that can hear and the deaf, as well as those that can see and the blind? Wasn’t it Me… God?
12 Now, go on, and I will open your mouth and tell you what to say!’

13 But Moses continued:
‘I beg you Lord, send someone that is more capable!’

14 Well, this made the Lord very angry with Moses, so He said:
‘Look; isn’t Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he’ll speak for you… look, he’s coming to meet you, and when he sees you, he’ll be jumping for joy.
15 Then you must talk to him and put My words into his mouth, and I’ll open both of your mouths and tell you what to say.
16 Let him speak to the people for you… he’ll serve as your mouth and you will be the things of God to him.
17 So now, take this walking stick that turned into a snake in your hands and work miracles with it!’

18 Well thereafter, Moses returned to His Excellence (his father-in-law), and said:
‘I’m going to visit my brother in Egypt to see if he’s still living.’

And His Excellence said to Moses:
‘Go in health.’

Well, after some time, the king of Egypt (possibly Kamose) died. 19 And the Lord said to Moses (while he was still in Midian):
‘Now go… leave for Egypt, because those that wanted to kill you are dead.’

20 So Moses took his wife and children, mounted them on his animals, and returned to Egypt.
Moses also carried along the walking stick [through which he had received power] from God.

21 And the Lord said to Moses:
‘When you return to Egypt, consider all the miracles that I’ve given to you, then you must perform these things before Pharaoh.
However, I will make him hard-hearted and he will still refuse to send the people away. 22 So you must tell Pharaoh,
This is what Jehovah has said:
IsraEl is My firstborn, 23 and I’ve told you to send My people away so they can serve Me; however, if you won’t send them away, {Look!} I will destroy all your firstborn!’

24 Well, [during their journey], a messenger of Jehovah met them along the way at an inn, and he wanted to kill [Moses’ son]. 25 But SepPhoran grabbed a [sharp] stone and cut off her son’s foreskin.
Then she fell at his feet and said:
‘See… the blood of my son’s circumcision is flowing!’
26 So because she said, ‘The blood of my son’s circumcision is flowing,’ he left.

27 Then the Lord told Aaron:
‘Now, go into the desert to meet Moses.’
So, he went and met him at the Mountain of God, and they kissed each other. 28 And thereafter, Moses told Aaron everything that the Lord had said, why he was being sent, and of all the things that he’d been instructed to do.

29 So Moses and Aaron went and gathered the elders of the children of IsraEl, 30 and Aaron told them everything that God had said to Moses; then he performed the miracles before the people… 31 and the people believed and were happy, because God was visiting the children of IsraEl and He had seen how they were being oppressed.
So, the people all bowed to their faces before him.

Chapter 5

1 Well after that, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him:
‘This is what Jehovah the God of IsraEl, said:
Send My people away, so they can hold a feast to Me in the desert.’

2 And Pharaoh asked:
‘Just who is this Jehovah, that I must pay attention to anything He has to say and send the children of IsraEl away? I don’t know Jehovah, and I’m not letting IsraEl go!’

3 So [Moses and Aaron] said:
‘The God of the Hebrews has called us to Him, and we’re going on a three-day journey into the desert to [offer] sacrifices to our God Jehovah; otherwise, we’re afraid that He might strike us and we’ll die!’

4 But the king of Egypt replied:
‘Why are you, Moses and Aaron, trying to keep people from doing their work? Now, go back and just do your jobs!’

5 Then Pharaoh said [to his people]:
‘{Look!} There are huge numbers of them and we can’t allow them to slack off from doing their work!’
6 And as the result, Pharaoh gave orders to those that were in charge to tell their supervisors 7 not to give the people any straw for brick-making as they did the day before and three days before that.
He said:
‘Let them gather and carry the straw for themselves! 8 However, they must maintain the quota for the daily brick making… don’t let up on them, because they’re lazy!
Why, they came here demanding that we must allow them to [go out and] offer a sacrifice to their God. 9 Therefore, make the men’s work much harder, so they’ll pay attention to that instead of to 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 land of Egypt as they gathered stubble for straw. 13 And the taskmasters kept pushing them, saying:
‘You aren’t meeting the quotas you had when [we were providing] the straw.’

14 But then the supervisors that were assigned over the children of IsraEl by Pharaoh’s governors were whipped… and they were asked:
‘Why aren’t you meeting your brick-making quotas as you did yesterday and three days ago?’

15 Well as the result, the children of IsraEl’s supervisors went to see Pharaoh, and asked him:
‘Why are you treating your servants this way? 16 You don’t give us any straw, but you tell us to make bricks anyhow.
And now {Look!} your servants have been whipped! Are you going to allow your people to be injured?’

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 Now, go to work instead, because you won’t be given any straw… but you must meet the same quota of bricks.’

19 Well, the children of IsraEl’s supervisors realized that they were in a tight situation, since they’d been told that they still had to deliver the same daily quota of bricks.
20 So when they saw Moses and Aaron coming to meet them (just after they’d left Pharaoh), 21 they said:
‘May God look down on you and judge you, because you’ve made us so hated by Pharaoh and his servants that you’ve put the sword into their hands to kill us!’

22 Then Moses turned to Jehovah, and said:
‘I beg You, O 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’s made things harder for these people… and You still 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’m the One that 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 where they were visitors and living as strangers.

5 ‘Now, I’ve heard the groaning of the children of IsraEl over the oppressive ways that the Egyptians are keeping them in slavery, and I’ve remembered the sacred agreement [that I made] with them.
6 So, go and tell the children of IsraEl that I am Jehovah and that I will lead them out of the tyranny of the Egyptians and free them from slavery.
I will pay their ransom with a hard pitch and a great judgment, 7 then I’ll take them to be My people and I’ll be their God… and they’ll know that I am Jehovah their God who freed them from the tyranny of the Egyptians.
8 Then I’ll bring them into the land that I reached out to give to AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob… I’ll give it to them as their inheritance, for I am Jehovah!’

9 So, that’s what Moses then went and told the Sons of IsraEl.
However, they wouldn’t listen to Moses, because of their fear and their hard work. 10 So the Lord told Moses:
11 ‘Go and tell Pharaoh the king of Egypt to send the children of IsraEl out of his land!’

12 And Moses replied to the Lord, saying:
‘Look, the children of IsraEl didn’t listen to me, so how will I get Pharaoh to listen to me? Besides, I’m not a good speaker.’

13 So the Lord spoke to [both] Moses and Aaron and told them to order Pharaoh (the king of Egypt) to send the children of IsraEl out of the land of Egypt.

14 Now, these were the family heads of each of the houses of [IsraEl at the time]:
The sons of ReuBen (IsraEl’s firstborn) were Enoch, PhalLus, AsRon, and Charmi. They were ReuBen’s children.

15 The sons of SimeOn were:
JemuEl, JaMin, Aod, Jachin, SaAr, and Saul (the son of a Phoenician woman). These were SimeOn’s children.

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 The sons of Gedson (and the family heads) were:
LoBeni and Semei.

CaAth’s sons were:
18 AmBram, IshSaAr, 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 IshSaAr were:
KorAh, Naphec, and Zechri. 22 And the sons of OziEl were MisaEl, EliShaphan, and Segri.

23 Then Aaron married EliShaBeth, the daughter of AminAdab and the sister of NaAsson, and she gave birth to Nadab, AbiUd, EliEzer, and IthaMar.

24 KorAh’s sons were:
Asir, ElKana, and AbiAsar. These were KorAh’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 His power to bring the children of IsraEl out of the land of Egypt.

27 So, this is what they went and said to Pharaoh the king of Egypt (before Aaron and Moses brought the children of IsraEl out of the land of Egypt) 28 on the very day that the Lord spoke to Moses.
29 For the Lord told Moses:
‘I am Jehovah! So, speak to Pharaoh the king of Egypt and tell him whatever I say to you.’

30 But Moses replied to the Lord:
‘Look, I’m not a good speaker; so how will I get Pharaoh to listen to me?’

Chapter 7

1 Then the Lord told 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 IsraEl out of his land!
3 However, I will make Pharaoh hardhearted, then I will bring many signs and wonders to the land of Egypt; 4 but, Pharaoh will still refuse to listen to you.
Then I will lay My hand upon Egypt and bring My people the children of IsraEl out of their land by My power and with a great vengeance.
5 And all the Egyptians will know that I am Jehovah, and that I stretched out My hand toward Egypt and brought the children of IsraEl out of their midst.’

6 So Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded them.

7 Now, Moses was eighty years old, and his brother Aaron was eighty-three years old when they spoke to Pharaoh.

8 Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron:
9 ‘If Pharaoh says that you must give him a sign or perform a miracle; 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 the Lord 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, warlocks, 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 Nevertheless, Pharaoh’s heart became hard and he refused to listen to what Jehovah had instructed them to say.
14 So, the Lord 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 with him there on its bank.
Then take [Aaron’s] walking stick that turned into a snake, 16 and tell [Pharaoh] 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 the Lord!’

‘[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 And at that, all the fish in the river will die and it will stink, so the Egyptians won’t be able to drink water from the river.’

19 And the Lord continued:
‘Then tell your brother Aaron to take his walking stick and hold his arms out over all the water in Egypt (over its rivers, canals, ponds, and any standing water) and they will turn into blood.
This blood will be throughout the entire land of Egypt… even in their pottery and wooden jars!’

20 So Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord commanded them.
[Aaron] held out the walking stick and slapped the river right there in front of Pharaoh and his servants, and all the river water changed 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 land of Egypt.

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 the Lord said [would happen].
23 Then Pharaoh turned around and went back into his palace without looking at anything.

24 Well, the Egyptians had to dig [wells] around the river to find drinking water, because they couldn’t drink the water from the river.
25 And Jehovah’s conquest of the river lasted for seven days.

Chapter 8

1 Then the Lord 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 the Lord said to Moses:
‘Then, tell your brother Aaron to raise his arms with his walking stick in his hand over the rivers, canals, and pools, to bring up the frogs.’

6 So when Aaron held his arms out over the waters of Egypt, it did bring up the frogs; and the frogs that he brought up covered the whole land of Egypt.

7 Well, the Egyptian soothsayers used their magic and they too brought frogs upon the land of Egypt.

8 But then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said:
‘Pray to Jehovah for me and ask Him to take the frogs away from my people and from me.
Then I will send [the children of IsraEl] away to offer their sacrifices to Jehovah.’

9 And Moses said to Pharaoh:
‘Tell me exactly when I should pray for the frogs to disappear from you, your servants, and your people, [for that’s when they will leave] 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 no [God] other than Jehovah. 11 For 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 requested. 13 And Jehovah did just as Moses had asked… the frogs died in the houses, villages, and fields.
14 Then 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 the Lord 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 land of Egypt.’

17 So Aaron stuck out his walking stick and hit the dirt on the ground, and fleas covered the men and the 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 the men and the animals.
19 So the soothsayers said to Pharaoh:
‘This is the finger of God!’

But Pharaoh’s heart was again hardened and he wouldn’t listen to them and do as Jehovah had said. 20 So the Lord said to Moses:
‘Get up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh as he’s going 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 For 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 land of Gesem, where My people are living… there’ll be no stable flies there. Then you will know that I am Jehovah, the God of the whole earth, 23 when I create a difference between My people and yours!
This is going to happen in your land tomorrow!’

24 Well, the stable flies came in huge numbers and they got into the houses of Pharaoh, his servants, and everyone in the land of Egypt… the land was virtually destroyed by stable flies!
25 So Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron [again] and said:
‘Now, go and offer a sacrifice to Jehovah your God… [but do it] here in this land.’

26 However, Moses said:
‘We can’t do that, because the things we will sacrifice to Jehovah our God are considered disgusting by 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, just as our Lord told us.’

28 Then Pharaoh said:
‘Well, you can 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 then refuse to send the people away to sacrifice to Jehovah.’

30 So Moses left Pharaoh and he 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 the Lord told Moses:
‘Go to Pharaoh and tell him that this is what Jehovah the God of the Hebrews has said:
Send My people away so they can serve Me! 2 If you don’t send My people away and if you prevent them from going, 3 {Look!} the Lord will touch the cattle in your 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 IsraEl. None of those that belong to the children of IsraEl will die.’

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 that belonged to all the Egyptians died, but none of the children of IsraEl’s cattle died.
7 And when Pharaoh saw that none of the cattle that belonged to the children of IsraEl died (not one), his heart became even harder; so he refused to let the people go.

8 Then the Lord 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 so it can blow like dust over the entire land of Egypt.
Then the men and animals throughout all of Egypt will break out with blisters.’

10 So Moses carried furnace ashes before Pharaoh and threw them into the sky… and they caused blisters to break out on both the men and their animals.

11 Well, the soothsayers were no longer able to stand before Moses, because they were also covered with blisters like everyone else in the land of Egypt.
12 But Jehovah made Pharaoh’s heart even harder, so he wouldn’t listen to them and do what the Lord told him to do.

13 And the Lord 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 And now I’m going to raise My hand to strike you and kill your people, wiping them off of the earth. 16 For, 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 world!

17 ‘You’ve taken great pains to keep My people and to not let them go… haven’t you? 18 So look! At this same time tomorrow I will bring a hailstorm that will be the worst that Egypt has seen since the time it was founded.
19 Hurry and gather your cattle, as well as everything else that you have in the fields… all the men and cattle that you can find in the fields.
For if they don’t go inside a building, the hail will hit them and kill them!’

20 So, those servants of Pharaoh that were afraid of what the Lord said brought their cattle into their homes. 21 And those that didn’t pay any attention to what the Lord said left their cattle in the fields.

22 Then the Lord told Moses:
‘Raise your hands to the sky, and there will be a hailstorm throughout the entire land of Egypt… on the men, the cattle, and all the plants that are growing on the ground.’

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 land of Egypt.
24 There was hail and there was lightning mixed with hail… it was the greatest hailstorm to hit Egypt in the [history of] that nation!
25 The hail landed all over the land of Egypt – on the men, the animals, and the grass in the fields – and it broke all the trees in the fields.
26 But in the land of Gesem where the children of IsraEl were, there was no hail.

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 the thunder, lightning, hail, and rain will stop… then you will know that the earth belongs to Jehovah.
30 However, I know that you and your servants still don’t fear Jehovah.’

31 Well, [Egypt’s] flax and barley was all destroyed, because the barley was fully-grown and the flax had seeds. 32 However, the wheat and rye hadn’t been damaged, because they came up later.

33 Then Moses left Pharaoh and [walked] out of the city. And when he raised his hands to Jehovah, the thundering ended, 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 hardened heart that Pharaoh refused to send the children of IsraEl away, as Jehovah had instructed him through Moses.

Chapter 10

1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said:
‘Go to Pharaoh [again], because I’ve hardened the hearts of him and his servants so I could 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 through the wonders I’ve brought upon them, and so that they will know that I am the Lord.’

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 Me!
4 But if you won’t send My people away; {Look!} at this same time tomorrow, I will bring huge amounts of locusts to all your borders. 5 They will cover the entire land, so that you won’t be able to see the ground. They will eat everything that the hail has left for you, and chew up every tree that you still have growing in the land.
6 Your houses, the houses of your servants, and all the houses throughout the land of Egypt will be filled with them. It will be something that neither your fathers nor their ancestors have seen from their time until this day.’

Then Moses turned 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 Egypt is [being] destroyed?’

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, 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 your God, because that’s all you really wanted.
Now, throw them out from before the presence of Pharaoh!’

12 Then the Lord told Moses:
‘Raise your hands over the land of Egypt and let the locusts come to the land. They will eat every plant on the ground and all the fruit that wasn’t damaged by the hail on the trees!’

13 So Moses raised 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 sending them throughout the land of Egypt. And there they sat in huge numbers throughout all the borders of Egypt.
Never had such locusts been seen before or since! 15 They covered the entire ground and they devastated the land.
They ate all the plants off the ground and any fruit in the trees that hadn’t been damaged by the hail… nothing green was left on the trees or in the fields anywhere in the land of Egypt.

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… ask Him to 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, picking up the locusts and throwing them into the Red Sea… and there wasn’t a single locust left anywhere in the land of Egypt.
20 But Jehovah continued to harden Pharaoh’s heart, so he didn’t send the children of IsraEl away.

21 Then the Lord told Moses:
‘Now lift your hands toward the sky and bring darkness to the land of Egypt… a darkness that can be felt.’

22 So Moses raised his hands to the sky, and it stormed throughout the land of Egypt for three days… and the sky became totally black.
23 Well, for the next three days, nobody could see anyone else, so no one even got out of bed. However, all the children of IsraEl had light where they were.

24 Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron, and said:
‘Now, go and serve your God Jehovah… but you must leave your sheep, your cattle, and your belongings here!’

25 However, Moses said:
‘No! You must allow us the burnt offerings and sacrifices that we’re going to offer to our God Jehovah… 26 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 supposed 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 the Lord told Moses:
‘I’m going to bring one more plague upon Pharaoh and Egypt… and 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, silver, and gold jewelry.’

3 Well, Jehovah caused his people to be looked upon 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 the Lord said:
About midnight I will be going throughout Egypt, 5 and all the firstborn in the land will die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sits on the throne, to the firstborn of the female slave that sits by the mill, as well as the firstborn of all the cattle.
6 Then a cry will [be heard] throughout the land of Egypt such as has never been heard before and will never be heard again.
7 However, among the children of IsraEl, not even a dog will snarl at a man or an animal. That’s when you’ll see the great difference that Jehovah will make between the Egyptians and IsraEl.
8 For they will then be your servants… they’ll come to [you] and bow, saying,
Leave, both you and all the people that you’re in charge of.
And that’s when [you will] leave.’

9 Meanwhile, Moses had left Pharaoh [feeling very] angry. And the Lord told Moses:
‘Pharaoh isn’t going to listen to you anymore, so now I’m going to bring great signs and wonders to the land of Egypt.’

10 Yes, though Moses and Aaron had been bringing all these signs and wonders to the land of Egypt and to Pharaoh; Jehovah kept hardening Pharaoh’s heart, so he wouldn’t listen and send the children of IsraEl out of the land of Egypt.

Chapter 12

1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron there in the land of Egypt, and said:
2 ‘This will be your first month. It is to be the first one [in your] year.
3 So, tell the whole gathering of the children of IsraEl that on the tenth day of this month, each man should select a lamb for his household (depending on the size of his family). 4 And if there are just a few in his house (too few [to eat a whole] lamb), they may go to [the home of] a nearby neighbor.
They are to figure out how many people there will be, and then calculate how much lamb they will eat.

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 gathering of the children of IsraEl must slaughter [their lambs] toward the evening, 7 and they must gather the blood and splash it on the top and both sides of the doorframes of the houses where they will be eating [the lamb].
8 Then that night, they must roast the flesh over a fire and eat it with fermentation-free bread and bitter herbs.

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.
Then, 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.
You must eat it quickly, because it will be Jehovah’s Passover. 12 For I will go throughout the land of Egypt that night and strike all the firstborn in that land (both the men and their animals), and I will bring My vengeance upon all the gods of Egypt… I am Jehovah!

13 ‘Now, this blood will be the sign that you are inside of each house; for when I see the blood, I will protect you, and you won’t be a part of the plague of destruction when I strike the land of Egypt.

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 ‘You must eat fermentation-free bread for seven days.
And starting on the first day, you must remove all the fermentation from your homes. For if anyone eats fermentation between the first and seventh days, that person must be destroyed in IsraEl.

16 ‘The first day will be called holy, and the seventh day will be your holy day when you aren’t to do any hired work.
The only work that you may do will be for the things that you require.

17 ‘You must observe this commandment, because this is the day that I will use My great power to bring you out of the land of Egypt… you must make this day a law through the ages for every generation!
18 You must eat fermentation-free bread from the evening of the fourteenth-day of the first month until the evening of the twenty-first day.
19 Fermentation must not be found in your homes during those seven days, and whoever eats anything with fermentation must have his life cut off from the gathering of IsraEl and he will be self-condemned in the land.
This applies to the native residents of your land and your neighbors (converts).
20 Nobody should eat anything that has fermentation… only fermentation-free bread may be eaten in any of your homes.’

21 Then Moses called all the elders of the children of IsraEl and told them:
‘Go find yourselves a lamb (according to your family needs) and slaughter the Passover.
22 Then [cut] bunches of hyssop branches and dip them into some of the blood next to the door, and touch it to the upper part and both sides of the door frame… with this blood that is by the door.
Thereafter, no one should go outside the door of his house until morning, 23 for the Lord will pass over you [as He] strikes the Egyptians… He will see the blood on the doorframes and the Lord will pass over that door, then He won’t allow the destroyer to enter your homes to strike you.

24 ‘Now, keep this as a Law for yourselves and for your descendants through the ages.
25 And when you enter the land that Jehovah has promised 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 IsraEl in Egypt and He struck the Egyptians, but [passed over] our homes.’

28 Well thereafter, the people bowed to their faces, then the children of IsraEl went and did exactly as Jehovah had instructed Moses and Aaron.

29 It was midnight when Jehovah struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt… from the firstborn of Pharaoh that was sitting on the throne, to the firstborn of the female slave that was sitting in a dungeon, and to the firstborn of all the cattle.
30 So, Pharaoh woke up that night (as did his servants and all the Egyptians) and there was a lot of screaming throughout the entire land of Egypt; for someone had died in every home.

31 As the result, Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron that night and told them this:
‘Get up and leave us, both you and the children of IsraEl! Go and serve your God Jehovah as you’ve asked, 32 and take your sheep and bulls with you.
But please bless me… I beg you!’

33 All the Egyptian people also urged them to leave their land quickly, because they were saying:
‘We’re all going to die!’

34 So the children of IsraEl took all their bread dough that hadn’t fermented yet and wrapped it in cloths, and carried it on their shoulders.
35 Then, following Moses’ instructions, they asked the Egyptians for clothing, as well as for items of silver and gold.
36 And because Jehovah had caused the Egyptians to view them favorably, they [gave them these things]… so they plundered the Egyptians.

37 Then the children of IsraEl got up and left RaMesse, traveling toward to SocChoth (some six-hundred-thousand men on foot) with everything they owned, 38 along with a huge number of others that left with them, as well as with their sheep, bulls, and many cattle.
39 [And when they got there], they baked the dough that they had brought from Egypt into fermentation-free loaves (there was still no fermentation in the dough), because the Egyptians hadn’t allowed them to stay any longer.
For, since they had been literally thrown out, they hadn’t been allowed enough time to properly prepare for their journey.

40 Now, though it had been four hundred and thirty years that the children of IsraEl lived in the land of CanaAn and in the land of Egypt; 41 the whole army of Jehovah left the land of Egypt that night.
42 And since this was [the night] that they kept watching for Jehovah to bring them out of the land of Egypt; all the children of IsraEl were to observe it as a night of watch to Jehovah throughout all their generations.

43 Then the Lord 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 However, 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 of the house… and no bones should be broken.
47 The entire gathering of the children of IsraEl must continue to do this.

48 ‘And if any converts come and want to observe the Passover to Jehovah, you must circumcise all their males before they can [partake of] the sacrifice; for thereafter, they will be treated as residents in the land.
However, no one that is uncircumcised may eat it.
49 So, there will be just one Law, and it will apply to both the native residents and to those that come to be converts among you.’

50 Then the children of IsraEl did exactly as Jehovah had instructed Moses and Aaron.
51 And that was the day Jehovah brought the children of IsraEl out of the land of Egypt with all their armies.

Chapter 13

1 Then the Lord told Moses:
2 ‘All the first-fathered and firstborn that open any womb among the children of IsraEl, whether of men or animals, are to be set aside as holy to Me, for they are now Mine!’

3 And Moses said to the people:
‘Remember this day! [It’s the one] when you were brought out of the land of Egypt and out of the house of slavery; for, Jehovah brought you out of there with His strong hand.
So, fermentation must not be eaten 4 on this day of new grain that you left. 5 And when Jehovah your God brings you into the land of the CanaAnites, Chettites, Amorites, Evites, Jebusites, Gergeshites, and Pherezites, which He swore to your ancestors that He would give you (a land that is flowing with milk and honey), you must perform the same service during this month.
6 You will all eat fermentation-free bread for six days, and the seventh day will be a feast day to Jehovah…  7 so, you will eat fermentation-free bread for seven days.
Nothing with fermentation may be seen among you, nor may you have fermentation inside all of your borders.
8 And you must say to your sons on this day:
This is how Jehovah dealt with me as I was leaving Egypt.

9 ‘Let this always serve as a sign on your hand and as something in front of your eyes to remember, so that Jehovah’s Law will always stay on your [lips]! Because, Jehovah God brought you out of Egypt with His mighty hand.
10 Therefore, each year at this same 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 to you; 12 you must set aside every male that opens a womb to Jehovah.
This includes those among your flocks and herds of cattle… as many as you have. [All the] males must be [set aside as] holy to Jehovah!
13 However, when it comes to your 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 we doing this?
You must tell him:
Jehovah brought us out of Egypt and out of the house of slavery with His mighty hand. 15 And when Pharaoh’s heart became hard and [he refused] to send us away, [God] slaughtered all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the men and the animals.
So that’s why we offer every male that opens a womb to Jehovah, and that’s why we buy back all of our firstborn sons.

16 ‘Therefore, 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 mighty hand.’

17 Well, after Pharaoh had sent the people away, God didn’t lead them toward the land of the Philistines (though it wasn’t far away), because God said:
‘[I’m doing this is to keep] the people from having a change of heart when they see war, and from thereafter returning to Egypt.’
18 So God led them around the desert toward the Red Sea.

It was the fifth generation of the children of IsraEl that left the land of Egypt. 19 And Moses took JoSeph’s bones along, because [JoSeph] had made the children of IsraEl swear, saying:
‘God will surely visit you, so you must carry my bones back with you.’

20 Thereafter, the children of IsraEl left SucCoth and went to camp at Othom, which is near the desert.
21 God led them there using a tall column of clouds during the day (to show them the way) and a tall column of fire during the night.
22 The column of clouds was there all day long, every day, and the column of fire was always there in front of the people all night long.

Chapter 14

1 Then the Lord said to Moses:
2 ‘Tell the children of IsraEl to turn around and set up camp in front of the village of the Magdol (the Watchtower)… between it and the sea, across from BeEl-SepPhon. Camp there in front of them, next to the sea. 3 For Pharaoh will say to his people,
The children of IsraEl are just wandering around in the land, and now they’re boxed in!
4 Then I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after you. So, Pharaoh and his whole army will bring glory to Me, and all the Egyptians will know that I am Jehovah.’
And that’s exactly what happened.

5 Well, 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 IsraEl], and they started asking:
‘What have we done by allowing the children of IsraEl to go, rather than having them [stay here and] serve us?’

6 So Pharaoh prepared his chariots and took his [whole army] with him… 7 six hundred of their best chariots, the entire Egyptian cavalry, and all his generals.
8 And it was because Jehovah had hardened the hearts of Pharaoh (the king of Egypt) and his servants that he chased after the children of IsraEl. For the children of IsraEl allowed them the upper hand, 9 and when the Egyptians caught up with them, they found them camped next to the sea.

Well, there was all of Pharaoh’s cavalry, chariots, horsemen, and entire army at a village near BeEl-SepPhon.
10 And as Pharaoh approached, the children of IsraEl could see the Egyptians coming up behind them, which terrified them, so they started calling out to Jehovah.

11 And at that, they asked Moses:
‘Aren’t there enough graves in the land of Egypt so that you had to bring us out here to be killed in the desert?
What have you done to us by taking us out of Egypt?
12 Wasn’t it enough that we told you back in Egypt to leave us alone so that we could keep on serving the Egyptians?
For, it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to have us die here in this desert!’

13 But Moses said to the people:
‘Don’t be afraid; Stand here and watch the salvation that comes from Jehovah through the things that He will do for us on this day.
Do you see all those Egyptians today? You won’t see them again in this age, 14 because Jehovah is going to fight for you and bring peace to you!’

15 Then the Lord asked Moses:
‘Why are they shouting to Me?
Speak to the children of IsraEl and tell them to continue on!
16 Just lift your walking stick and raise your hands over the sea, and it will split open… then you can [lead] the children of IsraEl across on dry land through the midst of the sea!

17 ‘And after that, {Look!} I will harden the hearts of Pharaoh and all the Egyptians, and they will chase after you… for, that’s when Pharaoh, his army, his chariots, and all his horses will glorify Me.
18 Yes, everyone in Egypt will know that I am Jehovah when I’m glorified by Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horses.’

19 So immediately thereafter, the messenger of God who had been traveling in front of the camp of the children of IsraEl went around to its rear… for the column of clouds moved to the rear and stayed behind them, 20 between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of IsraEl.
And as it was standing there between them, it started to get dark… in fact, the night became so black that the [Egyptian army] couldn’t come any closer all-night long.

21 Then when Moses lifted his arms over the sea, the Lord pushed the water back with a strong south wind [that blew] all night long. This dried the seabed and it kept the water divided.
22 So the children of IsraEl walked down through the midst of the sea on dry land, as the walls of water stood to their right and to their left.

23 But then the Egyptians went in and chased after them… all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and horsemen also went [down into] the midst of the sea.

24 Well, 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 for the wheels on their chariots sank to their axels, making them very hard to pull.
And the Egyptians started saying:
‘Let’s run from the face of IsraEl, because Jehovah is fighting for them and against the Egyptians!’

26 Then the Lord told Moses:
‘Now, stretch your arms out over the sea and let the water fall back into 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 midst of the sea.
28 It returned and covered the chariots and their riders, along with the whole army of Pharaoh that followed them into the sea, leaving no survivors.
29 Yet, the children of IsraEl had been able to cross through the midst of the sea on dry land with the water standing like walls on their right and on their left.

30 So Jehovah saved IsraEl from the hands of the Egyptians that day, and IsraEl could see the Egyptians lying dead on the shore.
31 And after IsraEl had witnessed Jehovah’s mighty hand in the things that He did to the Egyptians, they started fearing Jehovah… trusting in God and in His servant Moses.

Chapter 15

1 Thereafter, Moses and the children of IsraEl sang this song to God:

‘Let us sing to Jehovah;
For He has been glorified.

‘The horses and riders He’s tossed in the sea…
2 He’s been our protector and helper,
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 He’s the Lord that crushes with war;
Jehovah is His [Great] Name.

4 ‘Into the sea, He has thrown
The army and chariots of Pharaoh.
It swallowed his best mounted generals,
5 And He covered them up with the water,
Where they sank to the bottom like stones.

6 ‘The strength of Your right hand, O God,
Has now proven its glory.
For, with Your right hand, O God,
You have shattered all of Your enemies.

7 ‘In Your glory, You’ve smashed those that hate us,
As You sent them Your rage,
Which has now consumed them like stubble.

8 ‘By the spirit of Your rage, the waters had split…
The waters stood firm, like a wall…
You banked the waves in the midst of the sea.

9 ‘But our enemies said,
We will chase them down,
Then divide their things and bring ourselves joy.
We will destroy with our swords…
With our mighty hands, we will beat them.

10 ‘But then, [Jehovah] sent out His wind,
And the sea covered them over…
They sank in the waters like lead.

11 ‘So, who among gods is like You, O Lord…
To whom can You be compared?
For Your holy ways bring glory to You,
And we marvel at all of Your glories.

12 ‘You raised Your right hand with wonders,
For the earth has swallowed them down.
13 But You righteously guided those whom You bought
(Those whom You called by Your might)
To the Holy Place of Your rest.

14 ‘But, when the nations heard about this,
They all became quite enraged…
Birth pangs fell on the Philistines,
15 And the princes of Edom and Moab;
Then, all their chiefs ran away.
They each started to tremble,
And all in CanaAn just melted away.

16 ‘May they shake in fear of the strength of Your arm,
And may they become like the stones, O Lord,
Until all Your people have passed them by…
Until those You’ve purchased have passed them.

17 ‘Now, take us and plant us in the mountains we’ll inherit,
And in the homes You’re preparing, O Lord…
In the place of safety, prepared by Your hands.
18 For, Jehovah reigns through the ages,
And through the ages of ages.

19 ‘Pharaoh’s horses sank into the sea,
Along with his chariots and horsemen.
Then, they were covered with water,
Where the children of IsraEl had walked on dry land
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 started dancing.
21 MiriAm led them, singing:
Let us sing to Jehovah;
For, He has been glorified.
The horses and riders He’s tossed in the sea…’

22 Well thereafter, Moses led the children of IsraEl away from the Red Sea and into the desert of Sur. But after [traveling] through the desert for three days, they hadn’t found any water to drink.
23 And when they got to MerRha (Bitterness), they couldn’t drink the water there, because it was bitter. (That’s why [Moses] named that place Bitterness).

24 Then the people started complaining about Moses, asking:
‘What are we going to drink?’

25 So Moses called to Jehovah, and the Lord showed him a tree, which [Moses] threw into the water… and the water became sweet.
This is also the place where [God] gave him His Laws and decisions, and where He showed His approval.
26 For [the Lord] said:
‘If you will listen to the voice of Jehovah your God… if you’ll do the 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 upon the Egyptians.
For I am Jehovah, the God that provides you with healing.’

27 Then, 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 Thereafter, they left AiLim, and the entire gathering of the children of IsraEl traveled into the Sin Desert, which is between AiLim and Sinai.
And on the fifteenth day of the second month from their leaving the land of Egypt, 2 the entire gathering of the children of IsraEl [once again] started complaining to Moses and Aaron.
3 They told them:
‘We would rather have died [with those that were] struck by Jehovah in the land of Egypt, back when we could sit by the stew pots and eat all the bread we wanted! But now you’ve brought us out into this desert just to starve us all to death!’

4 And the Lord said to Moses:
‘Look! I will rain bread upon you from the skies.
Then 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.
5 For on the sixth day they must gather all that they can, and it will be double that which they could gather on the previous days.’

6 So Moses and Aaron spoke to the entire gathering of the children of IsraEl, saying:
‘This evening you will realize that it was Jehovah that brought you out of the land of Egypt; 7 and tomorrow morning you will see the glory of the Lord, since He has heard you complaining against Him… and what are we, that you should keep complaining about us?’

8 Then Moses continued, saying:
‘This evening, Jehovah will give you meat to eat; and in the morning, He will provide enough bread to satisfy you.
For Jehovah has heard all the complaints that you have made against us… yet, what are we? You aren’t complaining against us, but against God!’

9 And Moses said to Aaron:
‘Now, tell the entire gathering of the children of IsraEl that they must go over and approach God, since He has heard all their complaining!’

10 So, after Aaron said this to them, they all turned and faced the desert… and the glory of the Lord appeared in a cloud!
11 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said:
12 ‘I’ve heard all the children of IsraEl’s complaining, so tell them:
This evening you will eat meat, and in the morning you will have enough bread to satisfy you… and then you will know that I am Jehovah your God.’

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!} on the surface of the desert (lying there like frost) was small things that looked like white coriander seeds.
15 And when the children of IsraEl saw them, they asked each other:
‘What is this (heb. man-nah)?’ Because, they didn’t know what it was.
And Moses told them:
16 ‘This is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat… it’s what Jehovah has approved.
So, every man should gather a third of a bushel for each person in his family.
You and those that are living with you should go out and gather it.’

17 And that’s what the children of IsraEl did.
Though some gathered more and others gathered less, 18 the ones that gathered the full third of a bushel didn’t have any leftovers, and those that gathered less never went hungry.
So, they all gathered just what their households required.

19 Then Moses told them:
‘Now, none of you may save any of this for the next morning.’

20 However, many of them wouldn’t listen to Moses, and they tried to keep it until the following morning… but by then it had worms and it smelled… and all of this irritated Moses.
21 So each morning, everyone would collect all that they 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.

Well, all the chiefs of their gathering thereafter came and reported what was happening to Moses. 23 And Moses asked:
‘Didn’t the Lord tell us that tomorrow is the Sabbath… a holy [day of] rest to Jehovah?
Therefore, bake all that you can bake and boil all that you can boil, so that the leftovers can be stored for tomorrow!’

24 [So on the sixth day], 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 [And then the next day], Moses said:
‘This is what you must eat today; for since this day is a Sabbath to Jehovah, you won’t find any of it out in the fields.
26 You must collect it for six days, but because the seventh day is a Sabbath, there won’t be any then.’

27 However, on the seventh day some of the people still went out to collect it, but they couldn’t find any.
28 So the Lord said to Moses:
‘How long are they going to fail to listen to My commands and [obey] My laws?
29 Look; I’ve given them this day as the Sabbath, and I gave them enough bread to last for two days on the sixth day.
So from now on, they must all just sit there in their homes… don’t allow anyone to leave his place on the seventh day!’

30 Well thereafter, the people started keeping the Sabbath on the seventh day.

31 The children of IsraEl called this [food], manna.
It looked like white coriander seeds and tasted like crackers and honey.

32 Then Moses said:
‘This is what Jehovah has 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 out of the land of Egypt.’

33 And he told Aaron:
‘Take a gold 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 So, just as the Lord told Moses, Aaron stored it away as a testimony.

35 As the result, the children of IsraEl ate manna for forty years.
They ate manna until they got to the land of Phoenicia.
36 Now, a homer (a third of a bushel) was a tenth of an ephah (three bath measures).

Chapter 17

1 Thereafter, the entire gathering of the children of IsraEl left the Sin Desert, following the order of their camps, and the Lord told them to camp in RaphiDin.
However, there was no water for the people to drink in this place, 2 so they started shouting at Moses and saying:
‘Give us water to drink!’

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, and they complained again to Moses, saying:
‘What’s the point? Did you bring us up out of Egypt to kill us along with our children and cattle with thirst?’

4 Then Moses called to Jehovah, and said:
‘What should I do with these people… 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 with which you slapped the [Nile] River, into your hands 6 and go to the rock in the dry place (Horeb) where {Look!} I’ll be standing before you;
[Then you must] strike the rock and water will pour out of it, so the people will [have something to] drink.’

Well thereafter, Moses did this in front of the sons of IsraEl. 7 And then he named that place, ‘Proof and Shouting,’ because of all the shouting of the children of IsraEl, [as they demanded that] Jehovah prove Himself.
For they had asked:
‘Is Jehovah among us or not?’

8 Then the Amalekites came to fight against IsraEl in RaphiDin. 9 And Moses said to JoShua:
‘Choose your best men and form battle lines against the Amalekites tomorrow.
{Look!} I will be standing on top of the hill with the walking stick of God in my hands.’

10 So JoShua did just as Moses told him. He went out and formed his army into battle lines against the Amalekites; then Moses, Aaron, and Or went up to the top of the hill.

11 Well, whenever Moses raised his arms, IsraEl would be superior; but when he let them down, the Amalekites were more successful.
12 But soon Moses’ arms got tired, so they found a rock and had him sit on top of it; then Aaron and Or supported his arms on either side, holding them there until the sun set.
13 So, JoShua was able to drive the Amalekites and all their people away by slaughtering them with swords.

14 Then the Lord told Moses:
‘Write this in a scroll, so it will be remembered.
Tell JoShua that I’m going to totally blot out all memory of the Amalekites from under the skies!’

15 Well after that, Moses built an altar to Jehovah there, and he named it ‘Jehovah is My Refuge,’ 16 because Jehovah was secretly waging war against all generations of the Amalekites.

Chapter 18

1 Meanwhile, His Excellence (the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law) heard of all that Jehovah had done for his people IsraEl by bringing them out of Egypt.
2 So His Excellence [went to see Moses], bringing along Moses’ woman SepPhora (since [Moses] had sent her 3 and her two sons away).

[One of his sons] was named Gersam (Visitor), because, as [Moses] said:
‘I was a visitor in a strange land,’
4 and [the other was named] EliEzer (My God is my Helper), because as [Moses] said:
‘The God of my fathers is my helper and He rescued me from the hands of Pharaoh.’

5 His Excellence then took [Moses’ family] to him in the desert… to his camp on the Mountain of God.
6 And when Moses was told,
‘Look! His Excellence (your father-in-law) is coming and he’s bringing your wife and two sons with him,’
7 Moses went out to meet them.
Then [Moses] bowed low before his father-in-law and kissed him, then they hugged each other, and he led them into his tent, 8 where Moses told his father-in-law about everything that Jehovah had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for IsraEl’s sake, as well as about all the things that had happened to them along the way, and of the way Jehovah had rescued them from the hands of Pharaoh and the Egyptians.

9 Well, His Excellence was amazed by all the good things that Jehovah had done for them by rescuing them, 10 and he said:
‘Praise Jehovah, because He rescued them from the hands of Pharaoh and the Egyptians!
11 Now I know that Jehovah is higher than all [other] gods; for He did this to those that were treating [the children of IsraEl so poorly].’

12 Then His Excellence presented whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for God, and Aaron and all the elders of IsraEl came to eat bread before God, along with Moses’ father-in-law.

13 Well, the next morning, Moses sat down to [serve as] judge for the people, and they [kept coming to] him all day long.
14 Then when His Excellence noticed all that [Moses was doing], he asked:
‘Why are you sitting there all by yourself as the people come to you from morning until night?’

15 And Moses replied:
‘The people are coming to me to receive God’s decisions. 16 So whenever they have any disagreement, they come to me and I judge each [case].
I teach them the Laws of God and [I judge by] His Laws.’

17 However, 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 on 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] that [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 that fear God… righteous men who hate pride. Then appoint them as chiefs over thousands, chiefs over hundreds, chiefs over fifties, and chiefs over tens… 22 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 to 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 that he said. 25 He chose capable men throughout all of IsraEl and made them chiefs of thousands, chiefs of hundreds, chiefs of fifties, and chiefs of tens.
26 Then they judged the people, and whenever a matter was too weighty, they brought it to Moses, while they judged the lighter matters.

27 Then after that, Moses [said goodbye] to his father-in-law, and [His Excellence] returned to his own land.

Chapter 19

1 Well, it was on that same day (in the third month after the children of IsraEl had fled the land of Egypt) that they arrived in the Sinai desert.
2 They left RaphiDin and traveled through the desert to Sinai, and IsraEl set up camp there in front of the mountain.

3 Then Moses climbed the Mountain of God, and God called to him on the mountain, saying:
‘You must say this to the house of Jacob and report [My words] to the children of IsraEl:
4 You have seen all that I’ve done to the Egyptians, and how I lifted you as on the wings of eagles and drawn you close to Me.
5 Now, if you will listen to what I say and keep My Sacred Agreement, you will be a special people to Me that will be higher than all other nations.
And because the whole earth is Mine, 6 you will become My holy nation and a Kingdom of Priests.

‘Now, [go] and tell this to the children of IsraEl!’

7 So Moses went back and called the people’s elders, then he laid out what God had said exactly as He said it.
8 And all the people replied unanimously, saying:
‘We will listen to and obey everything that God has said!’
And Moses reported their words back to God.

9 Then the Lord told Moses:
‘{Look!} I’m going to come to you in a column of clouds so the people can hear Me speaking to you. And after that, through the age, they will believe you.’
And so, Moses reported back to the people about what the Lord had said.

10 Thereafter, the Lord said this to Moses:
‘Go down and give these solemn instructions to the people:
They must cleanse themselves 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 upon Mount Sinai before all the people.

12 ‘Also, be sure that they keep themselves some distance from the mountain. Tell them:
Be careful not to step on any part of the mountain or to touch any part of it. For anyone who touches the mountain will surely die.
13 No hand should touch it, and anyone that does so must be pelted with rocks or shot through with arrows… whether it’s a man or an animal, [he or she] must not be allowed to live!
People may only climb the mountain after the voices, trumpeting, and clouds are gone.’

14 So Moses went down the mountain to the people. He then cleansed them and [had them] wash their clothes.
15 He told them:
‘Get ready… and for the next three days, no [man] should even get close to a woman!’

16 Then, as the morning of the third day dawned, there were voices, there was lightning, there was a dark cloud on Sinai, and they heard a trumpeting sound that was so loud that the people in the camp were trembling.
17 And that’s when Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God.

Well, they were all standing there, close to the camp, 18 and then the whole mountain started to smoke, because The God had descended upon it in fire… and the smoke kept rising as though it [was coming from] a furnace, which left the people in awe.

19 Then the trumpeting got even louder as Moses spoke, and God started answering him with a voice… 20 yes, the Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called to Moses, [telling him to come to Him] on top of the mountain!
So Moses went up, 21 and God then said this to Moses:
‘Go down and warn the people [again] not to approach to see God, for this will cause many of them to [die].
22 And make sure that any Priests that come close to Jehovah God have cleansed themselves, so He doesn’t [have to] destroy some of them!’

23 Then Moses said to God:
‘The people won’t be able to approach Mount Sinai, because You warned us, saying,
Set boundaries around the mountain and make it holy.’

24 And at that, the Lord told him:
‘Now, go down [the mountain] and bring Aaron back up here with you.
But don’t allow the Priests or the people to 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 [once again].

Chapter 20

1 Then the Lord said all of this:

2 ‘I am Jehovah… I’m your God that brought you out of the land of Egypt and out of the house of slavery.
3 So, you must have no gods other than Me.

4 ‘You must not make images for yourselves of anything in the skies above, on the earth below, or of things that live in the water or under the ground.
5 You must not bow before them or serve them; for I, Jehovah your God, am a zealous God, and I bring the sins of the ancestors upon the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of those that hate Me.
6 Yet, I am merciful to the thousands that 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 that misuse His Name.

8 ‘Keep the Sabbath day and make it holy.
9 You may work and get everything done in six days. 10 However, the seventh day is the Sabbath of your God Jehovah, and you must do no work… not you, your sons, your daughters, your male servants, your female servants, your oxen, your burros, any of your cattle, or any strangers that are visiting among you.
11 For after Jehovah made the skies, the lands, the seas, and everything in them, He rested on the seventh day. Then Jehovah blest 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 to you.

13 ‘You must not commit murder.

14 ‘You must not commit adultery.

15 ‘You must not steal.

16 ‘You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.

17 ‘You must not desire your neighbor’s woman, 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, all the while, the people were being distracted by all the thunder and lightning, the sounds of the trumpets, and the smoke on the mountain; and everyone was afraid and backing 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:
‘Be courageous! For The God came here to test you and to put the fear of Him into you, so you won’t sin.’
21 However, the people just kept backing 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 must report to the children of IsraEl:
Now you have seen Me speaking to you from the sky; 23 so, don’t make gods of silver or gold for yourselves.
24 You may make an Altar to Me from the dirt in whichever place that I record My name, and that’s where you must sacrifice your whole burnt offerings, as well as the peace offerings of your sheep and calves, and that’s where I will come to you and bless you.

25 ‘However, if you should choose to build a stone Altar to Me, don’t use cut stones; because, if you use tools on them, they will become unclean.
26 And don’t build any steps up to My Altar, so that the naked [parts of your bodies] can be seen from [below].’

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; for in the seventh year, he must be set free without cost.
3 If he comes alone, he must leave alone; but if his woman comes with him, his woman must also leave with him.
4 However, if his master gives him a woman 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 woman, 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 ear against the doorframe, [to signify] that he will serve [his master] through the age.

7 ‘And if anyone sells his daughter as a house slave; she may not be sent away as other female slaves are released.
8 For if she has been involved with him and if she thereafter hasn’t been found pleasing by him, he may only set her free… he may not sell her to some foreigner after that.

9 ‘And if he has obtained the woman for his son, he must treat her as his own daughter.
10 But if he has taken her for himself, he must never deprive her of her clothing, her needs, or her companionship with him.
11 If he refuses to do any of these three things for her, she must be set free at no cost.

12 ‘If any man strikes another man and kills him, he must absolutely be put to death.
13 But if such a thing should happen by accident, or if God [allows the situation that causes the death]; I will provide a place to which the killer can run.
14 However, if someone that lies in wait and plans to murder his neighbor runs to that 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 curses his father or mother must die.

17 ‘If someone overpowers and kidnaps one of the children of IsraEl and sells him, or if he’s caught with him; [the kidnapper] must die.

18 ‘If two men are shouting at each other and one hits the other with a rock or with his fist, and he doesn’t die but is laid up in bed; 19 the man that hit him will be cleared if the other person can 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 is his own loss.

22 ‘If two men are fighting and [one] hits a pregnant woman and her child is born deformed as the result; he must be forced to pay whatever amount her man demands of him.
23 But if the child is born perfectly formed [though 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 anyone should hit their 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] a male or female slave’s tooth, that slave must be set free because of the tooth.

28 ‘If a bull gores a man or a woman and he or she dies, the bull must be stoned to death and its flesh may not be eaten… however, the bull’s owner will be [free of guilt].
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 is asked 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 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 thereafter 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 about this and failed to do anything about it; he must pay for the bull, and the dead one won’t be his.’

Chapter 22

1 ‘If someone should steal an ox or a sheep and kills it or sells it; he must pay back 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 own field or vineyard, and then he sends his animals to graze in someone else’s field; he must [pay his neighbor back] out of the produce from 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 that sets the fire must pay a compensation.

7 ‘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’s 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 involves 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 with twice as much.

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 a 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 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 to whom he isn’t engaged, and [has sex] with her; he must take her as his woman.
17 But if her father refuses and won’t consent to giving her to be his woman; he must pay her father the amount of dowry that is required for a virgin.

18 ‘You must not [seek the aid of] sorcerers.

19 ‘Anyone that [has sex] with an animal must be put to death.

20 ‘Anyone that 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 land of Egypt.

22 ‘You must not do anything to harm widows or orphans. 23 For if you treat them badly, they should call out to Me and I will hear them… 24 and that will make Me very angry.
Then you will be killed with a sword, so that your woman will become a widow and your children will become orphans.

25 If you lend money to one of your poor brothers that lives nearby; you shouldn’t be hard on him and you shouldn’t charge him interest.
26 And if you take your neighbor’s robe as security, you must make sure that he gets it back before sunset. 27 Since it is all that covers his nakedness, how could he then go to bed?
And if he then should call out to Me, I will listen, because I am merciful.

28 ‘You should never speak badly of your mighty ones (gr. Theous – gods plural) 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 olive or wine] press.

‘You must give your first-born sons to Me, 30 as well as those of your calves, sheep, and burros.
They may 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;
Therefore, you may not eat the flesh of wild animals… you should throw it to the dogs.’

Chapter 23

1 ‘You should not accept false testimony, nor should you allow anyone that is crooked to provide false testimony.

2 ‘You must not join a mob to do bad things, nor should you go along with 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 must 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 Nor should you accept gifts [when judging], because gifts blind the eyes of those that 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 land of Egypt.

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.
That’s also what you must do to your vineyards and your olive groves.

12 ‘You should work for six days, but the seventh day is a day of rest, so that your burro, your ox, the sons of your female slaves, and strangers may be refreshed.

13 ‘Guard all the things that I have commanded you, and don’t mention the names of other gods or speak of them in any way.

14 ‘You must hold a feast to Me three times each year.
15 Be sure to observe the Feast of Fermentation-Free Bread. You must eat fermentation-free bread for seven days (as I told you before) during the time of the month of new grain, because that’s when you came out of Egypt… and don’t approach Me empty-handed!

16 ‘You must observe a feast when you harvest the first-fruits of your work, no matter what you have planted in your field.
And [you must observe] a feast at the end of the year when you harvest the crops in your field.
17 So, all your males must appear before Jehovah your God three times each year.

18 ‘And when I drive the other nations out of your midst and widen your borders, you must never offer fermented bread along with the blood sacrifices, nor should the fat of My feast be allowed to stay [on the altar] until the next morning.

19 ‘You must bring all the first fruitage of your fields to the House of your God, Jehovah.

‘You must never boil a lamb in its mother’s milk.

20 ‘{Look!} I’m going to send My messenger to you in order to keep you headed in the right direction; for he will lead you into the land that I have prepared for you.
21 Be sure to listen to him… obey him! He won’t give in to you, because he carries My Name.

22 ‘Tell the children of IsraEl that if they will listen to what I say and do everything that I tell them, I will be an enemy to their enemies, and I will oppose anyone that is against them.
23 Then I will send My messenger to serve as their leader, and [he will] bring them to [the land of] the Amorites, Chettites, Pherezites, CanaAnites, Gergeshites, Evites, and Jebusites, whom I will destroy.
24 However, [IsraEl] must not worship or serve the gods [of those people], nor should they do any of the things that they are doing. Rather, [those people] must all be destroyed and their [sacred] columns must be pulled down.

25 ‘If you serve Jehovah your God, I will bless your bread, your wine, and your water, and I will keep you from getting sick.
26 There won’t be anyone in your land that is impotent or infertile, and you will live full lives.
27 I will send terror ahead of you, all the nations in the land you’re entering will be amazed by you, and I will make all your enemies run from you.
28 I will send hornets ahead of you to drive the Amorites, Evites, CanaAnites, and the Chettites away from you.
29 I won’t throw them out in the first year, so the fields don’t grow wild and allow wild animals to multiply there. 30 But before long, I will start throwing them out ahead of you, until you grow and inherit the land.
31 Then I will set your borders from the Red Sea to the [MediTerranean], and from the desert to the great EuPhrates River.

‘Since I will be handing over those that are living in the land and driving them away from you, 32 you must make no treaties with them or with their gods. 33 For they won’t be allowed to live in your land, lest they cause you to sin against Me.
Because, if you serve their gods, that will lead to your downfall.’

Chapter 24

1 Then the Lord told Moses:
‘I want you, Aaron, Nadab, AbiUd, and seventy of IsraEl’s elders to come to Me and bow before [Me] from a distance.
2 And thereafter, I want you to come close to Me by yourself… none of the others should come any closer!’

3 So Moses went and told the people about everything God had said and about His Laws.
And the people unanimously answered all together:
‘We will do and obey everything that Jehovah has said!’

4 Then Moses wrote down everything that the Lord said.
And early the next morning, he built an Altar at the base of the mountain using twelve stones [to represent] the twelve tribes of IsraEl.
5 Thereafter, he sent young men from the children of IsraEl to offer up whole burnt offerings and to sacrifice young calves as peace offerings to God.
6 Then Moses took half of the blood and poured it into bowls, and he poured the other half on the Altar.

7 Next, [Moses] took the scroll of the Sacred Agreement [that he wrote] and read it to the people.
And they [again] said:
‘We will do and pay attention to everything that Jehovah has said.’

8 Then Moses took the blood [from the bowls] and sprinkled it on the people, and he said:
‘{Look!} This is the blood of the Sacred Agreement that Jehovah has made with you over the things to which you have agreed.’

9 And thereafter, Moses, Aaron, Nadab, AbiUd, and seventy of the elders of IsraEl went up [the mountain], 10 where they saw the place that the God of IsraEl was standing; and under His feet [they saw] what looked like slabs of cut sapphires that were as pure as the skies.
11 So, all the chosen ones of IsraEl stood there in the presence of God – none were missing (not one) – and they ate and drank.

12 Then Jehovah told Moses:
‘[I want you to] come [back] up the mountain to Me and stay here; for I will now give you the tablets of stone containing the Laws and Commandments that I have written.’

13 So [the next day], Moses got up and took his assistant JoShua to climb the mountain of God along with him.
14 And they told the elders:
‘Rest here until we return. Look! Aaron and Or will be here with you; so if there are any [cases] that have to be tried, let them handle it.’

15 Then Moses and JoShua climbed the mountain, which was shrouded in a cloud. 16 And the glory of The God came down on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days.
Then Jehovah called to Moses from the midst of the cloud on the seventh day.

17 Well, to the Children of IsraEl, the glory of Jehovah looked like a fire that was burning on top of the mountain.

18 Then Moses entered the cloud and climbed the mountain, where he stayed for forty days and forty nights.

Chapter 25

1 It was there that the Lord told Moses:
2 ‘Speak to the children of IsraEl and [ask for] the first fruits of everything that their hearts are willing to give… then you must [collect] it [and set it aside].
3 These are the offerings that you are to ask for: gold, silver, bronze, 4 blue [thread], purple [yarn], scarlet [cloth], fine-spun linen, goats’ hair, 5 ram’s skins that are dyed red and blue, and durable wood.
6 [You should also ask for] lamp oil, fragrances for anointing oil, ingredients for incense, 7 and for rubies and other [precious] stones that will fit into a breastplate, as well as a full-length robe.

8 ‘You must now make a Sacred Place for Me, where I can appear among you.
9 Everything you make for Me must follow the patterns that I will show you on the Mountain.
There will be a pattern for the Sacred Place and patterns for all of its furnishings. And that’s how you are to make them.

10 ‘You must also build a Chest for the Proofs.
[Build it] from durable wood.
It must be fifty inches wide, thirty inches deep, and thirty inches tall.
11 Cover it with pure gold both inside and out, and put spun gold wreaths around it.
12 You must create four gold rings for it, and mount two rings on each side.
13 Then make [two] staves of durable wood, cover them with gold, 14 and put the staves into the rings on the sides of the Chest, to carry it. 15 These staves should always be left in the rings on the Chest.
16 Then you must put the Proofs that I will give to you inside of the Chest.

17 ‘You must also make the Propitiatory.
It is to be a lid of pure gold, fifty inches long and thirty inches wide. 18 And you will carve two cherubs from gold and mount them on the Propitiatory.
19 A cherub will be mounted on this side of the Propitiatory, and a cherub will be mounted on its other side, so there will be a cherub on each side.
20 The cherubs will face each other with their heads bowed toward the Propitiatory. And they must have wings that are outstretched over them that [extend forward] over the Propitiatory.
21 Then the Propitiatory must be put on top of the Chest, which will contain the Proofs that I will give to you.

22 ‘This is where I will make My presence known to you. I will speak to you from above the Propitiatory, between the two cherubs on the Chest of Proofs.
It is there that I will talk to you and instruct you concerning everything that has to do with the children of IsraEl.

23 ‘You are also to make a table of pure gold that is forty inches long, twenty inches wide, and thirty inches tall. 24 It must have gold wreaths going around it and a six-inch rim 25 that has a spun wreath circling it.
26 You must also make four gold rings and fasten them to the four feet under the rim. 27 These rings will be supports for the staves that will be used to carry the table.
28 The staves should be made of durable wood and covered with pure gold, for carrying the table.

29 ‘You should also make dishes, incense burners, bowls, and cups (for drink offerings) out of pure gold.
30 These must always be set before Me on the table of Show Bread.

31 ‘You must also shape a lampstand from pure gold.
The whole thing – it’s stem, branches, sockets, knobs, and lilies – must be a single piece.
32 It is to have six branches that come from its sides… three branches for lamps on one side and three branches for lamps on the other side.
33 [Each branch] that comes from the lampstand should be topped with an almond-shaped socket [to hold the lamps], which is to be mounted above a knob and a lily.
34 Each will have four sockets that are shaped like almonds, and the knobs and flowers on each branch should be the same.
35 There will be a knob under two branches and a knob under four branches that come from it, so that six branches come from the lampstand, and each will have four bowls shaped like almonds.
36 The knobs and the branches must be a single piece that is carved from a block of pure gold. 37
So, there must be seven lamps that all shine from the same side.

38 ‘You must also make funnels and serving plates of pure gold.
39 They should each be made with a measurement of pure gold, 40 using the pattern that I will show you on the mountain.’

Chapter 26

1 ‘Then you must make the Tent with ten curtains of fine-spun linen, blue [thread], purple [yarn], and scarlet [cloth], with a pattern of cherubs woven into them.
2 The curtains must be forty-seven feet long and six and three-quarters feet tall. All the curtains must be the same size.
3 Five of the curtains will be joined to each other, and the other five will be closely connected to each other.

4 ‘You must put blue loops on one side of each curtain and [loops] on the other side to [join them].
5 There should be fifty loops [on one side] and fifty loops at the same locations on the other side to connect them.
6 Then you must make fifty gold rings that will hold the curtains together so as to make it a single Tent.

7 ‘You must make a roof for the Tent using eleven sections of [goat hair cloth].
8 Each section should be fifty feet long, six and three-quarters feet wide, and all eleven should be the same size.
9 Then connect [the cloths in strips of] fives, and attach the sixth [cloth] and fold it over the front of the Tent.
10 Thereafter, make fifty loops on the side of the [cloth] and fifty loops on the edge of the second one, where they will be joined.
11 And make fifty bronze rings and use them to connect the loops, then tie the [cloths] together to form a single piece.

12 ‘Next, connect the [eleventh cloth] to the roof of the Tent at its centerfold, and allow half of it to hang down.
Also, any extra [cloth] should hang over the sides of the Tent… 13 twenty inches of [cloth] should hang over each side of the Tent to cover it.
14 Then make another covering from ram’s skins that have been dyed red and blue, and put it over the [Tent] roof.

15 ‘You must also make tent posts from durable wood.
16 Each post should be seven and three-quarters feet long and two and a half feet thick.
17 All the posts should have two joints for connections.
18 You should make twenty posts for the north side, 19 and forty silver sockets should be made to connect them, with a [base] socket for each of the posts.
20 Then make twenty posts for the south side of the Tent, 21 and forty silver sockets to connect each end of the posts.
22 And for the side of the Tent that faces west, 23 you must make six posts plus two corner posts for its backside.
24 They must all be the same and join at the same spots on each end, so that all the corners are equal.
25 There are eight posts, which need sixteen silver sockets, one for each end of each post.

26 ‘And you must make rafters of durable wood.
Make five for the posts on one side of the Tent, 27 five for the posts on the other side of the Tent, five for the posts in the rear, and one for the side of the Tent that faces the sea.
28 This center rafter should run between the posts lengthwise from end to end.
29 The posts should be covered with gold and fitted with gold rings to hold the rafters, and all the rafters must be covered with gold.
30 Then you must assemble the Tent according to the pattern that I will show you on the mountain.

31 ‘Thereafter, you must make a veil of spun blue [thread], purple [yarn], scarlet [cloth], and fine-spun linen that will have cherubs woven into it.
32 You must mount it on four posts of durable wood that are overlaid with gold and with gold covering each of their caps, as well as silver sockets for the base of each one.
33 Then mount the veil on the posts and carry it inside to serve as a veil for the Chest of Proofs. This veil will form the separation between the Holy Place and the Holiest of Holies.
34 Use the veil as a screen for the Chest of Proofs in the Holiest of Holies.

35 ‘Next, put a table outside of the veiled area, on the north side of the Tent, and put the lampstand opposite the table on the south side of the Tent.

36 ‘Then make a veil as a door for the Tent out of blue [thread], purple [yarn], scarlet [cloth], and embroidered fine-spun linen.
37 You must make five posts for the veil that are capped at the top and covered with gold, and bronze sockets for the base of each one.

Chapter 27

1 ‘Then you must make an Altar of durable wood that will be square, eight and a quarter feet long, eight and a quarter feet wide, and five feet high.
2 You must also create horns for each of the four corners. They will be made of a single piece and overlaid with bronze.
3 You must make a rim for the Altar and a covering, plus cups, meat hooks, a fire pan and all its utensils, from bronze.
4 You must also make a bronze meshed grating with four bronze rings, one for each of its four sides.
5 Mount the rings under the grating and center it in the middle of the Altar.

6 ‘You must also make Altar staves from durable wood that are to be overlaid with bronze. 7 Then put the staves into the rings on each side of the Altar, to carry it.
8 [The Altar] will be hollow and made from wood in a way that will be shown [to you] on the mountain.

9 ‘You must also make a courtyard for the Tent. On the south side, its curtains should be made of fine-spun linen and they will run a hundred and sixty-seven feet long.
10 They will require twenty posts and twenty bronze sockets, as well as silver rings and clasps.
11 The curtains on the north side will also run a hundred and sixty-seven feet long, with twenty posts, twenty bronze sockets, as well as the rings and the clasps for the posts. However, their sockets must be overlaid with silver.
12 The curtains on the west side of the [courtyard] must run eighty-four feet with ten posts and ten sockets. 13 And along the width of the [courtyard], on the south side, there should also be curtains that run eighty-four feet long, with ten posts and ten sockets.

14 ‘There must be a twenty-five foot [awning] on one side of the [courtyard entrance], which is to be [supported by] three posts and three sockets.
15 And on the other side, there must be an [awning] that runs twenty-five feet, with three posts and three sockets.

16 ‘The courtyard entrance must be a thirty-three-foot-high veil of blue [thread], purple [yarn], scarlet [cloth], and fine-spun embroidered linen. It should have four posts and four sockets.
17 All the courtyard posts are to be overlaid with silver, with silver caps and bronze sockets.

18 ‘So the length of the courtyard will be a hundred and sixty-three feet, its width should be eighty-two feet, and its height must be eight feet… all of fine spun linen mounted on sockets of bronze.
19 And all the furnishings, instruments, and pins for the courtyard are [to be made of] bronze.

20 ‘Now, give instructions to the children of IsraEl and have them bring you pure, refined olive oil that has been beaten for burning in a lamp, so the lamps can be kept burning continually 21 inside the Tent of Proofs, but outside of the veil that hides the Chest of the Sacred Agreement.
Aaron and his sons must keep them burning all night long before Jehovah.
This is the rule that must be followed through all generations of the children of IsraEl.’

Chapter 28

1 ‘Now, I want you to choose your brother Aaron and his sons Nadab, AbiUd, EliEzer, and IthaMar, who are all children of IsraEl, to be My servants.
2 You must make holy clothing for your brother Aaron, to honor and glorify [him].
3 So, talk to all the wise and understanding [people] that I have filled with the spirit of wisdom and comprehension, and have them make holy clothing for Aaron to wear in the Holy Place, where he will serve as a Priest to Me.
4 These are the clothes that they must make:
· A breastplate
· A shoulder piece
· A full-length robe
· A fringed tunic
· A turban
· A sash.
These are to be holy garments for Aaron and his sons to serve Me as Priests.

5 ‘They must take gold and fine-spun linen with blue [thread], purple [yarn], and scarlet [cloth], 6 and embroider them [to serve as] the shoulder pieces.
7 Both shoulder pieces must be joined together and fastened on each side.
8 They should be woven as a single piece of pure gold with blue [thread], purple [yarn], scarlet [cloth], and fine-spun linen.

9 ‘Then you must take two large emeralds and engrave the names of IsraEl’s sons on them, 10 with six names on the first stone and the other six names on the second stone, in the order of their births.
11 It must be done artistically by a stone engraver in raised letters like a seal, for each of the names of the children of IsraEl.
12 Then mount these stones on each of the shoulder pieces. They are to be memorial stones of the children of IsraEl.
Therefore, Aaron will wear the names of the children of IsraEl before Jehovah on his shoulders, in memory of them.

13 ‘Then you must make [two] small rings of pure gold, 14 and two fringes mixed with flowers and wreaths of pure gold.
Mount the wreathed fringes on the small rings and fasten them to the front of the shoulder pieces.

15 ‘Then you must make The Word of Judgment.
It is to be embroidered; and to keep the theme of the rest of the sacred clothing, you should make it of gold, blue [thread], purple [yarn], scarlet [cloth], and fine-spun linen.
16 Make it square, nine inches long and nine inches wide, and doubled.
17 Then, four columns of stones should be woven into it.
The first column will have a ruby, a topaz, and an emerald.
18 The second column will have a carbuncle, a sapphire, and a jasper.
19 The third column will have a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst.
20 And the fourth column will have a peridot, a beryl, and an onyx.
All of these should be mounted in gold settings with gold clasps.
Make sure they’re assembled in that order.
21 Then each stone must be engraved like a seal with the name of [one of] the twelve children of IsraEl in his order.

22 ‘The Word of Judgment must also have woven fringed chains of pure gold.
23 Make two gold rings for it and place them on either side of the Word. 24 And along the border, connect the chains to the rings on each side of the Word.
25 Then on each side of the two borders, you must place the wreaths. Place them on the sides of the shoulder piece, opposite each other and toward the front.
26 Thereafter, make two more gold rings and place them on the tips of the Word on the back side and within the shoulder pieces.
27 Also, make two more gold rings, place them on the shoulder pieces on their bottom edges toward the front, to serve as couplings above the woven portions of the shoulder pieces.
28 Then secure the Word by its gold rings that are sewed to the blue work, to the gold rings on the shoulder pieces, so that it is held tightly to the woven work on the shoulder pieces above it.

29 ‘Thereafter, Aaron must wear the names of the sons of IsraEl on the Word of Judgment whenever he enters the Holy Place, as a reminder before God.
30 And you must place the Revelation and the Truth over The Word of Judgment, which Aaron will wear into the Holy Place whenever he goes before Jehovah.
So, Aaron will always bear the judgments of the sons of IsraEl on his chest whenever he goes before Jehovah.

31 And you are also to make an undergarment [for him] that is entirely blue and reaches to his feet.
32 The middle portion is to be a woven work that is coupled to the rest so it can’t be torn; 33 then along the bottom hem, there are to be blossoming pomegranates all around that are woven from blue [thread], purple [yarn], scarlet [cloth], and fine-spun linen, surrounded by pomegranates and bells of gold in between.
34 And between the gold pomegranates, there are to be bells and a flowered work along the hem. 35 [These bells] will ring whenever Aaron enters and leaves to officiate before Jehovah, so he doesn’t die.

36 ‘You must also make a plate of pure gold, into which you must carve the impression, Holy to Jehovah.
37 It is to be fastened to the front of the turban with blue yarn 38 and worn upon Aaron’s forehead, so he can lift away the sins of the holy things that the sons of IsraEl offer as holy gifts.
It must always be there on Aaron’s head whenever he accepts their gifts.

39 ‘The fringes on the undergarments must be made of linen, and you must make a turban of fine linen, as well as a sash of embroidered work.
40 You are also to make undergarments, turbans, and sashes for Aaron’s sons, so that they may be honored and glorified. 41 You must put them upon your brother Aaron and his sons, then anoint them and empower their hands.
Purify them, so that they can officiate as Priests before Me.

42 ‘You must also make linen pants for them (to cover the indecency of their flesh) that run from their loins to their thighs.
43 Aaron and his sons must wear them whenever they enter the Tent of Proofs and whenever they serve at the Altar of the Holy Place, so they don’t bring sin upon themselves and die.
This is the rule for him and his seed through the ages.’

Chapter 29

1 ‘These are the things that you must do to them to make [Aaron and his sons] holy, so they can serve Me as Priests:
Take one young calf from the herd and two perfect rams. 2 Then make some fermentation-free bread with the finest wheat flour that has been kneaded with oil, and some fermentation-free round cakes with oil poured over them.
3 Thereafter, put them into a basket to be offered along with the young calf and the two rams.

4 ‘Then bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the Tent of Proofs and wash them with water.
5 And after that, get the [sacred] garments and dress your brother Aaron with the full-length robe, the chest covering, and the Word (of Judgment), and tie the Word to the chest covering.
6 Then put the turban on his head and mount the plate of Holiness on the turban, 7 and take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it over his head.
8 Then bring his sons in and dress them… 9 wrap them with sashes and put on their turbans to create a Priesthood for Me through the ages.

‘After that, you must empower Aaron and his sons.
10 Bring the calf to the entrance of the Tent of Proofs and have Aaron and his sons lay their hands upon the calf’s head before Jehovah.
11 Then you must slaughter the calf before Jehovah there at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs. 12 Take the calf’s blood and wipe it on the horns of the Altar with your finger, and pour the rest of the blood out at the base of the Altar.
13 Then take all its belly fat, its liver and kidneys, along with any fat that’s on them, and [burn] them on the Altar.
14 However, the calf’s flesh, skin, and manure must be burned outside of the camp as an [offering] for sins.

15 ‘Next, take one of the rams, and have Aaron and his sons lay their hands on its head, 16 and slaughter it. Collect the blood and pour it on and around the Altar, 17 then cut the ram into several pieces and wash the insides and the feet with water, and set the pieces and the head aside.
18 Then you must put the whole ram on the Altar as a burnt offering and a sweet-smelling delight to Jehovah. It will be like incense to Jehovah.

19 ‘Then take the second ram, and have Aaron and his sons lay their hands on its head; 20 you must slaughter it and collect the blood, and touch a little of the blood to the tip of Aaron’s right ear, to the thumb of his right hand, and to the big toe of his right foot.
[Then touch some of it to] the tips of his sons’ right ears, the thumbs of their right hands, and the big toes of their right feet.
21 Thereafter, take some of the blood from the Altar and [mix it with] anointing oil, and sprinkle it on Aaron and on his clothes, as well as on his sons and on his sons’ clothes. This will purify him and his clothing, and his sons and their clothing.
Then pour the rest of the blood out around the Altar.

22 ‘After that, [set aside] all of the ram’s fat, including the belly fat, the liver and kidneys and any fat on them, and the right shoulder, to complete [the ceremony].
23 And take one of the round cakes [that have been covered] with oil and one loaf from the basket of fermentation-free bread, and set them before Jehovah. 24 Then give the rest to Aaron and his sons. But the [loaf and the round cake] must be offered separately to Jehovah.
25 Take them from the hands of the Priests and put them on the Altar, then burn them as offerings of sweet-smelling delights to Jehovah.

26 ‘Then you must remove the ram’s breast at the end of the ceremony for Aaron. It is to be offered before Jehovah… and [the rest] must be shared with you.
27 You must cut up the breast and the shoulder that was removed from the last lamb and give it to Aaron and his sons.
28 This will be a requirement for the children of IsraEl and for Aaron and his sons through the ages.
This is to be a separate and special offering to Jehovah from the children of IsraEl, as one of their peace offerings.

29 ‘The clothing that Aaron wears inside the Holy Place must thereafter be passed on to his [future generations, after he dies], so his [descendants] can be anointed in them and empowered when they wear them.
30 The Priests among his descendants that succeed him and that enter the Tent of Proofs to serve in the Most Holy, must wear them for seven days.

31 ‘You must then boil the flesh of the last lamb in the Holy Place, 32 and Aaron and his sons will eat the ram’s flesh with the loaves [of bread] in the basket, next to the Tent of Proofs.
33 They must eat the offerings that were used to make them holy and to empower them. They can’t be eaten by anyone else, because these things are holy.
34 And if the sacrificed flesh of the final sacrificial lamb and the bread should be left until the next morning, it must all be burned, not eaten, because it is something that is holy.

35 ‘You must always do this for Aaron and his sons, just as I’ve told you.
The empowerment will take seven days. 36 You must sacrifice the calf for the sin offering on the cleaning day, and then you will clean the Altar where you will sacrifice the last lamb, and anoint it to make it holy.
37 The Altar must be cleaned and made holy for each of the seven days, because the Altar is very holy, and anyone that touches it must also be holy.

38 ‘These are the sacrifices that you must offer on the Altar:
Two perfect yearling lambs must be offered each day, 39 one in the morning and the other in the evening. 40 And each lamb should be offered along with three quarts of fine flour that has been mixed with a quart of [olive] oil and with a quart of wine as a drink offering.
41 You must offer the same things with the second lamb [that is sacrificed] in the evening (which includes the drink offering) as a sweet-smelling delight to Jehovah.
42 This sacrifice is to be offered before Jehovah by all your generations through the ages at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs. For that’s where I will be made known to you and where I will speak to you from now on.
43 This is where I will instruct the children of IsraEl, and where I will be treated as holy in My glory.

44 ‘I will make the Tent of Proofs and its Altar holy, and I will make Aaron and his sons holy, so they can serve Me as Priests.
45 Here the children of IsraEl will call to Me, and I will be their God.
46 Then they will know that I am Jehovah, the God that brought them out of the land of Egypt, so they can call on Me and I can be their God.’

Chapter 30

1 ‘You must also make an incense Altar from durable wood.
2 It should be twenty inches long, twenty inches wide, and forty inches tall; and it should have horns that are made from a single piece [of wood].
3 Its grating, all its sides, and its horns must be covered with pure gold. It should have wreathed edges of gold all around, 4 and under the wreathes you must put two rings of pure gold on each side, to serve as supports for the staves that you will use to carry it.
5 The staves must be made from durable wood and covered with gold.

6 ‘Then place [the incense Altar] in front of the veil that [hides] the Chest of Proofs where I will make My presence known to you.
7 Aaron must burn a fine compound of incense on [this Altar] each morning, after he snuffs the lamps.
8 And when Aaron lights the lamps in the evening, he must burn incense on it again. So, incense will be offered continuously before Jehovah throughout your generations.
9 You must not offer a different type of incense on it, set any fires on it, offer any sacrifices on it, or pour drink offerings on it.
10 And at the same time each year, Aaron must offer the reconciliation for their generations on its horns with the blood of purification, because it is very holy to Jehovah.’

11 Then the Lord told Moses:
12 ‘I want you to take a census of the children of IsraEl, and each [person] must pay Jehovah a ransom for his life, so no one will be destroyed when they are visited.
13 This is what everyone that is surveyed must give: half a double-silver coin (or twenty copper coins), which is to be used for the Holy Place as an offering to Jehovah.
14 Everyone from twenty years old and up that answers to the census must pay this offering to Jehovah. 15 The rich won’t pay any more, and the poor won’t pay any less than the half double-silver coin that they must offer to reconcile their lives with Jehovah.
16 Then you must take the money that the children of IsraEl pay and use it for the services at the Tent of Proofs.
The children of IsraEl must always remember to do this, so as to reconcile their lives [with Jehovah].’

17 And the Lord spoke to Moses, and said:
18 ‘You must make a bronze bowl with a bronze base for washing.
It must be put between the Tent of Proofs and the Altar, and you must fill it with water. 19 Then Aaron and his sons must use the water to wash their hands and feet.
20 For whenever they enter the Tent of Proofs, they must wash themselves with the water, so they won’t die.
And they must do [the same] whenever they go to the Altar for services or to burn sacrifices to Jehovah.
21 In addition, they must wash their hands and feet in the water whenever they enter the Tent of Proofs, so they don’t die.
This is the rule for him and his descendants through the ages.’

22 Then the Lord told Moses:
23 ‘You must also gather these sweet-smelling items for the Holy Place:
sixteen pounds of choice myrrh flowers, eight pounds of sweet-smelling cinnamon, eight pounds of sweet-smelling calamus, 24 sixteen pounds of cassia, and a gallon of olive oil.
25 This must then be professionally formulated to make a perfumed holy anointing oil that is to be used for sacred purposes.
26 Then you must use it to anoint the Tent of Proofs, the Chest inside the Tent of Proofs 27 and all of its furnishings, as well as the lampstand and its furnishings, the incense Altar, 28 the Altar of whole burnt-offerings and all its furnishings, the table and all its furnishings, and the wash basin.
29 You must cleanse them and make them extremely holy… and then everyone who touches them will become holy.
30 Thereafter, you must anoint Aaron and his sons and cleanse them, so they can serve Me as Priests.

31 ‘Then say to the children of IsraEl:
This will be your holy anointing oil throughout all your generations. 32 It should never be poured on a man’s skin, and no one should make any of this for himself using the same formula, because it is holy, and it should be [treated as] holy by you.
33 So if anyone makes anything like it and gives it to a stranger, he must be destroyed from among his people.

34 ‘Also, gather these sweet-smelling substances: sweet myrrh oil, snail shells, sweet galbanum, and transparent frankincense.
They are to be combined in equal measures 35 in a professional way, to make perfumed incense that will be pure and holy.
36 It must all be beaten into a fine powder and put in front of the Proofs inside the Tent of Proofs, where I will make My presence known to you.
It must be treated as a most-holy incense by you, 37 so you shouldn’t make any for yourselves by this formula, because it is something holy to Jehovah.
38 Whoever makes anything like it so they can smell it must be destroyed from among his people.

Chapter 31

1 Then the Lord told Moses:
2 ‘{Look!} I have called on BeSeleEl (the son of Urias and the grandson of Or of the tribe of Judah) 3 and I have filled him with the Breath of God and with the wisdom, understanding, and knowledge to be creative in all fields.
4 [He understands] carpentry and how to work with gold, silver, and bronze; [how to work with] blue thread, purple yarn and spun scarlet material, as well as 5 how to do stone working and wood crafting… how to do everything!
6 So, I have chosen him, as well as EliAb (the son of AchiSamach of the tribe of Dan) and anyone else into whose heart I have put talent, to make everything that I’ve talked to you about.
7 [This includes] the Tent of Proofs, the Chest of the Sacred Agreement and the Propitiatory that sits on top of it, all the furnishings of the Tent, 8 the Altars, the table and its furnishings, 9 the pure lampstand and its furnishings, the wash bowl and its base, 10 Aaron’s official garments and the garments for his sons to serve Me as Priests, 11 the anointing oil, and the incense for the Holy Place.
They will make these things just the way I’ve told you.’

12 And the Lord said to Moses:
13 ‘Also, tell the children of IsraEl that they must pay attention and keep My Sabbaths, because these are the sign between us through the generations that they know that I am the Lord that makes them holy.
14 They must guard the Sabbaths as something that is holy to them. So, anyone who dishonors them must be put to death, and anyone that works on [those days] must have their lives destroyed from the midst of their people.
15 They may work for six days, but the seventh day is the Sabbath… a holy [day of] rest to Jehovah, and anyone that works on the seventh day must be put to death.
16 The children of IsraEl must keep the Sabbaths and obey them throughout their generations, 17 for this is to be an Agreement through the ages between the children of IsraEl and Me.
It is their sign to Me through the ages, because Jehovah made the skies and the lands in six days, and He stopped and rested on the seventh day.’

18 Well at that, He finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai and He gave Moses the two Tablets of Proofs that were made of stone and had been inscribed by the finger of God.

Chapter 32

1 [Well, after considerable time had passed] and the people saw that Moses hadn’t returned from the Mountain, they went to Aaron and said:
‘[We want you to] make gods for us to lead us, because we don’t know what has become of this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt.’

2 So Aaron told them:
‘I want you to take all the gold earrings that your wives and daughters wear in their ears, and bring them to me.’

3 Then everyone took off their gold earrings and brought them to Aaron, 4 and he took them from their hands, [had] them melted, and then the gold was carved into [the shape of] a calf.
And he said:
‘O IsraEl; this is your God who carried you out of the land of Egypt.’

5 And after he saw it, Aaron had an altar built next to it.
Then Aaron proclaimed:
‘Tomorrow [we will hold] a feast to the Lord.’

6 So he got up early the next morning and he offered whole burnt sacrifices and a peace offering [upon the altar].
Then the people sat down to eat and drink, and thereafter they got up to play.

7 Well at that, the Lord told Moses:
‘Hurry and go down [the mountain], because the people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt are acting lawlessly!
8 Notice how quickly they have left the ways that you’ve shown them… for now they’ve made themselves a calf to worship, and they’ve even offered sacrifices to it, saying,
9 O IsraEl, this is your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt.
10 So, leave Me now, for I’m so angry with them that I will reject them and make a great nation of you!’

11 But Moses started begging the Lord. He said:
‘O Jehovah; why are you so angry with the people that You brought out of the land of Egypt with Your mighty arm and with so much power?
12 Don’t allow the Egyptians to say,
He wickedly took them away to kill them in the Mountains and to wipe them off of the land.
Hold back Your rage and show mercy on the sins of Your people.
13 Remember Your servants AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob, and the [oath] that You made to them when You swore by Your Name, saying,
I will cause your seed to increase so much that [they will become] like the stars in the skies.
And [remember the promise that You made] to give them all of this land as theirs through the ages.’

14 Well, that’s how Jehovah was moved to [keep them] as His people.

15 Then Moses turned and went down the Mountain carrying the two Tablets of Proofs in his hands.
They were tablets of stone that were inscribed on both sides, 16 and they were the works and writings of God.

17 Well, when JoShua heard the voices of people shouting, he said to Moses:
‘That’s the sound of a war in the camp!’

18 But [Moses] replied:
‘It isn’t the sound of people going to battle or the sound of defeat.
What I hear is the sound of a lot of [partying].’

19 And when he got close to the camp, he saw the calf and the dancing, and Moses became so angry that he threw the two tablets from his hands and broke them to pieces at the base of the Mountain.
20 Then he took the calf that they’d made and had it melted and ground into dust, and he put it into some water and made the children of IsraEl drink it.

21 And after that, Moses asked Aaron:
‘What have these people done to you?
Why have you made them [guilty of] such a great sin?’

22 And Aaron replied:
‘Don’t be angry, lord; for you know how troublesome these people are. 23 They told me,
[We want you to] make gods for us to lead us, because we don’t know what has become of this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt.
24 So I said,
If anyone has gold ornaments, take them off.
Then they gave them to me and I threw them into the fire, and out came this calf!’

25 Well, Moses realized that the people were divided, and Aaron was responsible… which was something that would make their enemies very happy.
26 So Moses went to the entrance of the camp and shouted:
‘Who is on Jehovah’s side? [May those that are], come here to me!’

Well, all the sons of Levi came to him, 27 and he told them:
‘This is what Jehovah, the God of IsraEl, has declared:
Everyone must [tie on] his sword and go through the camp from gate to gate, and each of you must kill [your rebellious] brothers and neighbors, starting with those that are the nearest to you!’

28 So the sons of Levi did just as Moses had told them, and three thousand people fell that day.
29 Then Moses said:
‘You are to be praised, because you’ve all raised your hands before Jehovah [and struck down] your own sons and your own brothers!’

30 Then the next morning, Moses spoke to the people and said:
‘You have committed a great sin! So, now I must go up to God and pay for your sins!’

31 Therefore, Moses returned to Jehovah and said:
‘I’ve [come to] beg You, O Lord; because these people are guilty of a great sin by making a god of gold.
32 So now, [please] forgive their sins. But if You choose not to; then, also erase my name from the scroll that You’ve written.’

33 But the Lord told Moses:
‘I’m going to erase [the names] from My scroll of all those that have sinned against Me!

34 ‘Now, go and lead these people to the place that I told you about when I said,
{Look!} My messenger will travel before you.
However, I’m also going to visit them and [punish] them for their sins.’

35 So thereafter, Jehovah struck the people for having Aaron make the calf.

Chapter 33

1 Then the Lord told Moses:
‘Go on! You and the people that you brought out of the land of Egypt must leave now and go to the land that I promised to AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob, when I said,
I will give this [land] to your seed. 2 For I will send My messenger ahead of you, and he will throw out the Amorites, Chettites, Pherezites, Gergeshites, Evites, Jebusites, and CanaAnites, 3 then I will bring you into a land that flows with milk and honey.
However, I won’t be going with you, for fear that I will destroy you along the way, because you’re such a stubborn people!’

4 Well, when the people heard this bad news, they went into mourning and dressed themselves in mourning clothes.
5 But the Lord told the children of IsraEl:
‘You are a stubborn people!
Now, pay attention, so I don’t send another plague to destroy you.
Take off your [mourning] clothes and their trappings, and let Me show you what I will do for you.’

6 So the Sons of IsraEl took off all their [mourning] gear there at the dry mountain (Horeb).
7 Then Moses carried the [materials for] the Tent (which they called the Tent of Proofs) outside of the camp and [had it] assembled some distance away, so that everyone that [wanted an answer from Jehovah] would have to go outside the camp to the Tent.
8 Then, whenever Moses would enter or leave the Tent, everyone would stand and watch at its entrance, to see what would happen. 9 For when Moses entered the Tent, a column of clouds descended and stayed at the Tent’s entrance while [God] was speaking to Moses.
10 And as they all watched the column of clouds at the entrance to the Tent, everyone stood there and prayed 11 as Jehovah spoke to Moses face to face as though they were two friends.
Then after that, [Moses] would return to the camp, but his servant JoShua (the son of NaWeh), who was a young man, didn’t leave the Tent.

12 Thereafter, Moses said to Jehovah:
‘{Look!} You told me to lead these people on, but You haven’t shown me where You want me to go yet.

‘You’ve also told me that You know me better than all the rest, and that You care for me.
13 So now, if I’ve found favor in Your eyes, show Yourself to me so I can see You. Then I will know that I’ve found favor in Your eyes, and I can be sure that this great nation is truly Your people.’

14 And [God] replied:
‘I will pass before you, to satisfy you.’

15 Then [Moses] said:
‘But if You aren’t going to [travel] with us, don’t make me go either!
16 For, how would anyone know for sure that these people and I have found favor with You, unless You go with us? [And if You should choose to go], both Your people and I will be glorified above all the nations of the earth.’

17 Well at this, the Lord told Moses:
‘I will do this thing that you’ve asked, because you’ve found My favor and I’ve put you above all the rest.’

18 Then [Moses] said:
‘Then, show Yourself to me!’

19 And [God] said:
‘I will pass before you with My glory, and I will call out My Name (Jehovah) in front of you as I say,
I will be merciful to those for whom I feel mercy, and I will have pity on those for whom I feel pity.’

20 Then [God] told [Moses]:
‘You won’t be able to see My face, because no man can see My face and live.’
21 And the Lord said:
‘{Look!} Stand by Me on that rock [over there]; 22 and as My glory is passing by, I will put you into a hole in that rock and cover you with My hand as I pass. 23 Then I will remove My hand, so you can see My backside… but you won’t be able to see My face.’

Chapter 34

1 And the Lord said to Moses:
‘Now, you must cut two tablets of stone like the first ones, and climb the mountain to Me; then I will write the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke.
2 So, be ready to climb Mount Sinai in the morning, and then stand there [and wait] for Me at the top of the Mountain.
3 Don’t allow anyone to go up with you or to even be seen on the Mountain. And don’t allow any sheep or bulls to graze near the Mountain.’

4 So [Moses] cut two stone tablets just like the first, and he got up early and climbed Mount Sinai, just as the Lord had told him, carrying the two stone tablets.
5 Then the Lord descended in a cloud and stood close to him, as He called out the Name, Jehovah. 6 And the Lord passed before his face while He was saying:
‘Jehovah, the God of mercy, pity, patience, concern, and truth, 7 who brings justice and mercy to thousands, and removes wrong-doing, unrighteousness, and sins, but who won’t acquit the guilty.
He’s the One that [punishes] the sins of ancestors on their children and on their children’s children to the third and fourth generations.’

8 Then Moses quickly bowed to the earth and prayed:
9 ‘If You care for me; may my Lord go with us, because these people are stubborn. Then You will remove our sins and our failings, and we will be Your people.’

10 And thereafter, the Lord said to Moses:
‘{Look!} I am establishing a Sacred Agreement with you in the presence of all your people.
I will do wonderful things that have never been done before anywhere on the earth or in any nation.
Everyone among you will see the deeds that I will do for you… for they are wonderful.
11 However, make sure that you do everything that I’ve told you to do.
Then {Look!} I will throw the Amorites, CanaAnites, Pherezites, Chettites, Evites, Gergeshites, and Jebusites out from before you.

12 ‘Be careful not to make any agreements with the people that live in the land that you are entering, for fear that they will become stones to stumble you.
13 You must destroy their altars and smash their [sacred] columns, cut off their water, and burn the images of their gods.
14 You must not worship other gods, because Jehovah, which is a zealous Name, is a zealous God.

15 ‘Never make pacts with people that live in this land and then commit adultery with their gods, or sacrifice to their gods, or have them call you to eat at their feasts.
16 You shouldn’t take their daughters as women for your sons, nor should you give your daughters to their sons, so your sons and daughters don’t become adulterers with their gods.

17 ‘You aren’t to mold [any images of] gods for yourselves.

18 ‘You must keep the Feast of Fermentation-Free Bread and eat fermentation-free bread for seven days, just as I’ve told you, in the month and season of new grain… because, that’s when you came out of Egypt.

19 ‘All the first-born males are Mine… yes, everything that opens the womb first, including all your first-born oxen and sheep.
20 But when it comes to the first-born of burros; you must pay a ransom for them using a sheep or with money.
You must also pay a ransom for your first-born sons… don’t come to Me empty-handed!

21 ‘You can work for six days, but you must rest on the seventh day, whether it’s during the seed-time or the harvest.

22 ‘You must also observe the Feast of Weeks for Me at the beginning of the wheat harvest and at the harvest in the middle of the year.
23 So, every male must appear before Jehovah the God of IsraEl three times each year.
24 For after I’ve driven the nations away from before you and enlarged your borders, no one will really desire your land… that is, as long as you go up to appear before Jehovah your God three times each year.

25 ‘You must not offer the blood of My sacrifices with any fermentation, nor should the Passover sacrifices remain until the next morning.

26 ‘The first fruits of your land must be taken to the House of your God Jehovah.

‘You must not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.’

27 Then the Lord told Moses:
‘Write all of these words down, because they are the words of My Sacred Agreement with you and with IsraEl.’

28 Well, Moses was there [on the mountain] with Jehovah for forty days and forty nights; and during that entire time, he didn’t eat any bread or drink any water.
Then He wrote the words of the Sacred Agreement (the Ten Commandments) on the tablets.
29 So when Moses came down the Mountain, he had the two tablets in his hands.
But, as he was coming down, he didn’t realize that his face was glowing because of his conversation with God. 30 And when Aaron and all the elders of IsraEl saw Moses’ face radiating, they were afraid to come any closer.
31 However, when Moses called to them, Aaron and all the heads of the gathering turned toward him, as he started speaking to them.

32 And after that, all the children of IsraEl also came to him, and he told them all the Commandments that Jehovah had given to him on Mount Sinai (Horeb).
33 Then, after he had finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face.
34 Yet, whenever Moses went in to speak to Jehovah, he would remove the veil until he [came back outside] to tell the children of IsraEl what the Lord had said to him.
35 [Of course], it was because the children of IsraEl could see Moses’ face radiating that he wore the veil over it after going in to speak to the Lord.

Chapter 35

1 After that, Moses assembled the entire gathering of the children of IsraEl and said:
‘These are the commandments that Jehovah has told you to obey:
2 You can work for six days, but the seventh day is for resting. It is a holy Sabbath and a rest for Jehovah. So, anyone that does work on [that day] must die.
3 You may not so much as light a fire in any of your homes on the Sabbath day; for I am Jehovah.’

4 Then Moses told the gathering of the children of IsraEl:
‘This is what Jehovah has instructed you to do:
5 Take up [a collection] as an offering to Jehovah, and everyone whose heart moves him to do so must bring these as first-fruits to Jehovah:
gold, silver, bronze, 6 blue [thread], purple [yarn], double-spun scarlet [cloth], fine-spun linen, goats’ hair, 7 ram’s skins that have been dyed red or blue, durable wood, 8 rubies and gemstones that can be engraved for the [Priest’s] shoulder-piece, and full-length robes.

9 ‘Then, any man among you that is wise at heart may come and create the things that Jehovah has commanded, such as 10 the Tent, the cords, the coverings, the rings, the rafters, the posts, 11 the Chest of Proofs and its staves, the Propitiatory, the veil, 12 the curtains for the courtyard and their posts, 13 the [engraved gemstones], 14 the incense, the anointing oil, 15 the table and all its furnishings, 16 the lampstand (for lighting) and all of its furnishings, 17 the Altar and all of its furnishings, 18 and the holy garments for the Priesthood of Aaron (the clothing that he must use in his services), 19 as well as the Priestly garments for Aaron’s sons.’

20 And after the gathering of the children of IsraEl [had finished listening to] Moses, all that felt moved to do so brought whatever they thought would be appropriate as offerings.
21 So, they donated (as offerings to Jehovah) everything that was needed for the Tent of Proofs and all of its services, as well as all the clothing for the Holy Place.
22 Then, any man that felt moved to do so brought items from their wives, such as [gold] clasps, earrings, finger rings, necklaces, bracelets, and all sorts of gold items… 23 yes, many of them brought their gold jewelry to Jehovah, as well as their fine linen and ram’s skins that were dyed blue or red.

24 All those that brought offerings also brought items of silver and bronze to Jehovah, and everyone that had durable wood or the tools to work it, brought these things too.

25 Then the women that were skilled at spinning brought blue [thread], purple [yarn], scarlet [cloth], and fine linen.
26 And thereafter, all the women that were moved to do so and were wise, spun the goats’ hair.
27 In addition, the [tribal] rulers brought emeralds and gemstones for the settings in the shoulder pieces and the Words [of Judgment].
28 They also brought the materials for the anointing oil and the things that would be used to make the incense.

29 So, every man and woman that was moved to do so came to do all the work that Jehovah had assigned to them through Moses [using the things that] the children of IsraEl had donated as offerings to the Lord.

30 And Moses told them:
‘{Look!} God has specifically called BeSeleEl (of Urias and Or) from the tribe of Judah, 31 and filled him with a godly spirit of wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, in order to be creative in all fields of expertise.
32 For he is skilled in all sorts of crafts, such as working gold, silver, and bronze, 33 in setting gemstones, and in doing woodcarving… he does everything [well].
34 Both he and EliAb (of AchiSamach of the tribe of Dan) have been granted such understanding.
35 They have been filled with wisdom, understanding, and the know-how to do all the work that must be done for the Tent, as well as how to weave and embroider using scarlet [cloth] and fine linen, and how to fashion all the unique embroidered items.’

Chapter 36

1 So BeSeleEl, EliAb, and all those that were wise and knowledgeable, were given the wisdom, knowledge, and necessary [skills] to do everything that had to be done for the holy offices in the way that Jehovah had instructed.

2 Then Moses called BeSeleEl, EliAb, and all the wise men that had received the needed skills from God, as well as everyone that was willing to come and donate their work, to get the job done.
3 Moses gave them everything that the children of IsraEl had brought to build the Holy Place. In fact, they continued to receive the gifts each morning, 4 and wise people with many different skills kept showing up to work at the Holy Place.

5 Then one of them said to Moses:
‘The people are bringing in too many of the things that Jehovah told them to bring!’
6 So Moses sent a proclamation throughout the camp, saying:
‘No men or women should come to work or bring any more offerings to the Holy.’

So they actually had to stop the people from bringing things, 7 since they had enough material to make all the furnishings, with a lot left over.

8 The wise and thoughtful among those that were working on the Tent also produced ten tent curtains from blue [thread], purple [yarn], spun-scarlet [cloth], and fine-spun linen, with cherubs carefully woven into them.
9 Each curtain was forty-two feet wide and six feet tall… and all the curtains were the same.
10 Then, two groups of five curtains each were connected end-to-end.

11 They also made blue loops along the edges of each curtain to join them to each other. And they made fifty [loops] along the outer edges of the following curtains to connect them all together… 12 they put fifty loops on the first curtain and fifty corresponding loops on the next, so [the curtains] could be joined together at the loops.
13 Then [BeSeleEl] made fifty gold hooks to join each of the curtains to each other, in order to assemble the Sacred Tent.

14 Thereafter, he also put together eleven goat-hair coverings to serve as a roof for the Sacred Tent. 15 Each of these was forty-five feet long and six feet wide.
16 He joined five of the goat-hair coverings to make one portion, and six to make the other. 17
He also made fifty loops along the edge of the first group of goat-hair cloths and fifty loops along the edge of the second group (in the middle), 18 then he formed fifty bronze hooks and joined both sections with the hooks, making it a single sheet.

19 He also made a top covering for the Sacred Tent out of ram’s skins, some of which were dyed red, and some of which were dyed blue.

20 Then he made posts for the Sacred Tent out of durable wood.
21 The first post was fifteen feet tall, and a foot and three quarters wide. 22 It had two joints that butted against each other… and that’s how he made all the posts for the Sacred Tent.
23 There were twenty posts on the side facing the south, 24 along with forty silver sockets to connect them (two sockets per post), and two sockets for each of the posts that followed.
25 There were also twenty posts along the north side [of the Tent], 26 and forty silver sockets for them, two sockets per post.
27 And for the rear of the Sacred Tent (the west side), he made six posts, 28 plus two posts for the rear corners. 29 Their sections were of equal lengths, both the tops and the bottoms, for the corner posts.
30 So altogether, there were eight posts and sixteen silver sockets, two per post.

31 He also made cross bars out of durable wood.
Five [were set] between the posts along one side of the Sacred Tent, five were set between the posts to the other side of the Sacred Tent, 32 five were set between the posts at the rear of the Sacred Tent (toward the west), 33 and there was a single bar through the middle, which ran right through the posts from one side to the other.
34 He then covered the posts in gold and added gold rings to hold the poles; and he gilded the cross bars with gold.

35 He also made a veil from blue [thread], purple [yarn], spun-scarlet [cloth], and fine-spun linen, with cherubs carefully woven into them, 36 and placed it over four posts of durable wood that were covered in gold.
The tips of the poles were covered in gold, but their four bases were made of silver.
37 Then he made a draw curtain for the entrance to the Tent from blue [thread], purple [yarn], spun-scarlet [cloth], and fine-spun linen that was embroidered, 38 along with its five posts, the tips of which he gilded with gold, and he cast five bronze bases for them.

Chapter 37

1 Then BeSeleEl made the Chest from durable wood.
It was three and three quarters feet long, twenty-seven inches wide, and twenty-seven inches tall. 2 He gilded it with pure gold both inside and out, and he made a waved border of spun gold all around it. 3 Then he cast four gold rings for its four sides, two rings on one side and two rings on the other.
4 And he made bearing poles of durable wood, covering them with gold. 5 Then he inserted the bearing poles into the rings on the sides of the Chest, to carry it.

6 Thereafter, he made the Propitiatory lid of pure gold. It was three and three-quarters feet long, and twenty-seven inches wide.
7 Then he made two cherubs of beaten gold, and put them on each side of the Propitiatory 8 (one on the right and the other on the left), so there was a cherub on either side.
9 Both of the cherubs had out-stretched wings that overshadowed the Propitiatory as they faced each other, for both cherubs faced [inward].

10 Next he made the table from durable wood.
It was three feet wide, a foot and a half deep, and two-and-a-quarter feet tall. 11 He covered it all in pure gold, 12 and he made a spun, waved border of gold all around it.
Then he made a rim for it that was nine inches around, and he put a spun, waved border around the rim.
13 He also cast four gold rings for it, and he placed the four rings on each of its feet.
14 Then, next to the waved border rim, he placed rings to hold the bearing poles that were used to carry the table.
15 The bearing poles were also made from durable wood, which he then covered with gold.
16 He also made the utensils for the table – its saucers, incense pans, cups, and the bowls in which the Priest would offer the drink offerings – of pure gold.

17 After that, he made the lampstand of pure gold.
Its stems, branches, basins, knobs, and lilies were all formed on a lathe. 18 It had six branches in a row, three on the right and three on the left.
19 Each of the oil basins were almond shaped, with a knob and lily on the six branches that were on either side of the one in the center of the lampstand. 20 [This center] part had four almond-shaped basins on its single branch, along with knobs and lilies.
21 There was a knob under each pair of [the lamp’s] six branches that extended outward from the lampstand.
22 These branches and their knobs were all turned from single pieces of pure gold.
23 Then he made its seven lamps, its snuffers, and their oil funnels of pure gold, 24 which weighed some sixty pounds.

25 Next he made an Incense Altar out of durable wood.
It was a foot and a half long, a foot and a half wide, and three feet high; and on each of its four corners there were horns. 26 He covered it with pure gold (its grate, its sides, and its horns), and he made a spun rim of gold all around it.
27 He also made rings of pure gold that he placed under its rim of spun gold for each of its four corners, to serve as holders for the bearing poles that they would use to carry [this Altar].
28 He made the poles out of durable wood, and he covered them with gold.

29 Following that, he prepared the holy anointing oil and he mixed the incense in the pure ways of a perfumer.

Chapter 38

1 Then he made an Altar for the whole burnt offerings out of durable wood.
It was seven-and-a-half feet long and seven-and-a-half feet wide. It had four corners, and it stood four-and-a-half feet tall.
2 He made horns for each of the four corners, which he then covered in bronze.

3 He also made a rim for the Altar, a lid for it, bowls for it, meat hooks for it, and a fire pit… he made everything out of bronze.
4 Then he made a grate of latticed bronze, 5 and he made four rings to support the grate at each of its four sides out of bronze, which he placed under the grate.
[The grate] was about half [the size of] the Altar.
6 He also made the bearing poles for the Altar out of durable wood, plating them with bronze.
7 Then he inserted the bearing poles through the sides of the Altar, to carry it (it was hollow and made of boards).

8 He also made the bathing tub out of bronze.
The bronze for its base came from the bronze mirrors of the women that had been fasting at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs.

9 Next, he made curtains for the courtyard.
The curtain toward the south was made of fine spun linen, a hundred and fifty feet long. 10 It had twenty posts and twenty bronze bases, and its hooks and their clips were made of silver.
11 The side toward the north was also a hundred and fifty feet long, with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases; and their hooks and clips were of silver.
12 The curtains toward the west side were seventy-five feet long, with ten posts and ten bronze bases; and their hooks and clips were of silver. 13 And the curtains toward the east were seventy-five feet long.
14 [The entrance to the courtyard] ran twenty-two-and-a-half feet toward the rear, with three posts and three bases. 15 Then there was a second section leading to the entrance of the courtyard, with curtains that were twenty-two-and-a-half feet long, having three posts and three bases.
16 All the curtains for the Tent were made out of fine-spun linen, 17 their bases were made of bronze, their hooks and clips were of silver, and all the posts in the courtyard were silver plated.

18 The veils for the entrance to the courtyard were embroidered of blue [thread], purple [yarn], spun-scarlet [cloth], and fine-spun linen.
They were each thirty feet long and seven-and-a-half feet high, and they were connected to the courtyard curtains. 19 They had four posts and four bronze bases.
Their hooks were of silver, and their tips were silver plated, 20 and all the courtyard tent pegs were made of bronze.

21 This was how things were arranged at the Tent of Proofs, just as the orders were given to Moses.
Ithamar (the son of Aaron the High Priest) was in charge of everything, 22 and BeSeleEl, the son of Uri of the tribe of Judah was in charge of making all the things (just as the Lord had instructed Moses).
23 Also, EliAb (the son of AhiSamach of the tribe of Dan) supervised the weaving, stitching, and embroidering with the blue [thread], purple [yarn], spun-scarlet [cloth], and fine-spun linen.

24 One-thousand, seven hundred and ninety pounds of gold was used in the Holy Places (which all came in as part of the first-fruit offerings), plus seven hundred and thirty holy gold coins.
25 All the silver that came from the census of those chosen from among the gathering amounted to sixty-thousand pounds, plus a thousand, seven hundred and seventy-five shekels (a silver bar per head, which is half of a holy shekel) 26 that was paid for each of the males in the census that were more than twenty years old among the sixty-three thousand, five hundred and fifty.

27 Sixty-thousand pounds of silver was cast for the tips of the Sacred Tent and for the tips of the veil.
There were a hundred tips weighing sixty pounds each. 28 Also, a thousand, seven hundred and seventy-five shekels were used to make the hooks for the posts, the tips of which were gilded and engraved.
29 Forty-two-hundred pounds of bronze was used for sacred purposes, plus two thousand, four hundred shekels. 30
From it they made the bases for the entrance to the Tent of Proofs, the bronze Altar and its grate, all the utensils for the Altar, 31 the bases all around the courtyard, the bases for the entrance to the courtyard, the pegs for the Tent, and the pegs for the courtyard around it.

Chapter 39

1 And from what was left over of the blue, purple, and scarlet, they made into garments for the services of Aaron, so that he could officiate in them in the Holy Place, as the Lord had instructed Moses.

2 They made the shoulder pieces out of gold, blue [thread], purple [yarn], spun-scarlet [cloth], and fine-spun linen.
3 They cut up two sheets of hammered gold to create the gold threads and wove them into the blue [thread], purple [yarn], spun-scarlet [cloth], and fine-spun linen, 4 [which they attached on either side of the sacred vest].
5 The vest was also made of gold, blue [thread], purple [yarn], spun-scarlet [cloth], and fine-spun linen, as the Lord had instructed Moses.

6 Then they attached the two emerald stones with clasps.
They were carved and engraved like a seal with the names of the sons of IsraEl, and then inlaid with gold 7 and placed on the tops of each of the shoulder pieces, in memory of the sons of IsraEl, just as the Lord had instructed Moses.

8 Next, they made the Word [of Judgment].
It was woven and embroidered (the same as the shoulder pieces) of gold, blue [thread], purple [yarn], spun-scarlet [cloth], and fine-spun linen. 9 It was four-cornered, nine inches long, nine inches wide, and folded.
10 And into it they wove and inlaid precious stones that were arranged in four rows.
The first row had a sardius, a topaz, and an emerald.
11 The second row had a red garnet, a sapphire, and a jasper.
12 The third row had an amber, an agate, and an amethyst.
13 The fourth row had a chrysolite, a beryl, and an onyx.
The stones were all set in gold and connected by gold. 14
They were engraved like seals with one of the names of the twelve sons of IsraEl on each, representing the twelve tribes.
15 The Word [of Judgment] had a border with a tightly-joined wreath of pure gold.

16 Then they made two gold rings and two gold clasps.
17 They placed the two gold rings on each of the corners of the Word [of Judgment], and they put wreaths of gold with fasteners over the two rings (on each side of the Word [of Judgment]), 18 which connected to the sides of shoulder pieces, across from each other, in the front.
19 They connected the Word [of Judgment] to the back, inside of the shoulder piece. 20 For they made two gold rings and placed them along the tips of the shoulder pieces, on the bottom sides and in the front, below the connector that was over the woven parts of the shoulder pieces.
21 The Word [of Judgment] was then fastened by its rings to the rings on the shoulder pieces. They were sewed in using blue thread, and they were closely joined into the woven work of the shoulder pieces, so the Word [of Judgment] would not come loose from the shoulder pieces, just as the Lord had instructed Moses.

22 Then they made the robe that went under the shoulder piece, which was woven entirely of blue thread.
23 It had an opening in the middle with a closely-woven, reinforced edge around the collar.
24 Then along the bottom hem of the robe, there were woven blossoming pomegranates of blue thread, purple yarn, scarlet cloth, and fine-spun linen.
25 They also made gold bells and placed them around the bottom hem of the robe, between the figures of pomegranates. 26 So there were gold bells and the figures of pomegranates all around the official robe, just as the Lord had instructed Moses.

27 They made all the garments for Aaron and his sons of fine woven linen.
The turbans were of linen, 28 the outer robes were of linen, the pants were made from spun linen, 29 and the sashes were made of linen that was embroidered with blue thread, purple yarn, and scarlet cloth, exactly as the Lord had instructed Moses.

30 They also made a curtain of pure gold to [hide] the Most Holy Place, upon which they wrote words in raised letters,
‘Holy to Jehovah.’
31 It had a blue upper hem that connected it to the upper [cross bar], just as the Lord had instructed Moses.
32 So, all the work on the Tent of Proofs was finally completed by the sons of IsraEl, just as the Lord had given the instructions to Moses.

33 The blue [thread], the purple [yarn], and the scarlet [material] that was left over, was used to make [more] garments for Aaron to wear in his services at the Holy Place.

34 They also brought garments to Moses for use in the Tent, as well as [things] for its furnishings, bases, rafters, and posts 35 for the Chest of the Sacred Agreement and its carriers, and for the Altar and its furnishings.

36 They made the anointing oil, the incense, the holy lampstand 37 and its lamps (that held oil for the light), 38 the showbread table and all its furnishings, 39 Aaron’s garments for use in the Holy Place, the garments for his sons in their Priestly duties,40 the curtains for the courtyard, all the posts, the veils for the entrance to the Tent and the courtyard, 41 all the furnishings and tools for the Tent, the ram skins that were dyed red and blue, coverings for other things, the pins, and everything that was needed for work in the Tent of Proofs.
42 Whatever the Lord told Moses, the children of IsraEl made to complete the furnishings.
43 And when Moses looked at all the work and saw that they had done everything and made everything the way that Jehovah had told him to do, he praised them.

Chapter 40

1 Then the Lord told Moses:
2 ‘On the first day of the first month (the New Moon), you must assemble the Tent of Proofs 3 and put the Chest of Proofs inside it, behind the veil.
4 Then carry in the table and lay [the bread] upon it.
Also, bring in the lampstand and mount the lamps on it.
5 Then carry in the gold incense Altar and burn incense in front of the Chest, and hang the veil in the entryway to the Tent of Proofs.
6 Then put the Altar of burnt offerings next to the entry to the Tent of Proofs, and set up the rest of the Tent. Make everything in and around it, holy, 7 – – – 8 – – – 9 then take the anointing oil and anoint the Tent and everything in it, to cleanse it, so that it and all its furnishings will be holy.
10 Also, anoint the Altar of burnt offerings and all of its furnishings. Make it clean, so that the Altar will be most holy. 11 – – –

12 ‘Thereafter, bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the Tent of Proofs and wash them with water.
13 Then dress Aaron in the holy garments and anoint him, to make him holy, so he can serve as a Priest to Me.
14 And after that, bring in his sons, dress them in their garbs, 15 and anoint them as you did their father, so they can serve Me as Priests.
16 This anointing of the Priesthood [must be continued] through the ages.’

And Moses did everything that the Lord told him.

17 So it was that the Tent was erected during the first month (a year after they had left Egypt… during the New Moon).
18 Moses set up the Tent, put on the caps, and set the rafters and posts in their places. 19 Then he stretched the curtains over the Tent and installed the veil from the top of the Tent, as Jehovah had commanded.
20 He also took the Proofs and placed them inside the Chest; then he mounted the Chest on the staves 21 and carried it into the Tent.
And thereafter, he installed the veil to conceal the Chest of Proofs, just as the Lord had commanded.

22 After that, he carried the table into the Tent of Proofs and placed it on the north side, just outside the veil. 23 And he brought in the showbread [and set it] before Jehovah, just as the Lord had instructed him.
24 Next, he brought the lampstand into the Tent of Proofs and placed it on the south side of the Tent, 25 and he mounted its lamps in front of Jehovah, just as the Lord had commanded.
26 Then he brought the gold incense Altar into the Tent of Proofs and put it in front of the veil, 27 and he lit the [sacred] incense upon it, just as the Lord had commanded.
28 – – – 29 He also put the Altar for the burnt offerings next to the Tent entrance, 30 – – – 31 – – – 32 – – – 33 and he set up the courtyard all around the Tent and the Altar. Yes, Moses did all these things.

34 Thereafter, a cloud covered the Tent of Proofs and it was filled with the glory of Jehovah.
35 So then, even Moses wasn’t able to enter the Tent of Proofs because of the cloud that covered it and the glory of Jehovah that was inside of the Tent.

36 And after that, whenever the cloud would rise above the Tent, the children of IsraEl packed their bags and [got ready to leave].
37 But if the cloud stayed in place, they didn’t get ready to leave until the day that the cloud arose again.
38 For the cloud covered the Tent during the day, and fire covered it during the night; and all IsraEl could [see this] as they traveled.

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