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1 Moses was taking care of the flock of his father-in-law Jethro. Jethro was the priest of Midian. Moses led the flock to the western side of the desert. He came to Horeb. It was the mountain of God.

2 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him from inside a burning bush. Moses saw that the bush was on fire. But it didn't burn up.

3 So Moses thought, "I'll go over and see this strange sight. Why doesn't the bush burn up?"

4 The LORD saw that Moses had gone over to look. So God spoke to him from inside the bush. He called out, "Moses! Moses!" "Here I am," Moses said.

5 "Do not come any closer," God said. "Take off your sandals. The place you are standing on is holy ground."

6 He continued, "I am the God of your father. I am the God of Abraham. I am the God of Isaac. And I am the God of Jacob." When Moses heard that, he turned his face away. He was afraid to look at God.

7 The LORD said, "I have seen my people suffer in Egypt. I have heard them cry out because of their slave drivers. I am concerned about their suffering.

8 "So I have come down to save them from the Egyptians. I will bring them up out of that land. I will bring them into a good land. It has a lot of room. It is a land that has plenty of milk and honey. It is the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.

9 "And now Israel's cry for help has reached me. I have seen the way the Egyptians are beating them down.

10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh. I want you to bring the Israelites out of Egypt. They are my people."

11 But Moses spoke to God. "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?" he said. "Who am I that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?"

12 God said, "I will be with you. I will give you a miraculous sign. It will prove that I have sent you. When you have brought the people out of Egypt, all of you will worship me on this mountain."

13 Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the people of Israel. Suppose I say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you.' Suppose they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what should I tell them?"

14 God said to Moses, "I am who I am. Here is what you must say to the Israelites. Tell them, 'I AM has sent me to you.' "

15 God also said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, 'The LORD is the God of your fathers. He has sent me to you. He is the God of Abraham. He is the God of Isaac. And he is the God of Jacob.' My name will always be The LORD. Remember me by that name for all time to come.

16 "Go. Gather the elders of Israel together. Say to them, 'The Lord, the God of your fathers, appeared to me. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. " 'He said, "I have watched over you. I have seen what the Egyptians have done to you.

17 I have promised to bring you up out of Egypt where you are suffering. I will bring you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. It is a land that has plenty of milk and honey." '

18 "The elders of Israel will listen to you. Then you and the elders must go to the king of Egypt. You must say to him, 'The LORD has met with us. He is the God of the Hebrews. Let us take a journey that lasts about three days. We want to go into the desert to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God.'

19 "But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you and your people go. Only a mighty hand could make him do that.

20 So I will reach my hand out. I will strike the Egyptians with all kinds of miracles. After that, he will let you go.

21 "I will cause the Egyptians to treat you in a kind way. Then when you leave, you will not go out with your hands empty.

22 Every woman should ask her neighbor and any woman living in her house for articles made out of silver and gold. Ask them for clothes too. Put them on your children. In that way, you will take the wealth of Egypt along with you."

1 Moses answered, "What if the elders of Israel won't believe me? What if they won't listen to me? Suppose they say, 'The LORD didn't appear to you.' Then what should I do?"

2 The LORD said to him, "What do you have in your hand?" "A wooden staff," he said.

3 The LORD said, "Throw it on the ground." So Moses threw it on the ground. It turned into a snake. He ran away from it.

4 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Reach your hand out. Take the snake by the tail." So he reached out and grabbed hold of the snake. It turned back into a staff in his hand.

5 The LORD said, "When they see this miraculous sign, they will believe that I appeared to you. I am the God of their fathers. I am the God of Abraham. I am the God of Isaac. And I am the God of Jacob."

6 Then the LORD said, "Put your hand inside your coat." So Moses put his hand inside his coat. When he took it out, it was as white as snow. It was covered with a skin disease.

7 "Now put it back into your coat," the LORD said. So Moses put his hand back into his coat. When he took it out, the skin was healthy again. His hand was like the rest of his skin.

8 Then the LORD said, "Suppose they do not believe you or pay attention to the first miracle. Then maybe they will believe the second one.

9 "But suppose they do not believe either miracle. Suppose they will not listen to you. Then get some water from the Nile River. Pour it on the dry ground. The water you take from the river will turn to blood on the ground."

10 Moses spoke to the Lord. He said, "Lord, I've never been a good speaker. And I haven't gotten any better since you spoke to me. I don't speak very well at all."

11 The LORD said to him, "Who makes a man able to talk? Who makes him unable to hear or speak? Who makes him able to see? Who makes him blind? It is I, the Lord.

12 Now go. I will help you speak. I will teach you what to say."

13 But Moses said, "Lord, please send someone else to do it."

14 Then the LORD's anger burned against Moses. He said, "What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you. He will be glad to see you.

15 Speak to him. Put your words in his mouth. Tell him what to say. I will help both of you speak. I will teach you what to do.

16 He will speak to the people for you. He will be like your mouth. And you will be like God to him.

17 "But take this wooden staff in your hand. You will be able to do miraculous signs with it."

18 Then Moses went back to his father-in-law Jethro. He said to him, "Let me go back to my own people in Egypt. I want to see if any of them are still alive." Jethro said, "Go. I hope everything goes well with you."

19 The LORD had said to Moses in Midian, "Go back to Egypt. All of the men who wanted to kill you are dead."

20 So Moses got his wife and sons. He put them on a donkey. Together they started back to Egypt. And he took the wooden staff in his hand. It was the staff God would use in a powerful way.

21 The LORD spoke to Moses. He said, "When you return to Egypt, do all of the miracles I have given you the power to do. Do them in the sight of Pharaoh. But I will make his heart stubborn. He will not let the people go.

22 "Then say to Pharaoh, 'The LORD says, "Israel is like an oldest son to me.

23 I told you, 'Let my son go. Then he will be able to worship me.' But you refused to let him go. So I will kill your oldest son." ' "

24 On the way to Egypt, Moses stopped for the night. There the LORD met him and was about to kill him.

25 But Zipporah got a knife that was made out of hard stone. She circumcised her son with it. Then she touched Moses' feet with the skin she had cut off. "You are a husband who has forced me to spill my son's blood," she said.

26 So the LORD didn't kill Moses. When she said "husband who has forced me to spill my son's blood," she was talking about circumcision.

27 The LORD said to Aaron, "Go into the desert to see Moses." So he greeted Moses at the mountain of God and kissed him.

28 Then Moses told Aaron everything the LORD had sent him to say. He also told him about all of the miraculous signs he had commanded him to do.

29 Moses and Aaron gathered all of the elders of Israel together.

30 Aaron told them everything the LORD had said to Moses. He also did the miracles in the sight of the people.

31 And they believed. They heard that the LORD was concerned about them. He had seen their suffering. So they bowed down and worshiped him.

1 Later on, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh. They said, "The LORD is the God of Israel. He says, 'Let my people go. Then they will be able to hold a feast in my honor in the desert.' "

2 Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD? Why should I obey him? Why should I let Israel go? I don't even know the Lord. And I won't let Israel go."

3 Then Moses and Aaron said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Now let us take a journey that lasts about three days. We want to go into the desert to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God. If we don't, he might strike us with plagues. Or he might let us be killed with swords."

4 But the king of Egypt said, "Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their work? Get back to work!"

5 Pharaoh continued, "There are large numbers of your people in the land. But you are stopping them from working."

6 That same day Pharaoh gave orders to the slave drivers and the others who were in charge of the people.

7 He said, "Don't give the people any more straw to make bricks. Let them go and get their own straw.

8 But require them to make the same number of bricks as before. Don't lower the number they have to make. They don't want to work. That's why they are crying out, 'Let us go. We want to offer sacrifices to our God.'

9 Make them work harder. Then they will be too busy to pay attention to lies."

10 The slave drivers and the others who were in charge left. They said to the people, "Pharaoh says, 'I won't give you any more straw.

11 Go and get your own straw anywhere you can find it. But you still have to make the same number of bricks.' "

12 So the people scattered all over Egypt. They went to gather any pieces of straw that were left in the fields.

13 The slave drivers kept making the people work hard. They said, "Finish the work you are required to do each day. Make the same number of bricks you made when you had straw."

14 They whipped the Israelites who were in charge of the people. Those Israelites had been appointed by Pharaoh's slave drivers. The slave drivers asked, "Why didn't you make the same number of bricks yesterday or today, just as before?"

15 Then the Israelites who were in charge of the people made their appeal to Pharaoh. They asked, "Why have you treated us like this?

16 You didn't give us any straw. But you told us, 'Make bricks!' We are being whipped. But it's the fault of your own people."

17 Pharaoh said, "You just don't want to work! That's why you keep saying, 'Let us go. We want to offer sacrifices to the Lord.'

18 Now get to work. We won't give you any straw. But you still have to make the same number of bricks."

19 The Israelites who were in charge of the people realized they were in trouble. They knew it when they were told, "Don't lower the number of bricks you are required to make each day."

20 When they left Pharaoh, they found Moses and Aaron waiting to meet them.

21 They said to Moses and Aaron, "We want the LORD to look at what you have done! We want him to judge you for it! We are like a very bad smell to Pharaoh and his officials. You have given them an excuse to kill us with their swords."

22 Moses returned to the Lord. He said to him, "Lord, why have you brought trouble on these people? Is this why you sent me?

23 I went to Pharaoh to speak to him in your name. Ever since then, he has brought nothing but trouble on these people. And you haven't saved your people at all."

1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses. He said, "Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh. Because of my powerful hand, he will let the people of Israel go. Because of my mighty hand, he will drive them out of his country."

2 God continued, "I am the Lord.

3 I appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as the Mighty God. But I did not show them the full meaning of my name, The Lord.

4 "I also made my covenant with them. I promised to give them the land of Canaan. That is where they lived as outsiders.

5 Also, I have heard the groans of the Israelites. The Egyptians are keeping them as slaves. But I have remembered my covenant.

6 "So tell the people of Israel, 'I am the Lord. I will throw off the heavy load the Egyptians have put on your shoulders. I will set you free from being slaves to them. I will reach out my arm and save you with mighty acts when I judge Egypt.

7 " 'I will take you to be my own people. I will be your God. You will know that I am the LORD your God when I throw off the load the Egyptians have put on your shoulders.

8 " 'I will bring you to the land I promised with an oath to give to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I lifted up my hand and promised it to them. The land will belong to you. I am the Lord.' "

9 Moses reported those things to the Israelites. But they didn't listen to him. That's because they had lost all hope and had to work very hard.

10 Then the LORD said to Moses,

11 "Go. Tell Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, to let the people of Israel leave his country."

12 But Moses spoke to the Lord. "The people won't listen to me," he said. "So why would Pharaoh listen to me? After all, I don't speak very well."

13 The LORD had spoken to Moses and Aaron. He had talked with them about the Israelites and about Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. He had commanded Moses and Aaron to bring the people of Israel out of Egypt.

14 Here were the leaders of the family groups of Reuben, Simeon and Levi. Reuben was the oldest son of Israel. His sons were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron and Carmi. Those were the family groups of Reuben.

15 The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar and Shaul. Shaul was the son of a woman from Canaan. Those were the family groups of Simeon.

16 Here were the names of the sons of Levi that were recorded in their family history. They were Gershon, Kohath and Merari. Levi lived for 137 years.

17 The sons of Gershon, by their family groups, were Libni and Shimei.

18 The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. Kohath lived for 133 years.

19 The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. Those were the family groups of Levi that were recorded in their family history.

20 Amram got married to his father's sister Jochebed. Aaron and Moses were born in Amram's family line. Amram lived for 137 years.

21 The sons of Izhar were Korah, Nepheg and Zicri.

22 The sons of Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan and Sithri.

23 Aaron married Elisheba. She was the daughter of Amminadab and the sister of Nahshon. She had Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar by Aaron.

24 The sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah and Abiasaph. Those were the family groups of Korah.

25 Eleazar, the son of Aaron, married one of the daughters of Putiel. She had Phinehas by Eleazar. Those were the leaders of the families of Levi that were recorded by their groups.

26 The LORD had spoken to that same Aaron and Moses. He had told them, "Bring the Israelites out of Egypt like an army on the march."

27 They spoke to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, about bringing the people of Israel out of Egypt. They were that same Moses and Aaron.

28 The LORD had spoken to Moses in Egypt.

29 He had told him, "I am the Lord. Tell Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, everything I tell you."

30 But Moses said to the Lord, "I don't speak very well. So why would Pharaoh listen to me?"

1 Then the LORD said to Moses, "I have made you like God to Pharaoh. And your brother Aaron will be like a prophet to you.

2 You must say everything I command you to say. Then your brother Aaron must tell Pharaoh to let the people of Israel leave his country.

3 "But I will make Pharaoh's heart stubborn. I will multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt.

4 In spite of that, he will not listen to you. So I will use my powerful hand against Egypt. When I judge them with mighty acts, I will bring my people Israel out like an army on the march.

5 "Then the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord. I will reach out my powerful hand against Egypt. I will bring the people of Israel out of it."

6 Moses and Aaron did exactly as the LORD had commanded them.

7 Moses was 80 years old and Aaron was 83 when they spoke to Pharaoh.

8 The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron.

9 He said, "Pharaoh will say to you, 'Do a miracle.' When he does, speak to Aaron. Tell him, 'Take your wooden staff and throw it down in front of Pharaoh.' It will turn into a snake."

10 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh. They did exactly as the LORD had commanded them. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials. It turned into a snake.

11 Then Pharaoh sent for wise men and those who do evil magic. By doing their magic tricks, the Egyptian magicians did the same things Aaron had done.

12 Each one threw his staff down. Each staff turned into a snake. But Aaron's staff swallowed theirs up.

13 In spite of that, Pharaoh's heart became stubborn. He wouldn't listen to them, just as the LORD had said.

14 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Pharaoh's heart is very stubborn. He refuses to let the people go.

15 In the morning Pharaoh will go down to the water. Go and wait on the bank of the Nile River to meet him. Take in your hand the wooden staff that turned into a snake.

16 "Say to Pharaoh, 'The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to you. He says, "Let my people go. Then they will be able to worship me in the desert. But up to now you have not listened."

17 " 'The LORD says, "Here is how you will know that I am the Lord. I will strike the water of the Nile River with the staff that is in my hand. The river will turn into blood.

18 The fish in the river will die. The river will stink. The Egyptians will not be able to drink its water." ' "

19 The LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron, 'Get your staff. Reach your hand out over the waters of Egypt. The streams, waterways, ponds and all of the lakes will turn into blood. There will be blood everywhere in Egypt. It will even be in the wooden buckets and stone jars.' "

20 Moses and Aaron did exactly as the LORD had commanded them. Aaron held out his staff in front of Pharaoh and his officials. He struck the water of the Nile River. And all of the water turned into blood.

21 The fish in the Nile died. The river smelled so bad the Egyptians couldn't drink its water. There was blood everywhere in Egypt.

22 But the Egyptian magicians did the same things by doing their magic tricks. So Pharaoh's heart became stubborn. He wouldn't listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said.

23 Even that miracle didn't change Pharaoh's mind. In fact, he turned around and went into his palace.

24 All of the Egyptians dug holes near the Nile River to get drinking water. They couldn't drink water from the river.

25 Seven days passed after the LORD struck the Nile River.

1 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh. Tell him, 'The LORD says, "Let my people go. Then they will be able to worship me.

2 " ' "If you refuse to let them go, I will plague your whole country with frogs.

3 The Nile River will be full of frogs. They will come up into your palace. You will have frogs in your bedroom and on your bed. They will be in the homes of your officials and your people. They will be in your ovens and in your bread pans.

4 The frogs will be on you, your people and all of your officials." ' "

5 Then the LORD spoke to Moses. He said, "Tell Aaron, 'Reach your hand out. Hold your staff over the streams, waterways and ponds. Make frogs come up on the land of Egypt.' "

6 So Aaron reached his hand out over the waters of Egypt. The frogs came up and covered the land.

7 But the magicians did the same things by doing their magic tricks. They also made frogs come up on the land of Egypt.

8 Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron. He said to them, "Pray to the LORD to take the frogs away from me and my people. Then I'll let your people go to offer sacrifices to the Lord."

9 Moses said to Pharaoh, "You can have the honor of setting the time for me to pray. I will pray for you, your officials and your people. I'll pray that the frogs will leave you and your homes. The only frogs left will be the ones in the Nile River."

10 "Tomorrow," Pharaoh said. Moses replied, "It will happen just as you say. Then you will know that there is no one like the LORD our God.

11 The frogs will leave you and your houses. They will leave your officials and your people. They will remain only in the Nile River."

12 Moses and Aaron left Pharaoh. Then Moses cried out to the LORD about the frogs he had brought on Pharaoh.

13 And the LORD did what Moses asked. The frogs died in the houses, courtyards and fields.

14 The Egyptians piled them up. The land smelled very bad because of them.

15 But when Pharaoh saw that the frogs were dead, his heart became stubborn. He wouldn't listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said.

16 Then the LORD spoke to Moses. He said, "Tell Aaron, 'Reach your wooden staff out. Strike the dust on the ground with it.' Then all over the land of Egypt the dust will turn into gnats."

17 So they did it. Aaron reached out the staff that was in his hand. He struck the dust on the ground with it. The dust all over the land of Egypt turned into gnats. They landed on people and animals alike.

18 The magicians tried to produce gnats by doing their magic tricks. But they couldn't. The gnats stayed on people and animals alike.

19 The magicians said to Pharaoh, "God's powerful finger has done this." But Pharaoh's heart was stubborn. He wouldn't listen, just as the LORD had said.

20 Then the LORD spoke to Moses. He said, "Get up early in the morning. Talk to Pharaoh as he goes down to the river. Say to him, 'The LORD says, "Let my people go. Then they will be able to worship me.

21 If you do not let my people go, I will send large numbers of flies. I will send them on you and your officials. I will send them on your people and into your homes. The houses of the Egyptians will be full of flies. Even the area where they live will be full of flies.

22 " ' "But on that day I will treat the area of Goshen differently from yours. That is where my people live. There will not be large numbers of flies in Goshen. Then you will know that I, the Lord, am in this land.

23 I will treat my people differently from yours. The miraculous sign will take place tomorrow." ' "

24 So the LORD did it. Huge numbers of flies poured into Pharaoh's palace. They came into the homes of his officials. All over Egypt the flies destroyed the land.

25 Then Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron. He said to them, "Go. Offer sacrifices to your God here in the land."

26 But Moses said, "That wouldn't be right. The sacrifices we offer to the LORD our God wouldn't be accepted by the Egyptians because of their beliefs. Suppose we offered sacrifices they couldn't accept. Then they would throw stones at us and try to kill us.

27 We have to take a journey that lasts about three days. We want to go into the desert to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God, exactly as he commands us."

28 Pharaoh said, "I will let you and your people go to offer sacrifices. You can offer them to the LORD your God in the desert. But you must not go very far. And pray for me."

29 Moses replied, "As soon as I leave you, I will pray to the Lord. Tomorrow the flies will leave you. They will also leave your officials and your people. Just be sure you don't try to trick us again. Let the people go to offer sacrifices to the Lord."

30 Then Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to the Lord.

31 And the LORD did what Moses asked. The flies left Pharaoh, his officials and his people. Not one fly remained.

32 But Pharaoh's heart became stubborn that time also. He wouldn't let the people go.

1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses. He said, "Go to Pharaoh. Tell him, 'The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says, "Let my people go. Then they will be able to worship me.

2 Do not refuse to let them go. Do not keep holding them back.

3 " ' "If you refuse, my powerful hand will bring a terrible plague on you. I will strike your livestock in the fields. I will strike your horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep and goats.

4 But I will treat Israel's livestock differently from yours. No animal that belongs to the people of Israel will die." ' "

5 The LORD set a time for the plague. He said, "Tomorrow I will send it on the land."

6 So the next day the LORD sent it. All of the livestock of the Egyptians died. But not one animal that belonged to the Israelites died.

7 Pharaoh sent people to find out what had happened. They discovered that not even one animal that belonged to the Israelites had died. But his heart was still very stubborn. He wouldn't let the people go.

8 Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron. He said, "Take handfuls of ashes from a furnace. Have Moses toss them into the air in front of Pharaoh.

9 The ashes will turn into fine dust all over the whole land of Egypt. Then boils will break out on people and animals all over the land. Their bodies will be covered with them."

10 So Moses and Aaron took ashes from a furnace and stood in front of Pharaoh. Moses tossed them into the air. Then boils broke out on people and animals alike.

11 The bodies of all of the Egyptians were covered with boils. The magicians couldn't stand in front of Moses because of the boils that were all over them.

12 But the LORD made Pharaoh's heart stubborn. Pharaoh wouldn't listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said to Moses.

13 Then the LORD spoke to Moses. He said, "Get up early in the morning. Go to Pharaoh and say to him, 'The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says, "Let my people go. Then they will be able to worship me.

14 " ' "If you do not let them go, I will send the full force of my plagues against you this time. They will strike your officials and your people. Then you will know that there is no one like me in the whole earth.

15 " ' "By now I could have reached out my hand. I could have struck you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth.

16 But I had a special reason for making you king. I decided to show you my power. I wanted my name to become known everywhere on earth.

17 " ' "But you are still against my people. You will not let them go.

18 So at this time tomorrow I will send the worst hailstorm ever to fall on Egypt in its entire history.

19 " ' "Give an order now to bring your livestock inside to a safe place. Bring in everything that is outside. The hail will fall on all of the people and animals that are left outside. They will die." ' "

20 The officials of Pharaoh who had respect for what the LORD had said obeyed him. They hurried to bring their slaves and their livestock inside.

21 But others didn't pay attention to what the LORD had said. They left their slaves and livestock outside.

22 Then the LORD spoke to Moses. He said, "Reach your hand out toward the sky. Then hail will fall all over Egypt. It will beat down on people and animals alike. It will strike everything that is growing in the fields of Egypt."

23 Moses reached his wooden staff out toward the sky. Then the LORD sent thunder and hail. Lightning flashed down to the ground. The LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt.

24 Hail fell and lightning flashed back and forth. It was the worst storm in Egypt's entire history.

25 All over Egypt hail struck everything in the fields. It fell on people and animals alike. It beat down everything that was growing in the fields. It tore all of the leaves off the trees.

26 The only place it didn't hail was in the area of Goshen. That's where the people of Israel were.

27 Then Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron. "This time I've sinned," he said to them. "The LORD has done what is right. I and my people have done what is wrong.

28 Pray to the Lord, because we've had enough thunder and hail. I'll let you and your people go. You don't have to stay here any longer."

29 Moses replied, "When I've left the city, I'll lift up my hands and pray to the Lord. The thunder will stop. There won't be any more hail. Then you will know that the earth belongs to the Lord.

30 But I know that you and your officials still don't have any respect for the LORD God."

31 The barley was ripe. The flax was blooming. So they were both destroyed.

32 But the wheat and spelt weren't destroyed. That's because they ripen later.

33 Then Moses left Pharaoh and went out of the city. He lifted up his hands and prayed to the Lord. The thunder and hail stopped. The rain didn't pour down on the land any longer.

34 Pharaoh saw that the rain, hail and thunder had stopped. So he sinned again. He and his officials made their hearts stubborn.

35 So Pharaoh's heart was stubborn. He wouldn't let the people of Israel go, just as the LORD had said through Moses.

1 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh. I have made his heart stubborn. I have also made the hearts of his officials stubborn so I can do my miraculous signs among them.

2 Then you will be able to tell your children and grandchildren how hard I was on the Egyptians. You can tell them I did great miracles among the people of Egypt. And all of you will know that I am the Lord."

3 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh. They said to him, "The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says, 'How long will you refuse to obey me? Let my people go. Then they will be able to worship me.

4 " 'If you refuse to let them go, I will bring locusts into your country tomorrow.

5 They will cover the ground so that it can't be seen. They will eat what little you have left after the hail. That includes every tree that is growing in your fields.

6 They will fill your houses. They will be in the homes of all of your officials and your people. Your parents and your people before them have never seen anything like it as long as they have lived here.' " Then Moses turned around and left Pharaoh.

7 Pharaoh's officials said to him, "How long will this man be a trap for us? Let the people go. Then they'll be able to worship the LORD their God. After everything that's happened, don't you realize that Egypt is destroyed?"

8 Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. "Go. Worship the LORD your God," he said. "But just who will be going?"

9 Moses answered, "We'll go with our young people and old people. We'll go with our sons and daughters. We'll take our flocks and herds. We are supposed to hold a feast in the LORD's honor."

10 Pharaoh said, "The LORD will really be with all of you if I ever let you go, along with your women and children! Clearly you are planning to do something bad.

11 No! I'll only allow the men to go. Then all of you can worship the Lord. After all, that's what you have been asking for." Then Pharaoh drove Moses and Aaron out of his sight.

12 The LORD said to Moses, "Reach out your hand over Egypt. Locusts will cover the land. They will eat up everything that is growing in the fields. They will eat up everything that was left by the hail."

13 So Moses reached his wooden staff out over Egypt. Then the LORD made an east wind blow across the land. It blew all that day and all that night. By morning the wind had brought the locusts.

14 They came into every part of Egypt. They settled down in every area of the country in large numbers. There had never been a plague of locusts like it before. And there will never be one like it again.

15 The locusts covered the ground until it was black. They ate up everything that was left after the hail. They ate up everything that was growing in the fields. They ate up the fruit on the trees. There was nothing green left on any tree or plant in the whole land of Egypt.

16 Pharaoh quickly sent for Moses and Aaron. He said, "I have sinned against the LORD your God. I've also sinned against you.

17 Now forgive my sin one more time. Pray to the LORD your God to take this deadly plague away from me."

18 After Moses left Pharaoh, he prayed to the Lord.

19 The LORD changed the wind to a very strong west wind. The wind picked up the locusts. It blew them into the Red Sea. Not even one locust was left anywhere in Egypt.

20 But the LORD made Pharaoh's heart stubborn. And Pharaoh wouldn't let the people of Israel go.

21 The LORD spoke to Moses. He said, "Reach out your hand toward the sky. Darkness will spread over Egypt. It will be so dark that people can feel it."

22 So Moses reached out his hand toward the sky. Then complete darkness covered Egypt for three days.

23 No one could see anyone else or go anywhere for three days. But all of the people of Israel had light where they lived.

24 Then Pharaoh sent for Moses. He said to him, "Go. Worship the Lord. Even your women and children can go with you. Just leave your flocks and herds behind."

25 But Moses said, "You must allow us to take animals to offer as sacrifices and burnt offerings to the LORD our God.

26 Our livestock must also go with us. We have to use some of them to worship the LORD our God. We can't leave even one animal behind. Until we get there, we won't know what we are supposed to use to worship the Lord."

27 But the LORD made Pharaoh's heart stubborn. So he wouldn't let the people go.

28 Pharaoh said to Moses, "Get out of my sight! Make sure you don't come to see me again! If you do, you will die."

29 "I'll do just as you say," Moses replied. "I will never come to see you again."

1 The LORD had spoken to Moses. He had said, "I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. After that, he will let you and your people go. When he does, he will drive you completely away.

2 Tell the men and women alike to ask their neighbors for articles made out of silver and gold."

3 The LORD caused the Egyptians to treat the Israelites in a kind way. Pharaoh's officials and the people had great respect for Moses.

4 Moses said, "The LORD says, 'About midnight I will go through every part of Egypt.

5 Every oldest son in Egypt will die. The oldest son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, will die. The oldest son of the female slave, who works at her hand mill, will die. All of the male animals that were born first to their mothers among the cattle will also die.

6 There will be loud crying all over Egypt. It will be worse than it's ever been before. And nothing like it will ever be heard again.

7 " 'But among the people of Israel not even one dog will bark at any man or animal.' Then you will know that the LORD treats Egypt differently from us.

8 "All of your officials will come and bow down to me. They will say, 'Go, you and all of the people who follow you!' After that, I will leave." Moses burned with anger when he left Pharaoh.

9 The LORD had spoken to Moses. He had said, "Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you. So I will multiply my miracles in Egypt."

10 Moses and Aaron did all of those miracles in the sight of Pharaoh. But the LORD made Pharaoh's heart stubborn. He wouldn't let the people of Israel go out of his country.

1 The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron in Egypt.

2 He said, "From now on, this month will be your first month. Each of your years will begin with it.

3 "Speak to the whole community of Israel. Tell them that on the tenth day of this month each man must get a lamb from his flock. A lamb should be chosen for each family and home.

4 "Suppose there are not enough people in your family to eat a whole lamb. Then you must share some of it with your nearest neighbor. You must add up the total number of people there are. You must decide how much lamb is needed for each person.

5 "The animals you choose must be males that are a year old. They must not have any flaws. You may choose either sheep or goats.

6 Take care of them until the 14th day of the month. Then the whole community of Israel must kill them when the sun goes down.

7 Take some of the blood. Put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where you eat the lambs.

8 "That same night eat the meat cooked over the fire. Also eat bitter plants. And eat bread that is made without yeast.

9 Do not eat the meat raw or boiled in water. Instead, cook it over the fire. Cook the head, legs and inside parts.

10 Do not leave any of it until morning. If some is left over until morning, burn it.

11 "Eat the meat while your coat is tucked into your belt. Put your sandals on your feet. Take your walking stick in your hand. Eat the food quickly. It is the LORD's Passover.

12 "That same night I will pass through Egypt. I will strike down every oldest son. I will also kill all of the male animals that were born first to their mothers. And I will judge all of the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord.

13 "The blood on your houses will be a sign for you. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. No deadly plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.

14 "Always remember this day. For all time to come, you and your children after you must celebrate this day as a feast in honor of the Lord. It is a law that will last forever.

15 "Eat bread made without yeast for seven days. On the first day remove the yeast from your homes. For the next seven days, anyone who eats anything that has yeast in it must be cut off from Israel.

16 "On the first and seventh days, come together for a special service. Do not work at all on those days. All you are allowed to do is prepare food for everyone to eat.

17 "Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread. I brought you out of Egypt on this very day like an army on the march. It is a law that will last for all time to come.

18 In the first month eat bread that is made without yeast. Eat it from the evening of the 14th day until the evening of the 21st day.

19 "For seven days do not let any yeast be found in your homes. Anyone who eats anything that has yeast in it must be cut off from the community of Israel. That applies to outsiders and Israelites alike.

20 Do not eat anything that is made with yeast. No matter where you live, eat bread that is made without yeast."

21 Then Moses sent for all of the elders of Israel. He said to them, "Go at once. Choose the animals for your families. Each family must kill a Passover lamb.

22 Get a branch of a hyssop plant. Dip it into the blood in the bowl. Put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. None of you can go out the door of your house until morning.

23 "The LORD will go through the land to strike the Egyptians down. He'll see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe. He will pass over that house. He won't let the destroying angel enter your homes to kill you.

24 "Obey all of these directions. It's a law for you and your children after you for all time to come.

25 The LORD will give you the land, just as he promised. When you enter it, keep this holy day.

26 "Your children will ask you, 'What does this holy day mean to you?'

27 Tell them, 'It's the Passover sacrifice in honor of the Lord. He passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt. He spared our homes when he struck the Egyptians down.' " Then the people of Israel bowed down and worshiped.

28 They did just what the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron.

29 At midnight the LORD struck down every oldest son in Egypt. He killed the oldest son of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne. He killed all of the oldest sons of prisoners, who were in prison. He also killed all of the male animals that were born first to their mothers among the livestock.

30 Pharaoh and all of his officials got up during the night. So did all of the Egyptians. There was loud crying in Egypt because someone had died in every home.

31 During the night, Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron. He said to them, "Get out of here! You and the Israelites, leave my people! Go. Worship the Lord, just as you have asked.

32 Go. Take your flocks and herds, just as you have said. And also give me your blessing."

33 The Egyptians begged the people of Israel to hurry up and leave the country. "If you don't," they said, "we'll all die!"

34 So the people took their dough before the yeast was added to it. They carried it on their shoulders in bread pans that were wrapped in clothes.

35 They did just as Moses had directed them. They asked the Egyptians for articles that were made out of silver and gold. They also asked them for clothes.

36 The LORD had caused the Egyptians to treat the people of Israel in a kind way. So they gave them what they asked for. The people of Israel took many expensive things that belonged to the Egyptians.

37 The Israelites traveled from Rameses to Succoth. There were about 600,000 men who were old enough to go into battle. The women and children went with them.

38 So did many other people. The Israelites also took large flocks and herds with them.

39 They brought dough from Egypt. With it they baked bread without yeast. The dough didn't have any yeast in it. That's because the people had been driven out of Egypt before they had time to prepare their food.

40 The people of Israel lived in Egypt for 430 years.

41 At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all of the LORD's people marched out of Egypt like an army.

42 The LORD kept watch that night to bring them out of Egypt. So on that same night every year all of the Israelites must keep watch. They must do it to honor the LORD for all time to come.

43 The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron. He said, "Here are the rules for the Passover. "No one from another country is allowed to eat the Passover meal.

44 Any slave you have bought is allowed to eat it after you have circumcised him.

45 But a hired worker or someone who lives with you for a while is not allowed to eat it.

46 "It must be eaten inside a house. Do not take any of the meat outside. Do not break any of the bones.

47 The whole community of Israel must celebrate the Passover.

48 "Suppose an outsider who is living among you wants to celebrate the LORD's Passover. Then all of the males in that home must be circumcised. After that, the person can take part, just like an Israelite. Only males who are circumcised can eat it.

49 "The same law applies to Israelites and to outsiders who are living among you."

50 All of the people of Israel did just what the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron.

51 On that very day the LORD brought the Israelites out of Egypt like an army on the march.

1 The LORD said to Moses,

2 "Set apart for me the first boy born in every family. The oldest son of every Israelite mother belongs to me. Every male animal that is born first to its mother also belongs to me."

3 Then Moses said to the people, "Remember this day. It's the day you came out of Egypt. That's the land where you were slaves. The LORD used his mighty hand to bring you out of Egypt. Don't eat anything that has yeast in it.

4 You are leaving today. It's the month of Abib.

5 "The LORD will bring you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites and Jebusites. He took an oath and promised your people of long ago that he would give that land to you. It's a land that has plenty of milk and honey. When you get there, keep this holy day in this month.

6 "For seven days eat bread that is made without yeast. On the seventh day hold a feast in the LORD's honor.

7 Eat bread that is made without yeast during those seven days. Nothing that has yeast in it should be found among you. No yeast should be seen anywhere inside your borders.

8 "On that day talk to your son. Tell him, 'I'm doing this because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.'

9 "When you celebrate this day, it will be like a mark on your hand. It will be like a reminder on your forehead. The law of the LORD must be on your lips. The LORD used his mighty hand to bring you out of Egypt.

10 Obey this law at the appointed time year after year.

11 "The LORD will bring you into the land of Canaan. He will give it to you, just as he promised he would. He even took an oath when he made the promise to you and your people of long ago.

12 "After you arrive there, give to the LORD the oldest son of every mother. Every male animal that is born first to its mother among your livestock belongs to the Lord.

13 By sacrificing a lamb, buy back every male donkey that is born first to its mother. But if you don't buy the donkey back, break its neck. Buy back every oldest son.

14 "In days to come, your son will ask you, 'What does this mean?' "When he does, say to him, 'The LORD used his mighty hand to bring us out of Egypt. That's the land where we were slaves.

15 Pharaoh was stubborn. He refused to let us go. So the LORD killed every oldest son in Egypt. He also killed every male animal that was born first to its mother. That's why I sacrifice to the LORD every male animal that was born first. And that's why I buy back each oldest son for him.'

16 "This day will be like a mark on your hand. It will be like a sign on your forehead. It will remind you that the LORD used his mighty hand to bring us out of Egypt."

17 Pharaoh let the people go. The shortest road from Goshen to Canaan went through the Philistine country. But God didn't lead them that way. God said, "If they have to go into battle, they might change their minds. They might return to Egypt."

18 So God led the people toward the Red Sea by taking them on a road through the desert. The Israelites were prepared for battle when they went up out of Egypt.

19 Moses took the bones of Joseph along with him. Joseph had made the sons of Israel take an oath and make a promise. He had said, "I'm sure that God will come to help you. When he does, you must carry my bones up from this place with you."(Genesis 50:25)

20 The people left Succoth. They camped at Etham on the edge of the desert.

21 By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud. It guided them on their way. At night he led them with a pillar of fire. It gave them light. So they could travel by day or at night.

22 The pillar of cloud didn't leave its place in front of the people during the day. And the pillar of fire didn't leave its place at night.

1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses.

2 He said, "Tell the people of Israel to turn back. Have them camp near Pi Hahiroth between Migdol and the Red Sea. They must camp by the sea, right across from Baal Zephon.

3 Pharaoh will think, 'The people of Israel are wandering around the land. They don't know which way to go. The desert is all around them.'

4 "I will make Pharaoh's heart stubborn. He will chase them. But I will gain glory for myself because of what will happen to Pharaoh and his whole army. And the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord." So the Israelites camped by the Red Sea.

5 The king of Egypt was told that the people had gotten away. Then Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them. They said, "What have we done? We've let the people of Israel go! We've lost our slaves and all of the work they used to do for us!"

6 So he had his chariot made ready. He took his army with him.

7 He took 600 of the best chariots in Egypt. He also took along all of the other chariots. Officers were in charge of all of them.

8 The LORD made the heart of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, stubborn. So he chased the Israelites, who were marching out boldly.

9 The Egyptians went after the Israelites. All of Pharaoh's horses and chariots and horsemen and troops went after them. They caught up with them as they camped by the sea. The Israelites were near Pi Hahiroth, across from Baal Zephon.

10 As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up. There were the Egyptians marching after them! The Israelites were terrified. They cried out to the Lord.

11 They said to Moses, "Why did you bring us to the desert to die? Weren't there any graves in Egypt? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?

12 We told you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone. Let us serve the Egyptians.' It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die here in the desert!"

13 Moses answered the people. He said, "Don't be afraid. Stand firm. You will see how the LORD will save you today. Do you see those Egyptians? You will never see them again.

14 The LORD will fight for you. Just be still."

15 Then the LORD spoke to Moses. He said, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people of Israel to move on.

16 Hold your wooden staff out. Reach your hand out over the Red Sea to part the water. Then the people can go through the sea on dry ground.

17 "I will make the hearts of the Egyptians stubborn. They will go in after the Israelites. I will gain glory for myself because of what will happen to Pharaoh, his whole army, his chariots and his horsemen.

18 "The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord. I will gain glory because of what will happen to all of them."

19 The angel of God had been traveling in front of Israel's army. Now he moved back and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved away from in front of them. Now it stood behind them.

20 It came between the armies of Egypt and Israel. All through the night the cloud brought darkness to one side and light to the other. Neither army went near the other all night long.

21 Then Moses reached his hand out over the Red Sea. All that night the LORD pushed the sea back with a strong east wind. He turned the sea into dry land. The waters were parted.

22 The people of Israel went through the sea on dry ground. There was a wall of water on their right side and on their left.

23 The Egyptians chased them. All of Pharaoh's horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea.

24 Near the end of the night the LORD looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud. He saw the Egyptian army and threw it into a panic.

25 He kept their chariot wheels from turning freely. That made the chariots hard to drive. The Egyptians said, "Let's get away from the Israelites! The LORD is fighting for Israel against Egypt."

26 Then the LORD spoke to Moses. He said, "Reach your hand out over the sea. The waters will flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen."

27 So Moses reached his hand out over the sea. At sunrise the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians tried to run away from the sea. But the LORD swept them into it.

28 The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen. It covered the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the people of Israel into the sea. Not one of the Egyptians was left.

29 But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground. There was a wall of water on their right side and on their left.

30 That day the LORD saved Israel from the power of Egypt. Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore.

31 The Israelites saw the great power the LORD showed against the Egyptians. So they had respect for the Lord. They put their trust in him and in his servant Moses.

1 Here is the song that Moses and the people of Israel sang to the Lord. They said, "I will sing to the Lord. He is greatly honored. He has thrown Pharaoh's horses and their riders into the Red Sea.

2 The LORD gives me strength. I sing about him. He has saved me. He is my God. I will praise him. He is my father's God. I will honor him.

3 The LORD goes into battle. The LORD is his name.

4 He has thrown Pharaoh's chariots and army into the Red Sea. Pharaoh's best officers drowned in the sea.

5 The deep waters covered them. They sank to the bottom like a stone.

6 "Lord, your right hand was majestic and powerful. Lord, your right hand destroyed your enemies.

7 Because of your great majesty, you threw down those who opposed you. Your burning anger blazed out. It burned them up like straw.

8 The powerful blast from your nose piled up the waters. The rushing waters stood firm like a wall. The deep waters stood up in the middle of the sea.

9 "Your enemies bragged, 'We will chase Israel. We will catch them. We'll divide up what we take from them. We'll eat them alive. We'll pull our swords out. Our powerful hands will destroy them.'

10 But you blew with your breath. The Red Sea covered your enemies. They sank like lead in the mighty waters.

11 "Lord, who among the gods is like you? Who is like you? You are majestic and holy. Your glory fills me with wonder. You do wonderful miracles.

12 You reached out your right hand. The earth swallowed up the Egyptians.

13 "Because your love is faithful, you will lead the people you have set free. Because you are so strong, you will guide them to the holy place where you live.

14 The nations will hear about it and tremble. Pain and suffering will take hold of the Philistines.

15 The chiefs of Edom will be terrified. The leaders of Moab will tremble with fear. The people of Canaan will melt away.

16 Fear and terror will fall on them. Your powerful arm will make them as still as a stone. Then your people will pass by, Lord. Then the people you created will pass by.

17 You will bring them in. You will plant them on the mountain you gave them. LORD, you have made that place your home. Lord, your hands have made your holy place secure.

18 "The LORD will rule for ever and ever."

19 Pharaoh's horses, chariots and horsemen went into the Red Sea. The LORD brought the waters of the sea back over them. But the people of Israel walked through the sea on dry ground.

20 Aaron's sister Miriam was a prophet. She took a tambourine in her hand. All the women followed her. They played tambourines and danced.

21 Miriam sang to them, "Sing to the Lord. He is greatly honored. He has thrown Pharaoh's horses and their riders into the Red Sea."

22 Then Moses led Israel away from the Red Sea. They went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert. They didn't find any water there.

23 When they came to Marah, they couldn't drink its water. It was bitter. That's why the place is named Marah.

24 The people told Moses they weren't happy with him. They said, "What are we supposed to drink?"

25 Then Moses cried out to the Lord. The LORD showed him a stick. Moses threw it into the water. The water became sweet. There the LORD made a rule and a law for the people. And there he put them to the test.

26 He said, "I am the LORD your God. Listen carefully to my voice. Do what is right in my eyes. Pay attention to my commands. Obey all of my rules. If you do, I will not send on you any of the sicknesses I sent on the Egyptians. I am the LORD who heals you."

27 The people came to Elim. It had 12 springs and 70 palm trees. They camped there near the water.

1 The whole community of Israel started out from Elim. They came to the Desert of Sin. It was between Elim and Sinai. They arrived there on the 15th day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt.

2 In the desert the whole community told Moses and Aaron they weren't happy with them.

3 The Israelites said to them, "We wish the LORD had put us to death in Egypt. There we sat around pots of meat. We ate all of the food we wanted. But you have brought us out into this desert. You must want this entire community to die of hunger."

4 Then the LORD spoke to Moses. He said, "I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people must go out each day. Have them gather enough bread for that day. Here is how I will put them to the test. I will see if they will follow my directions.

5 "On the sixth day they must prepare what they bring in. On that day they must gather twice as much as on the other days."

6 So Moses and Aaron spoke to all of the people of Israel. They said, "In the evening you will know that the LORD brought you out of Egypt.

7 And in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord. He has heard you say you aren't happy with him. Who are we? Why are you telling us you aren't happy with us?"

8 Moses also said, "You will know that the LORD has heard you speak against him. He will give you meat to eat in the evening. He'll give you all of the bread you want in the morning. But who are we? You aren't speaking against us. You are speaking against the Lord."

9 Then Moses told Aaron, "Talk to the whole community of Israel. Say to them, 'Come to the Lord. He has heard you speak against him.' "

10 While Aaron was talking to the whole community of Israel, they looked toward the desert. There was the glory of the LORD appearing in the cloud!

11 The LORD said to Moses,

12 "I have heard the people of Israel talking about how unhappy they are. Tell them, 'When the sun goes down, you will eat meat. In the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.' "

13 That evening quail came and covered the camp. In the morning the ground around the camp was covered with dew.

14 When the dew was gone, thin flakes appeared on the desert floor. They looked like frost on the ground.

15 The people of Israel saw the flakes. They asked each other, "What's that?" They didn't know what it was. Moses said to them, "It's the bread the LORD has given you to eat.

16 Here is what the LORD has commanded. He has said, 'Each one of you should gather as much as you need. Take two quarts for each person who lives in your tent.' "

17 The people of Israel did as they were told. Some gathered a lot, and some gathered a little.

18 When they measured it out, those who gathered a lot didn't have too much. And those who gathered a little had enough. All of them gathered only what they needed.

19 Then Moses said to them, "Don't keep any of it until morning."

20 Some of them didn't pay any attention to Moses. They kept part of it until morning. But it was full of maggots and began to stink. So Moses became angry with them.

21 Each morning all of them gathered as much as they needed. But by the hottest time of the day, the thin flakes had melted away.

22 On the sixth day, the people gathered twice as much. It amounted to four quarts for each person. The leaders of the community came and reported that to Moses.

23 He said to them, "Here is what the LORD commanded. He said, 'Tomorrow will be a day of rest. It will be a holy Sabbath day. It will be set apart for the Lord. So bake what you want to bake. Boil what you want to boil. Save what is left. Keep it until morning.' "

24 So they saved it until morning, just as Moses commanded. It didn't stink or get maggots in it.

25 "Eat it today," Moses said. "Today is a Sabbath day in the LORD's honor. You won't find any flakes on the ground today.

26 Gather them for six days. But on the seventh day there won't be any. It's the Sabbath."

27 In spite of what Moses said, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather the flakes. But they didn't find any.

28 Then the LORD spoke to Moses. He said, "How long will all of you refuse to obey my commands and my teachings?

29 Keep in mind that I have given you the Sabbath day. That is why on the sixth day I give you bread for two days. All of you must stay where you are on the seventh day. No one can go out."

30 So the people rested on the seventh day.

31 The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seeds. It tasted like wafers that were made with honey.

32 Moses said, "Here is what the LORD has commanded. He has said, 'Get two quarts of manna. Keep it for all time to come. Then those who live after you will see the bread I gave you to eat in the desert. I gave it to you when I brought you out of Egypt.' "

33 So Moses said to Aaron, "Get a jar. Put two quarts of manna in it. Then place it in front of the Lord. Keep it there for all time to come."

34 Aaron did exactly as the LORD had commanded Moses. He put the manna in front of the tablets of the covenant. He put it there so it would be kept for all time to come.

35 The people of Israel ate manna for 40 years. They ate it until they came to a land that was settled. They ate it until they reached the border of Canaan.

36 The jar had an omer of manna in it. An omer was two quarts.

1 The whole community of Israel started out from the Desert of Sin. They traveled from place to place, just as the LORD commanded. They camped at Rephidim. But there wasn't any water for the people to drink.

2 So they argued with Moses. They said, "Give us water to drink." Moses replied, "Why are you arguing with me? Why are you putting the LORD to the test?"

3 But the people were thirsty for water there. So they told Moses they weren't happy with him. They said, "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt? Did you want us, our children and our livestock to die of thirst?"

4 Then Moses cried out to the Lord. He said, "What am I going to do with these people? They are almost ready to kill me by throwing stones at me."

5 The LORD answered Moses. He said, "Walk on ahead of the people. Take some of the elders of Israel along with you. Take in your hand the wooden staff you used when you struck the Nile River. Go.

6 I will stand there in front of you by the rock at Mount Horeb. Hit the rock. Then water will come out of it for the people to drink." So Moses hit the rock in the sight of the elders of Israel.

7 Moses called the place Massah and Meribah. That's because the people of Israel argued with him there. They also put the LORD to the test. They asked, "Is the LORD among us or not?"

8 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim.

9 Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of our men. Then go out and fight against the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill. I'll stand there with the staff of God in my hands."

10 So Joshua fought against the Amalekites, just as Moses had ordered. Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill.

11 As long as Moses held his hands up, the Israelites were winning. But every time he lowered his hands, the Amalekites began to win.

12 When Moses' arms got tired, Aaron and Hur got a stone and put it under him. Then he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up. Aaron was on one side, and Hur was on the other. Moses' hands remained steady until sunset.

13 So Joshua destroyed the Amalekite army with swords.

14 Then the LORD said to Moses, "That is something to be remembered. So write it on a scroll. Make sure Joshua knows you have done it. I will completely erase the memory of the Amalekites from the earth."

15 Then Moses built an altar. He called it The LORD Is My Banner.

16 He said, "I raised my hands toward the throne of the Lord. The LORD will fight against the Amalekites for all time to come."

1 Moses' father-in-law Jethro was the priest of Midian. He heard about everything God had done for Moses and for his people Israel. He heard how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.

2 Moses had sent his wife Zipporah to his father-in-law. So Jethro welcomed her

3 and her two sons. One son was named Gershom. That's because Moses had said, "I'm an outsider in a strange land."

4 The other was named Eliezer. That's because Moses had said, "My father's God helped me. He saved me from Pharaoh's sword."

5 Moses' father-in-law Jethro came to Moses in the desert. Moses' sons and wife came with Jethro. Moses was camped near the mountain of God.

6 Jethro had sent a message to him. It said, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you. I'm bringing your wife and her two sons."

7 So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law. Moses bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other. Then they went into the tent.

8 Moses told his father-in-law about everything the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians because of how much he loved Israel. He told him about all of their hard times along the way. He told him about how the LORD had saved them.

9 Jethro was delighted to hear about all of the good things the LORD had done for Israel. He heard about how God had saved them from the power of Egypt.

10 He said, "I praise the Lord. He saved you and your people from the power of Pharaoh and Egypt.

11 Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods. See what he did to those who looked down on Israel."

12 Then Moses' father-in-law Jethro brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices to God. Aaron came with all of the elders of Israel. They ate with Moses' father-in-law in the sight of God.

13 The next day Moses took his seat to serve the people as their judge. They stood around him from morning until evening.

14 His father-in-law saw everything Moses was doing for the people. So he said, "Aren't you trying to do too much for the people? You are the only judge. And all of these people are standing around you from morning until evening."

15 Moses answered him. He said, "The people come to me to find out what God wants them to do.

16 Anytime they don't agree, they come to me. I decide between them. I tell them about God's rules and laws."

17 Moses' father-in-law replied, "What you are doing isn't good.

18 You will just get worn out. And so will these people who come to you. There's too much work for you. You can't possibly handle it by yourself.

19 "Listen to me. I'll give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must speak to God for the people. Take their problems to him.

20 Teach them the rules and laws. Show them how to live and what to do.

21 "But choose men of ability from all of the people. They must have respect for God. You must be able to trust them. They must not try to get money by cheating others. Appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.

22 Let them serve the people as judges. But have them bring every hard case to you. They can decide the easy ones themselves. That will make your load lighter. They will share it with you.

23 "If this is what God wants and if you do it, then you will be able to carry the load. And all of these people will go home satisfied."

24 Moses listened to his father-in-law. He did everything Jethro said.

25 He chose men of ability from the whole community of Israel. He made them leaders of the people. They became officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.

26 They judged the people at all times. They brought the hard cases to Moses. But they decided the easy ones themselves.

27 Moses sent his father-in-law on his way. So Jethro returned to his own country.

1 Exactly three months after the people of Israel left Egypt, they came to the Desert of Sinai.

2 After they started out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai. They camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.

3 Then Moses went up to God. The LORD called out to him from the mountain. He said, "Here is what I want you to say to my people, who came from Jacob's family. Tell the Israelites,

4 'You have seen for yourselves what I did to Egypt. You saw how I carried you on the wings of eagles and brought you to myself.

5 " 'Now obey me completely. Keep my covenant. If you do, then out of all of the nations you will be my special treasure. The whole earth is mine.

6 But you will be a kingdom of priests to serve me. You will be my holy nation.' That is what you must tell the Israelites."

7 So Moses went back. He sent for the elders of the people. He explained to them everything the LORD had commanded him to say.

8 All of the people answered together. They said, "We will do everything the LORD has said." So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.

9 The LORD spoke to Moses. He said, "I am going to come to you in a thick cloud. The people will hear me speaking with you. They will always put their trust in you." Then Moses told the LORD what the people had said.

10 The LORD said to Moses, "Go to the people. Today and tomorrow set them apart for me. Have them wash their clothes.

11 Have the people ready by the third day. On that day I will come down on Mount Sinai. Everyone will see it.

12 "Put limits for the people around the mountain. Tell them, 'Be careful that you do not go up the mountain. Do not even touch the foot of it. You can be sure that all who touch the mountain will be put to death.

13 Do not lay a hand on any of them. Kill them with stones or shoot them with arrows. Whether they are people or animals, do not let them live.' They may go up to the mountain only when the ram's horn gives out a long blast."

14 Moses went down the mountain to the people. After he set them apart for the Lord, they washed their clothes.

15 Then he spoke to the people. He said, "Get ready for the third day. Don't make love."

16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning. A thick cloud covered the mountain. A trumpet gave out a very loud blast. Everyone in the camp trembled with fear.

17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God. They stood at the foot of the mountain.

18 Smoke covered Mount Sinai, because the LORD came down on it in fire. The smoke rose up from it like smoke from a furnace. The whole mountain trembled and shook.

19 The sound of the trumpet got louder and louder. Then Moses spoke. And the voice of God answered him.

20 The LORD came down to the top of Mount Sinai. He told Moses to come to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up.

21 The LORD said to him, "Go down and warn the people. They must not force their way through to see me. If they do, many of them will die.

22 The priests approach me when they serve me. But even they must set themselves apart for me. If they do not, my anger will break out against them."

23 Moses said to the Lord, "The people can't come up Mount Sinai. You yourself warned us. You said, 'Put limits around the mountain. Set it apart as holy.' "

24 The LORD replied, "Go down. Bring Aaron up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through. They must not come up to me. If they do, my anger will break out against them."

25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.

1 Here are all of the words God spoke. He said,

2 "I am the LORD your God. I brought you out of Egypt. That is the land where you were slaves.

3 "Do not put any other gods in place of me.

4 "Do not make statues of gods that look like anything in the sky or on the earth or in the waters.

5 Do not bow down to them or worship them. I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God. I punish the children for the sin of their parents. I punish the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of those who hate me.

6 But for all time to come I show love to all those who love me and keep my commandments.

7 "Do not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will find guilty anyone who misuses his name.

8 "Remember to keep the Sabbath day holy.

9 Do all of your work in six days.

10 But the seventh day is a Sabbath in honor of the LORD your God. Do not do any work on that day. The same command applies to your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and your animals. It also applies to any outsiders who live in your cities.

11 In six days I made the heavens and the earth. I made the oceans and everything in them. But I rested on the seventh day. So I blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

12 "Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long time in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

13 "Do not commit murder.

14 "Do not commit adultery.

15 "Do not steal.

16 "Do not give false witness against your neighbor.

17 "Do not long for anything that belongs to your neighbor. Do not long for your neighbor's house, wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey."

18 The people saw the thunder and lightning. They heard the trumpet. They saw the mountain covered with smoke. They trembled with fear and stayed a long way off.

19 They said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself. Then we'll listen. But don't let God speak to us. If he does, we'll die."

20 Moses said to the people, "Don't be afraid. God has come to put you to the test. He wants you to have respect for him. That will keep you from sinning."

21 Moses approached the thick darkness where God was. But the people remained a long way off.

22 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Here is what you must tell the people of Israel. Say to them, 'You have seen for yourselves what I said to you from heaven.

23 Do not put any other gods in place of me. Do not make silver or gold statues of them for yourselves.

24 " 'Make an altar out of dirt for me. Sacrifice your burnt offerings and friendship offerings on it. Sacrifice your sheep, goats and cattle on it. I will come to you and bless you everywhere I cause my name to be honored.

25 " 'If you make an altar out of stones in honor of me, do not build it with blocks of stone. You will make it "unclean" if you use a tool on it.

26 " 'Do not walk up steps to my altar. If you do, someone might see your naked body under your robes.'

1 "Here are the laws you must explain to the people of Israel.

2 "Suppose you buy a Hebrew servant. He must serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, you must set him free. He does not have to pay anything.

3 "If he does not have a wife when he comes, he must go free alone. But if he has a wife when he comes, she must go with him.

4 Suppose his master gives him a wife. And suppose she has sons or daughters by him. Then only the man will go free. The woman and her children will belong to her master.

5 "But suppose the servant says, 'I love my master and my wife and children. I don't want to go free.'

6 Then his master must take him to the judges. He must be taken to the door or doorpost of his master's house. His master must poke a hole through his ear lobe into the doorpost. Then he will become his servant for life.

7 "Suppose a man sells his daughter as a servant. Then she can't go free as male servants do.

8 "But what if the master who has chosen her does not like her? Then he must let the man buy her back. He has no right to sell her to strangers. He has broken his promise to her.

9 "What if he chooses her to get married to his son? Then he must grant her the rights of a daughter.

10 "What if he marries another woman? He must still give the first one her food and clothes and make love to her.

11 If he does not provide her with those three things, she can go free. She does not have to pay anything.

12 "You can be sure that if anyone hits and kills someone else, he will be put to death.

13 Suppose he did not do it on purpose. Suppose I let it happen. Then he can escape to a place I will choose.

14 But suppose he kills someone on purpose. Then take him away from my altar and put him to death.

15 "If anyone attacks his father or mother, he will be put to death.

16 "If anyone kidnaps and sells another person, he will be put to death. If he still has the person with him when he is caught, he will be put to death.

17 "If anyone calls down a curse on his father or mother, he will be put to death.

18 "Suppose two men get into a fight and argue with each other. One hits the other with a stone or his fist. He does not die but has to stay in bed.

19 And later he gets up and walks around outside with his walking stick. Then the man who hit him will not be held accountable. But he must pay the one who was hurt for the time he spent in bed. He must be sure that the person is completely healed.

20 "Suppose a man beats his male or female slave to death with a club. Then he must be punished.

21 But he will not be punished if the slave gets up after a day or two. After all, the slave is his property.

22 "Suppose some men are fighting and one of them hits a pregnant woman. And suppose she has her baby early but is not badly hurt. Then the man who hurt her must pay a fine. He must pay what the woman's husband asks for and the court allows.

23 "But if someone is badly hurt, a life must be taken for a life.

24 An eye must be put out for an eye. A tooth must be knocked out for a tooth. A hand must be cut off for a hand and a foot for a foot.

25 A burn must be given for a burn, a wound for a wound, and a bruise for a bruise.

26 "Suppose a man hits his male or female servant in the eye and destroys it. Then he must let the servant go free to pay for the eye.

27 "Suppose he knocks out the tooth of a male or female servant. Then he must let the servant go free to pay for the tooth.

28 "Suppose a bull kills a man or woman with its horns. Then you must kill the bull by throwing stones at it. Its meat must not be eaten. The owner of the bull will not be held accountable.

29 "But suppose the bull has had the habit of attacking people. And suppose the owner has been warned but has not kept it fenced in. Then if it kills a man or woman, you must kill it with stones. The owner must also be put to death.

30 "But suppose payment is required of him instead. Then he can save his life by paying what is required.

31 "The same law applies if the bull wounds a son or daughter with its horns.

32 "Suppose the bull wounds a male or female slave. Then the owner must pay the slave's master 12 ounces of silver. You must kill the bull with stones.

33 "Suppose a man uncovers a pit or digs one and does not cover it. And suppose an ox or donkey falls into it.

34 Then the owner of the pit must pay the animal's owner for the loss. The dead animal will belong to the owner of the pit.

35 "Suppose a man's bull wounds a neighbor's bull and it dies. Then they must sell the live one. And they must share the money and the dead animal equally.

36 "But suppose people knew that the bull had the habit of attacking. And suppose the owner did not keep it fenced in. Then he must give another animal to pay for the dead animal. The dead animal will belong to him.

1 "Suppose a man steals an ox or a sheep. And suppose he kills it or sells it. Then he must pay back five head of cattle for the ox. Or he must pay back four sheep or goats for the sheep.

2 "Suppose you catch a thief breaking into your house. And suppose you hit the thief and kill him. Then you are not guilty of murder.

3 But suppose it happens after the sun has come up. Then you are guilty of murder. "A thief must pay for what he has stolen. But suppose he does not have anything. Then he must be sold to pay for what he has stolen.

4 "What if the stolen ox, donkey or sheep is found alive with him? Then the thief must pay back twice as much as he stole.

5 "Suppose a man lets his livestock eat grass in someone else's field or vineyard. Then he must pay that person back from the best crops of his own field or vineyard.

6 "Suppose a fire breaks out and spreads into bushes. It burns grain that has been cut and stacked. Or it burns grain that is still growing. Or it burns the whole field. Then the one who started the fire must pay for the loss.

7 "Suppose a man gives his neighbor silver or other things to keep safe. And suppose they are stolen from the neighbor's house. If the thief is caught, he must pay back twice as much as he stole.

8 "But suppose the thief is not found. Then the neighbor must go to the judges. They will decide whether the neighbor has stolen the other person's property.

9 "Suppose you have an ox, donkey, sheep or clothing that does not belong to you. Or you have other property that was lost by someone else. And suppose someone says, 'That belongs to me.' Then both people must bring their case to the judges. The one the judges decide is guilty must pay back twice as much to the other person.

10 "Suppose a man asks his neighbor to take care of a donkey, ox, sheep or any other animal. And suppose the animal dies or gets hurt. Or suppose it is stolen while no one is looking.

11 Then the problem will be settled by taking an oath and promising the LORD to tell the truth. "Suppose the neighbor takes an oath and says, 'I didn't steal your property.' Then the owner must accept what the neighbor says. No payment is required.

12 "But suppose the animal really was stolen. Then the neighbor must pay the owner back.

13 "Or suppose it was torn to pieces by a wild animal. Then the neighbor must bring in what is left as proof. No payment is required.

14 "Suppose a man borrows an animal from his neighbor. And it gets hurt or dies while the owner is not there. Then the man must pay for it.

15 "But suppose the owner is with the animal. Then the man will not have to pay. If he hired the animal, the money he paid to hire it covers the loss.

16 "Suppose a man meets a virgin who is not engaged. And he talks her into having sex with him. Then he must pay her father the price for a bride. And he must get married to her.

17 "But suppose her father absolutely refuses to give her to him. Then he must still pay the price for getting married to a virgin.

18 "Do not let a woman who does evil magic stay alive. Put her to death.

19 "Anyone who has sex with an animal must be put to death.

20 "Anyone who sacrifices to any god other than me must be destroyed.

21 "Do not treat outsiders badly. Do not beat them down. Remember, you were outsiders in Egypt.

22 "Do not take advantage of widows. Do not take advantage of children whose fathers have died.

23 "If you do, they might cry out to me. Then I will certainly hear them.

24 And I will get angry. I will kill you with a sword. Your wives will become widows. Your children's fathers will die.

25 "Suppose you lend money to one of my people among you who is in need. Then do not be like those who lend money and charge interest. Do not charge any interest.

26 "Suppose your neighbor owes you money and gives you a coat as a promise to pay it back. Then return it to him by sunset.

27 That coat is the only thing he owns to wear or sleep in. When he cries out to me, I will listen, because I am loving and kind.

28 "Do not speak evil things against me. Do not call down a curse on the ruler of your people.

29 "Do not hold back your grain offerings or wine offerings. "You must give me the oldest of your sons.

30 Do the same with your cattle and sheep. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days. But give them to me on the eighth day.

31 "I want you to be my holy people. So do not eat the meat of any animal that has been torn by wild animals. Throw it to the dogs.

1 "Do not spread reports that are false. Do not help an evil person by telling lies in court.

2 "Do not follow the crowd when they do what is wrong. When you are a witness in court, do not turn what is right into wrong. Do not go along with the crowd.

3 Do not show favor to a poor person in court.

4 "Suppose you come across your enemy's ox or donkey wandering away. Then be sure to take it back to him

5 "Suppose you see that the donkey of someone who hates you has fallen down under its load. Then do not leave it there. Be sure you help him with it.

6 "Be fair to your poor people in their court cases.

7 Do not have anything to do with a charge that is false. Do not put to death those who are not guilty of doing anything wrong. I will not let those who are guilty go free.

8 "Do not take money from people who want special favors. It makes you blind to the truth. It twists the words of godly people.

9 "Do not beat an outsider down. You yourselves know how it feels to be outsiders. Remember, you were outsiders in Egypt.

10 "For six years plant your fields and gather your crops.

11 But during the seventh year do not plow your land or use it. Then the poor people who are among you can get food from it. The wild animals can eat what is left over. Do the same thing with your vineyards and your groves of olive trees.

12 "Do all of your work in six days. But do not do any work on the seventh day. Then your oxen and donkeys can rest. The slaves who are born in your house can be renewed. And so can the outsiders.

13 "Be careful to do everything I have said to you. Do not use the names of other gods. Do not even let them be heard on your lips.

14 "Three times a year you must celebrate a feast in my honor

15 "Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Eat bread that is made without yeast for seven days, just as I commanded you. Do it at the appointed time in the month of Abib. You came out of Egypt in that month. "You must not come to worship me with your hands empty.

16 "Celebrate the Feast of Weeks. Bring the first share of your crops from your field. "Celebrate the Feast of Booths. Hold it in the fall when you gather in your crops from the field.

17 "Three times a year all of your men must come to worship me. I am your LORD and King.

18 "Do not include anything that is made with yeast when you offer me the blood of a sacrifice. "Suppose the fat from sacrifices is left over from my feasts. Then do not keep it until morning.

19 "Bring the best of the first share of your crops to my house. I am the LORD your God. "Do not cook a young goat in its mother's milk

20 "I am sending an angel ahead of you. He will guard you along the way. He will bring you to the place I have prepared.

21 Pay attention to him. Listen to what he says. Do not refuse to obey him. He will not forgive you if you turn against him. My very Name is in him

22 Listen carefully to what he says. Do everything I say. Then I will be an enemy to your enemies. I will fight against those who fight against you.

23 "My angel will go ahead of you. He will bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites and Jebusites. I will wipe them out.

24 "Do not do what they do. Do not bow down to their gods or worship them. You must destroy the statues of their gods. You must break their sacred stones to pieces.

25 "I am the LORD your God. Worship me. Then I will bless your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you.

26 In your land no woman will give birth to a dead baby. Every woman will be able to have children. I will give you a long life.

27 "I will send my terror ahead of you. I will throw every nation you meet into a panic. I will make all of your enemies turn their backs and run away.

28 I will send hornets ahead of you. They will drive the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites out of your way.

29 "But I will not drive them out in just one year. If I did, the land would be deserted. There would be too many wild animals for you.

30 I will drive them out ahead of you little by little. I will do it until your numbers have increased enough for you to take control of the land.

31 "I will make your borders secure from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. They will go from the desert to the Euphrates River. "I will hand over to you the people who live in the land. You will drive them out to make room for you.

32 Do not make a covenant with them or with their gods.

33 Do not let them live in your land. If you do, they will cause you to sin against me. If you worship their gods, that will certainly be a trap for you."

1 The LORD said to Moses, "You and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and 70 of the elders of Israel must come up to me. Do not come close when you worship.

2 Only Moses can come close to me. The others must not come near. And the people may not go up with him."

3 Moses went and told the people all of the LORD's words and laws. They answered with one voice. They said, "We will do everything the LORD has told us to do."

4 Then Moses wrote down everything the LORD had said. Moses got up early the next morning. He built an altar at the foot of the mountain. He set up 12 stone pillars. They stood for the 12 tribes of Israel.

5 Then he sent young Israelite men to offer burnt offerings. They also sacrificed young bulls as friendship offerings to the Lord.

6 Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls. He sprinkled the other half on the altar.

7 Then he took the Scroll of the Covenant and read it to the people. They answered, "We will do everything the LORD has told us to do. We will obey him."

8 Then Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people. He said, "This is the blood that puts the covenant into effect. The LORD has made this covenant with you in keeping with all of these words."

9 Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the 70 elders of Israel went up.

10 They saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a street made out of sapphire. It was as clear as the sky itself.

11 But God didn't raise his hand against those leaders of the people of Israel. They saw God. And they ate and drank.

12 The LORD said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain. Stay here. I will give you the stone tablets. They contain the law and commands I have written to teach the people."

13 Then Moses and Joshua, his helper, started out. Moses went up on the mountain of God.

14 He said to the elders, "Wait for us here until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur are with you. Anyone who has a problem can go to them."

15 Moses went up on the mountain. Then the cloud covered it.

16 The glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. The cloud covered the mountain for six days. On the seventh day the LORD called out to Moses from inside the cloud.

17 The people of Israel saw the glory of the Lord. It looked like a fire burning on top of the mountain.

18 Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. He stayed on the mountain for 40 days and 40 nights.

1 The LORD said to Moses,

2 "Tell the people of Israel to bring me an offering. You must receive the offering for me from all whose hearts move them to give.

3 "Here are the offerings you must receive from them. "gold, silver and bronze

4 blue, purple and bright red yarn and fine linen goat hair

5 ram skins that are dyed red the hides of sea cows acacia wood

6 olive oil for the lights spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet-smelling incense

7 onyx stones and other jewels for the linen apron and chest cloth

8 "Have them make a sacred tent for me. I will live among them.

9 Make the holy tent and everything that belongs to it. Make them exactly like the pattern I will show you.

10 "Have them make a chest out of acacia wood. Make it three feet nine inches long and two feet three inches wide and high.

11 Cover it inside and outside with pure gold. Put a strip of gold around it.

12 "Make four gold rings for it. Join them to its four bottom corners. Put two rings on one side and two rings on the other.

13 "Then make poles out of acacia wood. Cover them with gold.

14 Put the poles through the rings on the sides of the chest to carry it.

15 The poles must remain in the rings of the chest. Do not remove them.

16 I will give you the tablets of the covenant. When I do, put them into the chest.

17 "Make its cover out of pure gold. The cover is the place where sin will be paid for. Make it three feet nine inches long and two feet three inches wide.

18 "Make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover.

19 Put one cherub on each end of it. Make the cherubim as part of the cover itself.

20 The cherubim must have their wings spread up over the cover. The cherubim must face each other and look toward the cover.

21 "Place the cover on top of the chest. I will give you the tablets of the covenant. Put them into the chest.

22 "The chest is the ark where the tablets of the covenant are kept. I will meet with you above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark. There I will give you all of my commands for the people of Israel.

23 "Make a table out of acacia wood. Make it three feet long, one foot six inches wide and two feet three inches high.

24 Cover it with pure gold. Put a strip of gold around it.

25 Also make a rim around it that is three inches wide. Put a strip of gold around the rim.

26 "Make four gold rings for the table. Join them to the four corners, where the four legs are.

27 The rings must be close to the rim. They must hold the poles that will be used to carry the table.

28 "Make the poles out of acacia wood. Cover them with gold. Use them to carry the table.

29 "Make its plates and dishes out of pure gold. Also make its pitchers and bowls out of pure gold. Use the pitchers and bowls to pour out drink offerings.

30 "Put the holy bread on the table. It must be near my holy throne on the ark of the covenant at all times.

31 "Make a lampstand out of pure gold. Hammer out its base and stem. Its buds, blooms and cups must branch out from it.

32 "Six branches must come out from the sides of the lampstand. Make three on one side and three on the other.

33 On one branch make three cups that are shaped like almond flowers with buds and blooms. Then put three on the next branch. Do the same with all six branches that come out from the lampstand.

34 "On the lampstand there must be four cups that are shaped like almond flowers with buds and blooms.

35 One bud must be under the first pair of branches that come out from the lampstand. Put a second bud under the second pair. And put a third bud under the third pair. Make a total of six branches.

36 The buds and branches must come out from the lampstand. "The whole lampstand must be one piece that is hammered out of pure gold.

37 "Then make its seven lamps. Set them up on it so that they light the space in front of it.

38 The trays and wick cutters must be made out of pure gold.

39 Use 75 pounds of pure gold to make the lampstand and everything that is used with it.

40 "Be sure to make everything just like the pattern I showed you on the mountain.

1 "Make ten curtains out of finely twisted linen for the holy tent. Make them with blue, purple and bright red yarn. Have a skilled worker sew cherubim into the pattern.

2 Make all of the curtains the same size. They must be 42 feet long and six feet wide.

3 "Join five of the curtains together. Do the same thing with the other five.

4 Make loops out of blue strips of cloth along the edge of the end curtain in one set. Do the same thing with the end curtain in the other set.

5 Make 50 loops on the end curtain of the one set. Do the same thing on the end curtain of the other set. Put the loops across from each other.

6 Make 50 gold hooks. Use them to join the curtains together so that the holy tent is all one piece.

7 "Make a total of 11 curtains out of goat hair to put over the holy tent.

8 Make all 11 curtains the same size. They must be 45 feet long and six feet wide.

9 "Join five of the curtains together into one set. Do the same thing with the other six. Fold the sixth curtain in half at the front of the tent.

10 Make 50 loops along the edge of the end curtain in the one set. Do the same thing with the other set.

11 Then make 50 bronze hooks. Put them in the loops to join the tent together all in one piece.

12 "Let the extra half curtain hang down at the rear of the holy tent.

13 The tent curtains will be one foot six inches longer on both sides. What is left over will hang over the sides of the holy tent and cover it.

14 "Make a covering for the tent. Make it out of ram skins that are dyed red. Put a covering of the hides of sea cows over that.

15 "Make frames out of acacia wood for the holy tent.

16 Make each frame 15 feet long and two feet three inches wide.

17 Add two small wooden pins to each frame. Make the pins stick out so that they are even with each other. Make all of the frames for the holy tent in the same way.

18 "Make 20 frames for the south side of the holy tent.

19 And make 40 silver bases to go under them. Make two bases for each frame. Put one under each pin that sticks out.

20 "For the north side of the holy tent make 20 frames

21 and 40 silver bases. Put two bases under each frame.

22 "Make six frames for the west end of the holy tent.

23 Make two frames for the corners at the far end.

24 At those two corners the frames must be double from top to bottom. They must be fitted into a single ring. Make both of them the same.

25 There will be eight frames and 16 silver bases. There will be two bases under each frame.

26 "Also make crossbars out of acacia wood. Make five for the frames on one side of the holy tent.

27 Make five for the frames on the other side. And make five for the frames on the west, at the far end of the holy tent.

28 The center crossbar must reach from end to end at the middle of the frames.

29 "Cover the frames with gold. Make gold rings to hold the crossbars. Also cover the crossbars with gold.

30 "Set up the holy tent in keeping with the plan I showed you on the mountain.

31 "Make a curtain out of blue, purple and bright red yarn and finely twisted linen. Have a skilled worker sew cherubim into the pattern.

32 Hang the curtain with gold hooks on four posts that are made out of acacia wood. Cover the posts with gold. Stand them on four silver bases.

33 Hang the curtain from the hooks. "Place the ark of the covenant behind the curtain. The curtain will separate the Holy Room from the Most Holy Room.

34 Put the cover on the ark of the covenant in the Most Holy Room. The cover will be the place where sin is paid for.

35 "Place the table outside the curtain on the north side of the holy tent. And put the lampstand across from it on the south side.

36 "For the entrance to the tent make a curtain out of blue, purple and bright red yarn and finely twisted linen. Have a person who sews skillfully make it.

37 Make gold hooks for the curtain. Make five posts out of acacia wood. Cover them with gold. And make five bronze bases for them.

1 "Build an altar out of acacia wood. It must be four feet six inches high and seven feet six inches square.

2 Make a horn stick out from each of its upper four corners. Cover the altar with bronze.

3 "Make all of its tools out of bronze. Make its pots to remove the ashes. Make its shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks, and pans for carrying ashes.

4 "Make a bronze grate for the altar. Make a bronze ring for each of the four corners of the grate.

5 Put the grate halfway up the altar on the inside.

6 "Make poles out of acacia wood for the altar. Cover them with bronze.

7 Put the poles through the rings. They will be on two sides of the altar for carrying it.

8 "Make the altar out of boards. Make it hollow. You must make it just as I showed you on the mountain.

9 "Make a courtyard for the holy tent. The south side must be 150 feet long. It must have curtains that are made out of finely twisted linen.

10 The curtains must be hung on 20 posts and 20 bronze bases. The posts must have silver hooks and bands on them.

11 "The north side must also be 150 feet long. It must have curtains with 20 posts and 20 bronze bases. The posts must have silver hooks and bands on them.

12 "The west end of the courtyard must be 75 feet wide. It must have curtains with ten posts and ten bases.

13 "The east end of the courtyard, toward the sunrise, must also be 75 feet wide.

14 On one side of the entrance you must put curtains that are 22 feet six inches long. Hang them on three posts. Each post must have a base.

15 On the other side you must also put curtains that are 22 feet six inches long. Hang them on three posts. Each post must have a base.

16 "For the entrance to the courtyard, provide a curtain that is 30 feet long. Make it out of blue, purple and bright red yarn and finely twisted linen. Have someone who sews skillfully make it. Hang it on four posts. Each post must have a base.

17 "All of the posts that are around the courtyard must have silver bands and hooks. They must also have bronze bases.

18 The courtyard must be 150 feet long and 75 feet wide. It must have curtains that are made out of finely twisted linen. They must be seven feet six inches high. The posts must have bronze bases.

19 "Make all of the other articles used for any purpose in the holy tent out of bronze. That includes all of the tent stakes for the tent and the courtyard.

20 "Command the people of Israel to bring you clear oil that is made from pressed olives. Use it to keep the lamps burning and giving light.

21 "Aaron and his sons must keep the lamps burning in the Tent of Meeting. The lamps will be outside the curtain that is in front of the tablets of the covenant. The lamps must be kept burning in my sight from evening until morning. That is a law for the people of Israel that will last for all time to come.

1 "Have your brother Aaron brought to you from among the people of Israel. His sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar must also be brought. They will serve me as priests.

2 "Make sacred clothes for your brother Aaron. When he is wearing them, people will honor him. They will have respect for him.

3 "Speak to all of the skilled workers. I have given them the skill to do this kind of work. Tell them to make clothes for Aaron. He will wear them when he is set apart to serve me as priest.

4 They must make a chest cloth, a linen apron, an outer robe, an inner robe, a turban and a belt. They must make sacred clothes for your brother Aaron and his sons. Then they will serve me as priests.

5 Have them use fine gold wire, and blue, purple and bright red yarn, and fine linen.

6 "Make the linen apron out of fine gold wire, and out of blue, purple and bright red yarn, and out of finely twisted linen. Have a skilled worker make it.

7 It must have two shoulder straps joined to two of its corners.

8 "Its skillfully made waistband must be like it. The waistband must be part of the apron itself. Make the waistband out of fine gold wire, and out of blue, purple and bright red yarn, and out of finely twisted linen.

9 "Get two onyx stones. Carve the names of the sons of Israel on them.

10 Arrange them in the order of their birth. Carve six names on one stone and six on the other.

11 Carve the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a jewel cutter carves a seal. "Then put the stones in fancy gold settings.

12 Connect them to the shoulder straps of the linen apron. The stones will stand for the sons of Israel. Aaron must carry the names on his shoulders as a reminder while he is serving me.

13 Make fancy gold settings.

14 Make two braided chains out of pure gold. Make them like ropes. Join the chains to the settings.

15 "Make a chest cloth that will be used for making decisions. Have a skilled worker make it. Make it like the linen apron. Use fine gold wire, and blue, purple and bright red yarn, and finely twisted linen.

16 Make it nine inches square. Fold it in half.

17 "Put four rows of valuable jewels on it. Put a ruby, a topaz and a beryl in the first row.

18 Put a turquoise, a sapphire and an emerald in the second row.

19 Put a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst in the third row.

20 And put a chrysolite, an onyx and a jasper in the fourth row. Put them in fancy gold settings.

21 "Use a total of 12 stones. Use one for each of the names of the sons of Israel. Each stone must be carved like a seal with the name of one of the 12 tribes.

22 "Make braided chains out of pure gold for the chest cloth. Make them like ropes.

23 Make two gold rings for the chest cloth. Connect them to two corners of it.

24 Join the two gold chains to the rings at the corners of the chest cloth.

25 Join the other ends of the chains to the two settings. Join them to the shoulder straps on the front of the linen apron.

26 "Make two gold rings. Connect them to the other two corners of the chest cloth. Put them on the inside edge next to the apron.

27 Make two more gold rings. Connect them to the bottom of the shoulder straps on the front of the apron. Put them close to the seam. Put them right above the waistband of the apron.

28 The rings of the chest cloth must be tied to the rings of the apron. Tie them to the waistband with blue cord. Then the chest cloth will not swing out from the linen apron.

29 "When Aaron enters the Holy Room, he will carry the names of the sons of Israel over his heart. Their names will be on the chest cloth of decision. They will be a continuing reminder while he is serving me.

30 "Also put the Urim and Thummim into the chest cloth. Then they will be over Aaron's heart when he comes to serve me. In that way, Aaron will always have what he needs to make decisions for the people of Israel. He will carry the Urim and Thummim over his heart while he is serving me.

31 "Make the outer robe of the linen apron completely from blue cloth.

32 In the center of the robe, make an opening for the head of the priest. Make an edge like a collar around the opening. Then it will not tear.

33 "Make pomegranates out of blue, purple and bright red yarn. Sew them around the hem of the robe. Sew gold bells between them.

34 Sew a gold bell between every two pomegranates all around the hem of the robe.

35 "Aaron must wear the robe when he serves. The bells will jingle when he enters the Holy Room while he is serving me. And they will jingle when he goes out. Then he will not die.

36 "Make a plate out of pure gold. Carve words on it as if it were a seal. Carve the words set apart for the Lord.

37 Tie the plate to the front of the turban with a blue cord.

38 "Aaron must wear it on his forehead all the time. He will be held accountable for all of the sacred gifts the Israelites set apart. Then I will accept the gifts.

39 "Make the inner robe out of fine linen. And make the turban out of fine linen. Have the belt made by a person who sews skillfully.

40 "Make inner robes, belts and headbands for Aaron's sons. When they are wearing them, people will honor them. They will also have respect for them.

41 "Put all of the clothes on your brother Aaron and his sons. Then pour olive oil on them and prepare them to serve me. Set them apart to serve me as priests.

42 "Make linen underwear that reaches from the waist to the thigh.

43 Aaron and the priests who are in his family line must wear it when they enter the Tent of Meeting. They must wear it when they approach the altar to serve in the Holy Room. Then they will not be found guilty and die. "For all time to come, that will be a law for Aaron and the priests who are in his family line.

1 "Here is what you must do to set Aaron and his sons apart to serve me as priests. "Get a young bull and two rams. They must not have any flaws.

2 Get fine wheat flour that does not have yeast in it. Use the flour to make bread, flat cakes that are mixed with olive oil, and wafers that are spread with oil.

3 Put everything in a basket. Offer them along with the bull and the two rams.

4 "Then bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Wash them with water.

5 "Take the inner robe, the outer robe of the linen apron, the apron itself and the chest cloth. Dress Aaron in them. Take the skillfully made waistband and tie the apron on him with it.

6 Put the turban on his head. Connect the sacred crown to the turban.

7 Take the anointing oil and pour it on his head.

8 "Bring his sons and dress them in their inner robes.

9 Put headbands on them. Tie belts on Aaron and his sons. The work of the priests belongs to them. This is my law that will last for all time to come. "And that is how you must prepare Aaron and his sons to serve me.

10 "Bring the bull to the front of the Tent of Meeting. Have Aaron and his sons place their hands on its head.

11 Kill it in my sight at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

12 "Dip your finger into some of the bull's blood. Put it on the horns that stick out from the upper four corners of the altar. Pour the rest of it out at the base of the altar.

13 "Then take all of the fat around the inside parts. Take the covering of the liver. Take both kidneys with the fat on them. And burn all of it on the altar.

14 "But burn the bull's meat, hide and guts outside the camp. It is a sin offering.

15 "Get one of the rams. Have Aaron and his sons place their hands on its head.

16 Kill it. Take the blood and sprinkle it against every side of the altar.

17 "Cut the ram into pieces. Wash the inside parts and the legs. Put them with the head and the other pieces.

18 Then burn the whole ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to me. It has a pleasant smell. It is an offering that is made to me with fire.

19 "Get the other ram. Have Aaron and his sons place their hands on its head.

20 Kill it. Put some of its blood on the right ear lobes of Aaron and his sons. Put some on the thumbs of their right hands. Also put some on the big toes of their right feet. Then sprinkle blood against every side of the altar.

21 "Get some of the blood from the altar. Also get some of the anointing oil. Sprinkle both of them on Aaron and his clothes and his sons and their clothes. Then he and his sons and their clothes will be set apart to serve me.

22 "Here is what you must take from the second ram. Take the fat, the fat tail, the fat around the inside parts, the covering of the liver, both kidneys with the fat on them, and the right thigh. It is the ram you must use when you prepare the priests to serve me.

23 Get a loaf, a flat cake that is made with oil, and a wafer. Take them from the basket of bread that was made without yeast. It is the one that is in front of me.

24 "Put everything in the hands of Aaron and his sons. Tell them to lift it up and wave it in front of me as a wave offering.

25 Then take it from their hands. Burn it on the altar along with the burnt offering. It gives a smell that is pleasant to me. It is an offering that is made to me with fire.

26 "Get the breast of the ram that is used when you prepare Aaron to serve me. Wave it in front of me as a wave offering. It will be your share of the meat.

27 "Here are the parts of the second ram that belong to Aaron and his sons. You must set apart the breast that was waved and the thigh that was offered.

28 It will always be the regular share from the people of Israel for Aaron and his sons. The people must give it to me from their friendship offerings.

29 "Aaron's sacred clothes will belong to his sons who will come after him. Then they can wear them when you anoint them and prepare them to serve me.

30 The son who comes after him as priest must wear them seven days. He will come and serve in the Holy Room in the Tent of Meeting.

31 "Get the ram that is sacrificed when you prepare Aaron and his sons to serve me. Cook the meat in a sacred place.

32 "Aaron and his sons must eat the ram's meat. And they must eat the bread that is in the basket. They must eat all of it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

33 Those are the offerings to pay for their sins. They must eat them. The offerings must be made when Aaron and his sons are set apart and prepared to serve me. No one else can eat them. They are sacred.

34 "And if any parts of the ram or bread that are sacrificed when you prepare Aaron and his sons to serve me are left until morning, burn them up. They must not be eaten. They are sacred.

35 "Do everything I have commanded you to do for Aaron and his sons. Take seven days when you prepare them to serve me.

36 Sacrifice a bull each day. It is a sin offering to pay for their sins. "Make the altar pure. Pour olive oil on it to set it apart.

37 Take seven days to make the altar pure. Set it apart. Then the altar will be a very holy place. Anything that touches it will be holy.

38 "Every day offer on the altar two lambs that are a year old.

39 Offer one in the morning. Offer the other one when the sun goes down.

40 Along with the first lamb, offer eight cups of fine flour. Mix it with a quart of oil that is made from pressed olives. Along with that, offer a quart of wine as a drink offering.

41 "Sacrifice the other lamb when the sun goes down. Sacrifice it along with the same grain offering and its drink offering as you do in the morning. It has a pleasant smell. It is an offering that is made to me with fire.

42 "For all time to come, the burnt offering must be sacrificed regularly. Sacrifice it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting in my sight. There I will meet you and speak to you.

43 There I will also meet with the people of Israel. My glory will make the place holy.

44 "So I will set the Tent of Meeting and the altar apart. And I will set Aaron and his sons apart to serve me as priests.

45 "Then I will live among the people of Israel. And I will be their God.

46 They will know that I am the LORD their God. They will know that I brought them out of Egypt so I could live among them. I am the LORD their God.

1 "Make an altar for burning incense. Make it out of acacia wood.

2 It must be one foot six inches square and three feet high. Make a horn stick out from each of its upper four corners.

3 Cover the top, sides and horns with pure gold. Put a strip of gold around it.

4 "Make two gold rings for the altar below the strip. Put the rings across from each other. They will hold the poles that are used to carry it.

5 Make the poles out of acacia wood. Cover them with gold.

6 "Put the altar in front of the curtain that hangs in front of the ark where the tablets of the covenant are kept. The ark will have a cover. It will be the place where sin is paid for. There I will meet with you.

7 "Aaron must burn sweet-smelling incense on the altar. He must do it every morning when he takes care of the lamps.

8 He must burn incense again when he lights the lamps at sunset. Incense must be burned regularly to me. Do it for all time to come.

9 "Do not burn any other incense on the altar. Do not use the altar for burnt offerings or grain offerings. Do not pour drink offerings on it.

10 "Once a year Aaron must put the blood of a sin offering on its horns to make it pure. He must do it on the day Israel's sin is paid for. Do it for all time to come. The altar is a very holy place to me."

11 Then the LORD spoke to Moses. He said,

12 "When you make a list of the people of Israel and count them, they must pay me for their lives at the time they are counted. Then a plague will not come on them when you count them.

13 "Each one who is counted must pay a fifth of an ounce of silver. It must be weighed out in keeping with the standard weights that are used in the sacred tent. The payment is an offering to me.

14 Each one who is counted must be 20 years old or more. He must give an offering to me.

15 "When you make the offering, rich people must not give more than a fifth of an ounce of silver. And poor people must not give less. The offering you give to me will pay for your lives.

16 "Receive the money from the people of Israel. Use it for any purpose in the Tent of Meeting. It will remind the people that they are paying me for their lives."

17 Then the LORD spoke to Moses. He said,

18 "Make a large bronze bowl for washing. Make a bronze stand to put it on. Place the bowl between the Tent of Meeting and the altar. Put water in it.

19 "Aaron and his sons must wash their hands and feet with water from it.

20 When they enter the Tent of Meeting, they must wash with water so that they will not die. They will come to the altar to serve me. They will bring an offering that is made to me with fire.

21 When they do, they must wash their hands and feet so that they will not die. For all time to come, that will be a law for Aaron and the priests who are in his family line."

22 Then the LORD spoke to Moses.

23 He said, "Get some fine spices. Get 12 pounds eight ounces of liquid myrrh. Get six pounds four ounces of sweet-smelling cinnamon and the same amount of sweet-smelling cane.

24 Also get 12 pounds eight ounces of cassia. All of the spices must be weighed out in keeping with the standard weights that are used in the sacred tent. Get four quarts of olive oil.

25 "Have a person who makes perfume mix everything into a sacred anointing oil. It will smell sweet.

26 "Then anoint the Tent of Meeting and the ark where the tablets of the covenant are kept.

27 Anoint the table for the holy bread and all of its articles. Anoint the lampstand and the things that are used with it. Anoint the altar for burning incense.

28 Anoint the altar for burnt offerings and all of its tools. And anoint the large bowl together with its stand.

29 You must set them apart so that they will be very holy. Anything that touches them will be holy.

30 "Anoint Aaron and his sons. Set them apart so that they can serve me as priests.

31 "Say to the people of Israel, 'This will be my sacred anointing oil for all time to come.

32 Do not pour it on the bodies of any other men. Do not make any other oil in the same way. It is sacred. So you must think of it as sacred.

33 Anyone who makes perfume in the same way and puts it on someone who is not a priest must be cut off from his people.' "

34 Then the LORD spoke to Moses. He said, "Get some sweet-smelling spices. Get some gum resin, onycha and galbanum. Also get some pure frankincense. Make sure everything is in equal amounts.

35 "Have a person who makes perfume mix it all up into a sweet-smelling incense. It must have salt in it. It will be pure and sacred.

36 Grind some of it into powder. Place it in front of the tablets of the covenant in the Tent of Meeting. There I will meet with you. The incense will be very holy to you.

37 "Do not make any incense for yourselves in the same way. Think of it as holy to me.

38 Anyone who makes incense in the same way to enjoy its sweet smell must be cut off from his people."

1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses.

2 He said, "I have chosen Bezalel, the son of Uri. Uri is the son of Hur. Bezalel is from the tribe of Judah.

3 I have filled him with the Spirit of God. I have filled him with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts.

4 He can make beautiful patterns in gold, silver and bronze.

5 He can cut and set stones. He can work with wood. In fact, he can work in all kinds of crafts.

6 "I have also appointed Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, to help him. Oholiab is from the tribe of Dan. "I have given ability to all of the skilled workers. They can make everything I have commanded you to make. Here is the complete list.

7 "the Tent of Meeting the ark where the tablets of the covenant are kept the cover for the ark

8 the table for the holy bread and its articles the pure gold lampstand and everything that is used with it the altar for burning incense

9 the altar for burnt offerings and all of its tools the large bowl with its stand

10 the sacred clothes for Aaron the priest the clothes for his sons when they serve as priests

11 the anointing oil the sweet-smelling incense for the Holy Room "The skilled workers must make them just as I commanded you."

12 Then the LORD spoke to Moses.

13 He said, "Tell the people of Israel, 'You must always keep my Sabbath days. That will be the sign of the covenant I have made between me and you for all time to come. Then you will know that I am the Lord. I make you holy.

14 " 'Keep the Sabbath day. It is holy to you. Those who misuse it must be put to death. Those who do any work on that day must be cut off from their people.

15 Do your work in six days. But the seventh day is a Sabbath. You must rest on it. It is set apart for me. Those who work on the Sabbath day must be put to death.

16 " 'The people of Israel must keep the Sabbath. They must celebrate it for all time to come. It will be a covenant that lasts forever.

17 It will be the sign of the covenant I have made between me and the people of Israel forever. " 'I made the heavens and the earth in six days. But on the seventh day I did not work. I rested.' "

18 The LORD finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai. Then he gave him the two tablets of the covenant. They were made out of stone. The words on them were written by the finger of God.

1 The people saw that Moses took a long time to come down from the mountain. So they gathered around Aaron. They said to him, "Come. Make us a god that will lead us. This fellow Moses brought us up out of Egypt. But we don't know what has happened to him."

2 Aaron answered them, "Take the gold earrings off your wives, your sons and your daughters. Bring the earrings to me."

3 So all of the people took off their earrings. They brought them to Aaron.

4 He took what they gave him and made it into a metal statue of a god. It looked like a calf. He shaped it with a tool. Then the people said, "Israel, here is your god who brought you up out of Egypt."

5 When Aaron saw it, he built an altar in front of the calf. He said, "Tomorrow will be a feast day in the LORD's honor."

6 So the next day the people got up early. They sacrificed burnt offerings and brought friendship offerings. They sat down to eat and drink. Then they got up to dance wildly in front of their god.

7 The LORD spoke to Moses. He said, "Go down. Your people you brought up out of Egypt have become very sinful.

8 They have quickly turned away from what I commanded them. They have made themselves a statue of a god that looks like a calf. They have bowed down and sacrificed to it. And they have said, 'Israel, here is your god who brought you up out of Egypt.'

9 "I have seen those people," the LORD said to Moses. "They are stubborn.

10 Now leave me alone. My anger will burn against them. I will destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation."

11 But Moses asked the LORD his God to show favor to the people. "Lord," he said, "why should your anger burn against your people? You used your great power and mighty hand to bring them out of Egypt.

12 Why should the Egyptians say, 'He brought them out to hurt them. He wanted to kill them in the mountains. He wanted to wipe them off the face of the earth'? Turn away from your burning anger. Please take pity on your people. Don't destroy them!

13 "Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel. You made a promise. You took an oath in your name. You said, 'I will make your children after you as many as the stars in the sky. I will give them all of this land I promised them. It will belong to them forever.' "

14 Then the LORD took pity on his people. He didn't destroy them as he had said he would.

15 Moses turned and went down the mountain. He had the two tablets of the covenant in his hands. Words were written on both sides of the tablets, front and back.

16 The tablets were the work of God. The words had been written by God. They had been carved on the tablets.

17 Joshua heard the noise of the people shouting. So he said to Moses, "It sounds like war in the camp."

18 Moses replied, "It's not the sound of winning. It's not the sound of losing. It's the sound of singing that I hear."

19 As Moses approached the camp, he saw the calf. He also saw the people dancing. So he burned with anger. He threw the tablets out of his hands. They broke into pieces at the foot of the mountain.

20 He took the calf the people had made. He burned it in the fire. Then he ground it into powder. He scattered it on the water. And he made the people of Israel drink it.

21 He said to Aaron, "What did these people do to you? How did they make you lead them into such terrible sin?"

22 "Please don't be angry," Aaron answered. "You know how these people like to do what is evil.

23 They said to me, 'Make us a god that will lead us. This fellow Moses brought us up out of Egypt. But we don't know what has happened to him.'

24 "So I told them, 'Anyone who has any gold jewelry, take it off.' They gave me the gold. I threw it into the fire. And out came this calf!"

25 Moses saw that the people were running wild. Aaron had let them get out of control. The people had become a joke to their enemies.

26 Moses stood at the entrance to the camp. He said, "Anyone who is on the LORD's side, come to me." All of the Levites joined him.

27 Then he spoke to them. He said, "The Lord, the God of Israel, says, 'Each man must put on his sword. Then he must go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other. Each man must kill his brother, friend and neighbor.' "

28 The Levites did as Moses commanded. About 3,000 of the people died that day.

29 Then Moses said to the Levites, "You have been set apart for the LORD today. You stood against your own sons and brothers. And he has blessed you this day."

30 The next day Moses said to the people, "You have committed a terrible sin. But now I will go up to the Lord. Maybe if I pray to him, he will forgive your sin."

31 So Moses went back to the Lord. He said, "These people have committed a terrible sin. They have made a god out of gold for themselves.

32 Now please forgive their sin. But if you won't, then erase my name from the scroll you have written."

33 The LORD replied to Moses, "I will erase from my scroll only the names of those who have sinned against me.

34 Now go. Lead the people to the place I spoke about. My angel will go ahead of you. But when the time comes for me to punish, I will punish them for their sin."

35 The LORD struck the people with a plague. That's because of what they did with the calf Aaron had made.

1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses. He said, "Leave this place. You and the people you brought up out of Egypt must leave it. Go up to the land I promised with an oath to give to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I said to them, 'I will give it to your children after you.'

2 I will send an angel ahead of you. I will drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.

3 "Go up to the land that has plenty of milk and honey. But I will not go with you. You are stubborn. I might destroy you on the way."

4 When the people heard those painful words, they became sad and began to sob. No one put on any jewelry.

5 The LORD had said to Moses, "Tell the people of Israel, 'You are stubborn. If I went with you even for a moment, I might destroy you. Now take off your jewelry. Then I will decide what to do with you.' "

6 So the people took off their jewelry at Mount Horeb.

7 Moses used to take a tent and set it up far outside the camp. He called it the "tent of meeting." Anyone who wanted to ask the LORD a question would go to the tent of meeting that was outside the camp.

8 When Moses would go out to the tent, all of the people would get up and stand at the entrances to their tents. They would watch Moses until he entered the tent.

9 As Moses would go into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down. It would stay at the entrance while the LORD spoke with Moses.

10 The people would see the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent. Then all of them would stand and worship at the entrances to their tents.

11 The LORD would speak to Moses face to face. It was like a man speaking to his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp. But Joshua, his young helper, didn't leave the tent. Joshua was the son of Nun.

12 Moses said to the Lord, "You have been telling me, 'Lead these people.' But you haven't let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, 'I know your name. I know all about you. And I am pleased with you.'

13 If you are pleased with me, teach me more about yourself. Then I can know you. And I can continue to please you. Remember that this nation is your people."

14 The LORD replied, "I will go with you. And I will give you rest."

15 Then Moses said to him, "If you don't go with us, don't send us up from here.

16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and your people? You must go with us. How else will we be different from all of the other people on the face of the earth?"

17 The LORD said to Moses, "I will do exactly what you have asked. I am pleased with you. And I know your name. I know all about you."

18 Then Moses said, "Now show me your glory."

19 The LORD said, "I will make all of my goodness pass in front of you. And I will announce my name, The Lord, in front of you. I will have mercy on whom I have mercy. And I will show love to those I love.

20 But you can't see my face," he said. "No one can see me and stay alive."

21 The LORD continued, "There is a place near me where you can stand on a rock.

22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in an opening in the rock. I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by.

23 Then I will remove my hand. You will see my back. But my face must not be seen."

1 The LORD said to Moses, "Cut out two stone tablets that are just like the first ones. I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke.

2 "Be ready in the morning. Then come up on Mount Sinai. Meet with me there on top of the mountain.

3 No one must come with you. No one must be seen anywhere on the mountain. Not even the flocks and herds must be allowed to eat grass in front of the mountain."

4 So Moses carved out two stone tablets that were just like the first ones. Early in the morning he went up Mount Sinai. He carried the two tablets in his hands. He did as the LORD had commanded him to do.

5 Then the LORD came down in the cloud. He stood there with Moses and announced his name, The Lord.

6 As he passed in front of Moses, he called out. He said, "I am the Lord, the Lord. I am a God who is tender and kind. I am gracious. I am slow to get angry. I am faithful and full of love.

7 I continue to show my love to thousands of people. I forgive those who do evil. I forgive those who refuse to obey. And I forgive those who sin. But I do not let guilty people go without punishing them. I punish the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren for the sin of their parents."

8 Moses bowed down to the ground at once and worshiped.

9 "Lord," he said, "if you are pleased with me, then go with us. Even though these people are stubborn, forgive the evil things we have done. Forgive our sin. And accept us as your people."

10 Then the LORD said, "I am making a covenant with you. I will do wonderful things in front of all of your people. I will do miracles that have never been done before in any nation in the whole world. The people you live among will see the things that I, the Lord, will do for you. And they will see how wonderful those things really are.

11 "Obey what I command you today. I will drive out the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites to make room for you.

12 "Be careful. Do not make a peace treaty with those who live in the land where you are going. They will be a trap to you.

13 Tear down their altars. Smash their sacred stones. Cut down the poles they use to worship the goddess Asherah.

14 Do not worship any other god. I am a jealous God. In fact, my name is Jealous.

15 "Be careful not to make a peace treaty with those who live in the land. They commit sin by offering sacrifices to their gods. They will invite you to eat their sacrifices.

16 You will choose some of their daughters as wives for your sons. And those daughters will commit sin by worshiping their gods. Then they will lead your sons to do the same thing.

17 "Do not make statues of gods.

18 "Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread. For seven days eat bread that is made without yeast, just as I commanded you. Do it at the appointed time in the month of Abib. You came out of Egypt in that month.

19 "Every male animal that is born first to its mother belongs to me. That includes your livestock. It includes herds and flocks alike.

20 Sacrifice a lamb to buy back every male donkey that is born first to its mother. But if you do not buy the donkey back, break its neck. Buy back every oldest son. "You must not come to worship me with your hands empty.

21 "Do your work in six days. But you must rest on the seventh day. Even when you are plowing your land or gathering your crops, you must rest on the seventh day.

22 "Celebrate the Feast of Weeks. Bring the first share of your wheat crop. "Celebrate the Feast of Booths. Hold it in the fall.

23 "Three times a year all of your men must come to worship me. I am your LORD and King, the God of Israel.

24 I will drive out nations ahead of you. I will increase your territory. Go up three times a year to worship me. While you are doing that, I will keep others from wanting to take any of your land for themselves. I am the LORD your God.

25 "Do not include anything that is made with yeast when you offer me the blood of a sacrifice. You must not keep any of the meat from the sacrifice of the Passover Feast until morning.

26 "Bring the best of the first share of your crops to my house. I am the LORD your God. "Do not cook a young goat in its mother's milk."

27 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write down the words I have spoken. I have made a covenant with you and with Israel in keeping with those words."

28 Moses was there with the LORD for 40 days and 40 nights. He didn't eat any food or drink any water. The LORD wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant. Those words are the Ten Commandments.

29 Moses came down from Mount Sinai. He had the two tablets of the covenant in his hands. His face was shining because he had spoken with the Lord. But he didn't realize it.

30 Aaron and all of the people of Israel saw Moses. His face was shining. So they were afraid to come near him.

31 But Moses called out to them. So Aaron and all of the leaders of the community came to him. And Moses spoke to them.

32 After that, all of the people came near him. And he gave them all of the commands the LORD had given him on Mount Sinai.

33 Moses finished speaking to them. Then he put a veil over his face.

34 But when he would go to speak with the Lord, he would remove the veil. He would keep it off until he came out. Then he would tell the people what the LORD had commanded.

35 They would see that his face was shining. So Moses would put the veil back over his face. He would keep it on until he went in again to speak with the Lord.

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