Chapter .j.
These are the names of the children of Israel, which came to Egypt with
Iacob, every man with his household: Ruben, Simeon, Levi, Iuda,
Isachar, Zabulon, Ben Iamin, Dan, Nephtali, Gad and Aser. All the souls
that came out of the loins of Iacob, were seventy, and Ioseph was in
Egypt already. When Ioseph was dead and all his brethren and all that
generation: the children of Israel grew, increased, multiplied and
waxed exceeding mighty: so that the land was full of them. Then there
rose up a new king in Egypt which knew not Ioseph. And he said unto his
folk: behold the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier
than we. Come on, let us play wisely with them: lest they multiply, and
then (if there chance any war) they join them selves unto our enemies
and fight against us, and so get them out of the land. And he set
taskmasters over them, to keep them under with burthens. And they built
unto Pharao treasure cities: Phiton and Raamses. But the more they
vexed them, the more they multiplied and grew: so that they abhorred
the children of Israel. And the Egyptians held the children of Israel
in bondage without mercy, and made their lives bitter unto them with
cruel labour in clay and brick, and all manner work in the fields, and
in all manner of service, which they caused them to work cruelly. And
the king of Egypt said unto the midwives of the Hebrews' women, of
which the one's name was Sephora and the other Phua: when ye midwife
the women of the Hebrews and see in the birth time that it is a boy,
kill it. But if it be a maid, let it live. Notwithstanding the midwives
feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them: but saved
the men children. Then the king of Egypt called for the midwives and
said unto them: why have ye dealt on this manner and have saved the men
children? And the midwives answered Pharao, that the Hebrews' women
were not as the women of Egypt: but were sturdy women, and were
delivered yer the midwives came at them. And God therefore dealt well
with the midwives. And the people multiplied and waxed very mighty. And
because the midwives feared God, he made them houses. Then Pharao
charged all his people saying: All the men children that are born, cast
into the river and save the maid children alive.
Chapter .ij.
And there went a man of the house of Levi and took a daughter of Levi.
And the wife conceived and bare a son. And when she saw that it was a
proper child, she hid him three months long. And when she could no
longer hide him, she took a basket of bulrushes and daubed it with
slime and pitch, and laid the child therein, and put it in the flags by
the river's brink. And his sister stood afar off, to wete what would
come of it. And the daughter of Pharao came down to the river to wash
herself, and her maidens walked along by the river's side. And when she
saw the basket among the flags, she sent one of her maids and caused it
to be fetched. And when she had opened it she saw the child, and
behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on it and said: it is one
of the Hebrew's children. Then said his sister unto Pharao's daughter:
shall I go and call unto thee a nurse of the Hebrew's women, to nurse
the child? And the maid ran and called the child's mother. Then
Pharao's daughter said unto her. Take this child away and nurse it for
me, and I will reward thee for thy labour. And the woman took the child
and nursed it up. And when the child was grown, she brought it unto
Pharao's daughter, and it was made her son, and she called it Moses,
because (said she) I took him out of the water. And it happened in
these days when Moses was waxed great, that he went out unto his
brethren and looked on their burthens, and spied an Egyptian smiting
one of his brethren an Hebrew. And he looked round about: and when he
saw that there was no man by, he slew the Egyptian and hid him in the
sand. And he went out another day: and behold, two Hebrews strove
together. And he said unto him that did the wrong: wherefore smitest
thou thine neighbour? And he answered: who hath made thee a ruler or a
judge over us? Intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the
Egyptian? Then Moses feared and said: of a surety the thing is known.
And Pharao heard of it and went about to slay Moses: but he fled from
Pharao and dwelt in the land of Madian, and he sat down by a well's
side. The priest of Madian had seven daughters which came and drew
water and filled the troughs, for to water their father's sheep. And
the shepherds came and drove them away: But Moses stood up and helped
them and watered their sheep. And when they came to Raguel their
father, he said: how happeneth it that ye are come so soon today? And
they answered: there was an Egyptian that delivered us from the
shepherds, and so drew us water and watered the sheep. And he said unto
his daughters: where is he? why have ye left the man? Go call him that
he may eat bread. And Moses was content to dwell with the man. And he
gave Moses Zephora his daughter which bare a son, and he called him
Gerson: for he said. I have been a stranger in a strange land. [And she
bare yet another son, whom he called Elieser saying: the God of my
father is mine helper, and hath rid me out of the hands of Pharao.] And
it chanced in process of time, that the king of Egypt died, and the
children of Israel sighed by the reason of labour, and cried. And their
complaint came up unto God from the labour. And God remembered his
promise with Abraham, Isaac and Iacob. And God looked upon the children
of Israel and knew them.
Chapter .iij.
Moses kept the sheep of Iethro his father-in-law priest of Madian, and
he drove the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the
mountain of God, Horeb. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in
a flame of fire out of a bush. And he perceived that the bush burned
with fire, and consumed not. Then Moses said: I will go hence and see
this great sight, how it cometh that the bush burneth not. And when the
LORD saw that he came for to see, he called unto him out of the bush
and said: Moses Moses; And he answered: here am I. And he said: come
not hither, but put thy shoes off thy feet: for the place whereon thou
stondest is holy ground. And he said: I am the God of thy father, the
God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Iacob. And Moses hid
his face, for he was afraid to look upon God. Then the LORD said: I
have surely seen the trouble of my people which are in Egypt, and have
heard their cry, which they have of their taskmasters. For I know their
sorrow, and am come down to deliver them out of the hands of the
Egyptians, and to bring them out of that land unto a good land and a
large, and unto a land that floweth with milk and honey: even unto the
place of the Cananites, Hethites, Amorites, Pherezites, Hevites, and of
the Iebusites. Now therefore behold, the complaint of the children of
Israel is come unto me and I have also seen the oppression, wherewith
the Egyptians oppress them. But come, I will send thee unto Pharao,
that thou mayst bring my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.
And Moses said unto God: what, am I to go to Pharao and to bring the
children of Israel out of Egypt? And he said: I will be with thee. And
this shall be a token unto thee that I have sent thee: after that thou
hast brought the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this
mountain. Then said Moses unto God: when I come unto the children of
Israel and say unto them, the God of your fathers hath sent me unto
you, and they say unto me, what is his name, what answer shall I give
them? Then said God unto Moses: I will be what I will be: and he said,
this shalt thou say unto the children of Israel: I will be did send me
to you. And God spake further unto Moses: thus shalt thou say unto the
children of Israel: the LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham,
the God of Isaac, and the God of Iacob hath sent me unto you: this is
my name for ever, and this is my memorial thorowout all generations. Go
therefore and gather the elders of Israel together and say unto them:
the LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and
the God of Iacob, appeared unto me and said: I have been and seen both
you and that which is done to you in Egypt. And I have said it, that I
will bring you out of the tribulation of Egypt unto the land of the
Cananites, Hethites, Amorites, Pherezites, Hevites and Iebusites: even
a land that floweth with milk and honey. If it come to pass that they
hear thy voice, then go, both thou and the elders of Israel unto the
king of Egypt, and say unto him: The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met
with us: Let us go therefore three days' journey into the wilderness,
that we may sacrifice unto the LORD our God. Notwithstanding I am sure
that the king of Egypt will not let you go, except it be with a mighty
hand: yea and I will therefore stretch out mine hand, and smite Egypt
with all my wonders which I will do therein. And after that he will let
you go. And I will get this people favour in the sight of the
Egyptians: so that when ye go, ye shall not go empty: but every wife
shall borrow of her neighbouress and of her that sojourneth in her
house, jewels of silver and of gold and raiment. And ye shall put them
on your sons and daughters, and shall rob the Egyptians.
Chapter .iiij.
Moses answered and said: See, they will not believe me nor hearken unto
my voice: but will say, the LORD hath not appeared unto thee. Then the
LORD said unto him: what is that in thine hand? and he said, a rod. And
he said, cast it on the ground, and it turned unto a serpent. And Moses
ran away from it. And the LORD said unto Moses: put forth thine hand
and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand and caught it, and
it became a rod again in his hand, that they may believe that the LORD
God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God
of Iacob hath appeared unto thee. And the LORD said furthermore unto
him: thrust thine hand into thy bosom. And he thrust his hand into his
bosom and took it out. And behold, his hand was leprous even as snow.
And he said: put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand
into his bosom again, and plucked it out of his bosom, and behold, it
was turned again as his other flesh. If they will not believe thee
neither hear the voice of the first token: yet will they believe the
voice of the second token. But and if they will not believe the two
signs neither hearken unto thy voice, then take of the water of the
river and pour it upon the dry land. And the water which thou takest
out of the river shall turn to blood upon the dry land. And Moses said
unto the LORD: Oh my Lord. {the Lorde: oh my Lorde.} I am not eloquent,
no not in times past and namely since thou hast spoken unto thy
servant: but I am slow mouthed and slow tongued. And the LORD said unto
him: who hath made man's mouth, or who hath made the dumb or the deaf,
the seeing or the blind? have not I the LORD? Go therefore and I will
be with thy mouth and teach thee what thou shalt say. And he said: Oh
my Lord, {Lorde} {|LORDE|} send I pray thee whom thou wilt. And the
LORD was angry with Moses and said: I know Aaron thy brother the Levite
that he can speak. And moreover behold, he cometh out against {to meet}
thee, and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart. And thou
shalt speak unto him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with
thy mouth and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do. And
he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: he shall be thy mouth, and
thou shalt be his God: and take this rod in thy hand, wherewith thou
shalt do miracles. And Moses went and returned to Iethro his
father-in-law again and said unto him: let me go (I pray thee) and turn
again unto my brethren which are in Egypt, that I may see whether they
be yet alive. And Iethro said to Moses: go in peace. And the LORD said
unto Moses in Madian: return again into Egypt for they are dead which
went about to kill thee. And Moses took his wife and his sons and put
them on an ass, and went again to Egypt, and took the rod of God in his
hand. And the LORD said unto Moses: when thou art come into Egypt
again, see that thou do all the wonders before Pharao which I have put
in thy hand: but I will harden his heart, so that he shall not let the
people go. And tell Pharao, thus sayeth the LORD: Israel is mine eldest
son, and therefore sayeth unto thee: let my son go, that he may serve
me. If thou wilt not let him go: behold, I will slay thine eldest son.
And it chanced by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him and would
have killed him. Then Zepora took a stone and circumcised her son, and
fell at his feet, and said: a bloody husband art thou unto me. And he
let him go. She said a bloody husband, because of the circumcision.
Then said the LORD unto Aaron: go meet Moses in the wilderness. And he
went and met him in the mount of God and kissed him. And Moses told
Aaron all the words of the LORD which he had sent by him, and all the
tokens which he had charged him withal. So went Moses and Aaron and
gathered all the elders of the children of Israel. And Aaron told all
the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the miracles in
the sight of the people, and the people believed. And when they heard
that the LORD had visited the children of Israel and had looked upon
their tribulation, they bowed them selves, and worshipped.
Chapter .v.
Then Moses and Aaron went and told Pharao, thus sayeth the LORD God of
Israel. Let my people go, that they may keep holy day unto me in the
wilderness. And Pharao answered: what fellow is the LORD, that I should
hear his voice for to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will
let Israel go. And they said: the God of the Hebrews hath met with us:
let us go (we pray thee) three days' journey into the desert, that we
may sacrifice unto the LORD our God: lest he smite us either with
pestilence or with sword. Then said the king of Egypt unto them:
wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their work, get
you unto your labour. And Pharao said furthermore: behold, there is
much people in the land, and ye make them play and let their work
stond. And Pharao commanded the same day unto the taskmasters over the
people and unto the officers saying: see that ye give the people no
more straw to make brick withal, as ye did in time past: let them go
and gather them straw them selves, and the number of bricks which they
were wont to make in time past, lay unto their charge also, and minish
nothing thereof. For they be idle and therefore cry saying: let us go
and do sacrifice unto our God. They must have more work laid upon them,
that they may labour therein, and then will they not turn them selves
to false words. Then went the taskmasters of the people and the
officers out and told the people saying: Thus sayeth Pharao: I will
give you no more straw, but go your selves and gather you straw where
ye can find it, yet shall none of your labour be minished. Then the
people scattered abroad thorowout all the land of Egypt for to gather
them stubble to be instead of straw. And the taskmasters hasted them
forward saying: fulfil your work day by day, even as when straw was
given you. And the officers of the children of Israel which Pharao's
taskmasters had set over them, were beaten. And it was said unto them:
wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick, both
yesterday and today, as well as in times past? Then went the officers
of the children of Israel and complained unto Pharao saying: wherefore
dealest thou thus with thy servants? there is no straw given unto thy
servants, and yet they say unto us: make brick. And lo, thy servants
are beaten, and thy people is foul entreated. And he answered: idle are
ye idle, and therefore ye say: let us go and do sacrifice unto the
LORD. Go therefore and work, for there shall no straw be given you, and
yet see that ye deliver the hole tale of brick. When the officers of
the children of Israel saw themself in shrewd case (in that he said ye
shall minish nothing of your daily making of brick) then they met Moses
and Aaron stonding in their way as they came out from Pharao, and said
unto them: The LORD look unto you and judge, for ye have made the
savour of us stink in the sight of Pharao and of his servants, and have
put a sword into their hands to slay us. Moses returned unto the LORD
{Lorde} {|LORDE|} and said: Lord {|LORDE|} wherefore dealest thou
cruelly with this people: and wherefore hast thou sent me? For since I
came to Pharao to speak in thy name, he hath fared foul with this folk,
and yet thou hast not delivered thy people at all;
Chapter .vi.
Then the LORD said unto Moses. Now shalt thou see what I will do unto
Pharao, for with a mighty hand shall he let them go, and with a mighty
hand shall he drive them out of his land. And God spake unto Moses
saying unto him: I am the LORD, and I appeared unto Abraham, Isaac and
Iacob an almighty God: but in my name Iehouah was I not known unto
them. Moreover I made an appointment with them to give them the land of
Canaa: the land of their pilgrimage wherein they were strangers. And I
have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, because the
Egyptians keep them in bondage, and have remembered my promise.
Wherefore say unto the children of Israel: I am the LORD, and will
bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and will rid you
out of their bondage, and will deliver you with a stretched out arm and
with great judgements. And I will take you for my people and will be to
you a God. And ye shall know that I am the LORD your God which brings
you out from under the burthens of the Egyptians. And I will bring you
unto the land over the which I did lift up my hand to give it unto
Abraham, Isaac and Iacob, and will give it unto you for a possession:
even I the LORD. And Moses told the children of Israel even so: But
they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit and for cruel
bondage. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying: Go and bid Pharao king
of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land. And
Moses spake before the LORD saying: behold, the children of Israel
hearken not unto me, how then shall Pharao hear me: seeing that I have
uncircumcised lips. And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron and gave
them a charge unto the children of Israel and unto Pharao king of
Egypt: to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt. These
be the heads of their father's houses. The children of Ruben the eldest
son of Israel are these: Hanoh, Pallu, Hezron, Charmi, these be the
householders of Ruben. The children of Simeon are these: Gemuel, Iamin,
Ohad, Iachin, Zohar, and Saul the son of a Cananitish wife: these are
the kindreds of Simeon. These are the names of the children of Levi in
their generations: Gerson, Kahath and Merari. And Levi lived an hundred
and thirty seven years. The sons of Gerson: Libni and Semei in their
kindreds. The children of Kahath: Amram, Iesear, Hebron and Usiel. And
Kahath lived an hundred and thirty three years. The children of Merari
are these: Maheli and Musi: these are the kindreds of Levi in their
generations. And Amram took Iochebed his niece to wife which bare him
Aaron and Moses. And Amram lived an hundred and thirty seven years. The
children of Iezear: Korah, Nepheg and Sichri. The children of Usiel:
Misael, Elzaphan and Sithri. And Aaron took Elizaba daughter of
Aminadab and sister of Nahason, to wife: which bare him Nadab, Abehu,
Eleazar and Ithamar. The children of Korah: Assir, Elkana and
Abiassaph: these are the kindreds of the Korahites. And Eleazar Aaron's
son took him one of the daughters of Putuel to wife: which bare him
Pinehas: these be the principal fathers of the Levites in their
kindreds. These are that Aaron and Moses to whom the LORD said: carry
the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, with their armies.
These are that Moses and Aaron which spake to Pharao king of Egypt,
that they might bring the children of Israel out of Egypt. And in the
day when the LORD spake unto Moses in the land of Egypt, he spake unto
him saying, I am the LORD, see that thou speak unto Pharao the king of
Egypt all that I say unto thee. And Moses answered before the LORD: I
am of uncircumcised lips, how shall Pharao then give me audience?
Chapter .vij.
And the LORD said unto Moses: behold, I have made thee Pharao's God,
and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. Thou shalt speak all that I
command thee and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharao: that he
send the children of Israel out of his land. But I will harden Pharao's
heart, that I may multiply my miracles and my wonders in the land of
Egypt. And yet Pharao shall not hearken unto you, that I may set mine
hand upon Egypt and bring out mine armies, even my people the children
of Israel out of the land of Egypt, with great judgements. And the
Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD when I have stretched forth my
hand upon Egypt, and have brought out the children of Israel from among
them. Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded them. And Moses was
eighty years old and Aaron eighty three when they spake unto Pharao.
And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron saying: when Pharao speaketh
unto you and sayeth: shew a wonder, then shalt thou say unto Aaron,
take the rod and cast it before Pharao, and it shall turn to a serpent.
Then went Moses and Aaron in unto Pharao, and did even as the LORD had
commanded. And Aaron cast forth his rod before Pharao and before his
servants, and it turned to a serpent. Then Pharao called for the wise
men, and enchanters of Egypt did in like manner with their sorcery. And
they cast down every man his rod, and they turned to serpents: but
Aaron's rod ate up their rods: and yet for all that Pharao's heart was
hardened, so that he hearkened not unto them, even as the LORD had
said. Then said the LORD unto Moses: Pharao's heart is hardened, and he
refuseth to let the people go. Get thee unto Pharao in the morning, for
he will come unto the water, and stond {stode} thou upon the river's
brink against he come, and the rod which turned to a serpent take in
thine hand. And say unto him: the LORD God of the Hebrews hath sent me
unto thee saying: let my people go, that they may serve me in the
wilderness: but hitherto thou wouldest not hear. Wherefore thus sayeth
the LORD: hereby thou shalt know that I am the LORD. Behold, I will
smite with the staff that is in mine hand upon the waters that are in
the river, and they shall turn to blood. And the fish that is in the
river shall die, and the river shall stink: so that it shall grieve the
Egyptians to drink of the water of the river. And the LORD spake unto
Moses, say unto Aaron: take thy staff and stretch out thine hand over
the waters of Egypt, over their streams, rivers, ponds and all pools of
water, that they may be blood, and that there may be blood in all the
land of Egypt: both in vessels of wood and also of stone. And Moses and
Aaron did even as the LORD commanded. And he lift up the staff and
smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharao and in
the sight of his servants, and all the water that was in the river,
turned into blood. And the fish that was in the river died, and the
river stank: so that the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the
river. And there was blood thorowout all the land of Egypt. And the
enchanters of Egypt did likewise with their enchantments, so that
Pharao's heart was hardened and did not regard them as the LORD had
said. And Pharao turned himself and went into his house, and set not
his heart thereunto. And the Egyptians digged round about the river for
water to drink, for they could not drink of the water of the river. And
it continued a week after that the LORD had smote the river.
Chapter .viij.
The LORD spake unto Moses: Go unto Pharao and tell him, thus sayeth the
LORD: let my people go, that they may serve me. If thou wilt not let
them go: behold I will smite all thy land with frogs. And the river
shall scrale with frogs, and they shall come up and go into thine house
and into thy chamber where thou sleepest and upon thy bed, and into the
houses of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens, and
upon thy vitailles which thou hast in store. And the frogs shall come
upon thee and on thy people and upon all thy servants. And the LORD
spake unto Moses, say unto Aaron: stretch forth thine hand with thy rod
over the streams, rivers, and ponds. And bring up frogs upon the land
of Egypt. And Aaron stretched his hand over the water of Egypt, and the
frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. And the sorcerers did
likewise with their sorcery, and the frogs came up upon the land of
Egypt. Then Pharao called for Moses and Aaron and said, pray ye unto
the LORD that he may take away the frogs from me and from my people,
and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice unto the LORD.
And Moses said unto Pharao: Appoint thou the time unto me, when I shall
pray for thee and thy servants and thy people, to drive away the frogs
from thee and thy house, so that they shall remain but in the river
only. And he said tomorrow. And he said: even as thou hast said, that
thou mayst know that there is none like unto the LORD our God. And the
frogs shall depart from thee and from thine houses, and from thy
servants and from thy people, and shall remain in the river only. And
Moses and Aaron went out from Pharao, and Moses cried unto the LORD
upon the appointment of frogs which he had made unto Pharao. And the
LORD did according to the saying of Moses. And the frogs died out of
the houses, courts and fields. And they gathered them together upon
heaps: so that the land stank of them. But when Pharao saw that he had
rest given him, he hardened his heart and hearkened not unto them, as
the LORD had said. And the LORD said unto Moses: Say unto Aaron:
stretch out thy rod and smite the dust of the land that it may turn to
lice in all the land of Egypt. And they did so. And Aaron stretched out
his hand with his rod and smote the dust of the earth, and it turned to
lice both in man and beast, so that all the dust of the land turned to
lice, thorowout all the land of Egypt. And the enchanters assayed
likewise with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could
not. And the lice were both upon man and beast. Then said the
enchanters unto Pharao: it is the finger of God. Neverthelater Pharao's
heart was hardened and he regarded them not, as the LORD had said. And
the LORD said unto Moses: rise up early in the morning and stond before
Pharao, for he will come unto the water: and say unto him, thus sayeth
the LORD: let my people go, that they may serve me. If thou wilt not
let my people go, behold, I will send all manner flies both upon thee
and thy servants, and thy people, and into thy houses. And the houses
of the Egyptians shall be full of flies, and the ground whereon they
are. But I will separate the same day the land of Gosan where my people
are, so that there shall no flies be there: that thou mayest know that
I am the LORD upon the earth. And I will put a division between my
people and thine. And even tomorrow shall this miracle be done. And the
LORD did even so: and there came noisome flies into the house of
Pharao, and into his servants' houses and into all the land of Egypt:
so that the land was marred with flies. Then Pharao sent for Moses and
Aaron and said: Go and do sacrifice unto your God in the land. And
Moses answered: it is not mete so to do. For we must offer unto the
LORD our God, that which is an abomination unto the Egyptians: behold
shall we sacrifice that which is an abomination unto the Egyptians
before their eyes, and shall they not stone us? we will therefore go
three days' journey into the desert and sacrifice unto the LORD our God
as he hath commanded us. And Pharao said: I will let you go, that ye
may sacrifice unto the LORD your God in the wilderness: only go not far
away, and see that ye pray for me. And Moses said: behold, I will go
out from thee and pray unto the LORD, and the flies shall depart from
Pharao and from his servants and from his people tomorrow. But let
Pharao from henceforth deceive no more, that he would not let the
people go to sacrifice unto the LORD. And Moses went out from Pharao
and prayed unto the LORD. And the LORD did as Moses had said, and took
away the flies from Pharao and from his servants and from his people,
so that there remained not one. But for all that, Pharao hardened his
heart even then also and would not let the people go.
Chapter .ix.
And the LORD said unto Moses: go unto Pharao and tell him, thus sayeth
the LORD God of the Hebrews: send out my people that they may serve me.
If thou wilt not let them go but wilt hold them still: behold, the hand
of the LORD shall be upon thy cattle which thou hast in the field, upon
horses, asses, camels, oxen, and sheep, with a mighty great murrain.
But the LORD shall make a division between the beasts of the
Israelites, and the beasts of the Egyptians: so that there shall
nothing die of all that pertaineth to the children of Israel. And the
LORD appointed a time saying: tomorrow the LORD shall do this thing in
the land. And the LORD did the thing on the morrow, and all the cattle
of Egypt died: but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not
one. And Pharao sent to wete: but there was not one of the cattle of
the Israelites dead. Notwithstanding the heart of Pharao hardened, and
he would not let the people go. And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron:
take your hands full of ashes out of the furnace, and let Moses
sprinkle it up into the air in the sight of Pharao, and it shall turn
to dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall make swelling sores with
blains both on man and beast in all the land of Egypt. And they took
ashes out of the furnace, and stood before Pharao, and Moses sprinkled
it up into the air: And there brake out sores with blains both in man
and beast: so that the sorcerers could not stond before Moses, by the
reason of botches on the enchanters and upon all the Egyptians. But the
LORD hardened the heart of Pharao, that he hearkened not unto them, as
the LORD had said unto Moses. And the LORD said unto Moses: rise up
early in the morning and stond before Pharao and tell him, thus sayeth
the LORD God of the Hebrews: Let my people go, that they may serve me,
or else I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart and
upon thy servants and on thy people, that you mayst know that there is
none like me in all the earth. For now I will stretch out my hand and
will smite thee and thy people with pestilence: so that thou shalt
perish from the earth. Yet in very deed for this cause have I stirred
thee up, for to shew my power in thee, and to declare my name thorowout
all the world. If it be so that thou stoppest my people, that thou wilt
not let them go: behold, tomorrow this time, I will send down a mighty
great hail: even such one as was not in Egypt since it was grounded
unto this time. Send therefore and fetch home thy beasts and all that
thou hast in the field. For upon all the men and beasts which are found
in the field and not brought home, shall the hail fall, and they shall
die. And as many as feared the word of the LORD among the servants of
Pharao made their servants and their beasts flee to house: and they
that regarded not the word of the LORD, left their servants and their
beasts in the field. And the LORD said unto Moses: stretch forth thine
hand unto heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt: upon
man and beast, and upon all the herbs of the field in the field of
Egypt. And Moses stretched out his rod unto heaven, and the LORD
thundered and hailed, so that the fire ran along upon the ground. And
the LORD so hailed in the land of Egypt, that there was hail and fire
mingled with the hail, so grievous, that there was none such in all the
land of Egypt, since people inhabited it. And the hail smote in the
land of Egypt all that was in the field both man and beast. And the
hail smote all the herbs of the field and broke all the trees of the
field: only in the land of Gosan where the children of Israel were, was
there no hail. And Pharao sent and called for Moses and Aaron, and said
unto them: I have now sinned, the LORD is righteous and I and my people
are wicked. Pray ye unto the LORD, that the thunder of God and hail may
cease, and I will let you go, and ye shall tarry no longer. And Moses
said unto him: as soon as I am out of the city, I will spread abroad my
hands unto the LORD, and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there
be any more hail: that thou mayst know, how that the earth is the
LORD's. But I know that thou and thy servants yet fear not the LORD
God. The flax and the barley were smitten, for the barley was shot up
and the flax was bolled: but the wheat and the rye were not smitten,
for they were late sown. And Moses went out of the city from Pharao and
spread abroad his hands unto the LORD, and the thunder and hail ceased,
neither rained it any more upon the earth. When Pharao saw that the
rain and the hail and thunder were ceased, he sinned again and hardened
his heart: both he and his servants. So was the heart of Pharao
hardened, that he would not let the children of Israel go, as the LORD
had said by Moses.
Chapter .x.
The LORD said unto Moses: go unto Pharao, nevertheless I have hardened
his heart and the hearts of his servants, that I might shew these my
signs amongst them, and that thou tell in the audience of thy son and
of thy son's son, the pageants which I have played in Egypt, and the
miracles which I have done among them: that ye may know how that I am
the LORD. Then Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharao, and said unto him:
Thus sayeth the LORD God of the Hebrews: how long shall it be, or thou
wilt submit thyself unto me? Let my people go that they may serve me.
If thou wilt not let my people go: behold, tomorrow will I bring
grasshoppers into thy land, and they shall cover the face of the earth
that it can not be seen, and they shall eat the residue which remaineth
unto you and escaped the hail, and they shall eat all your green trees
upon the field, and they shall fill thy houses and all thy servants'
houses, and the houses of all the Egyptians after such a manner: as
neither thy fathers nor thy fathers fathers have seen, since the time
they were upon the earth unto this day. And he turned himself about,
and went out from Pharao. And Pharao's servants said unto him: How long
shall this fellow thus plague us? {How long shall we be thus evilly
entreated?} Let the men go that they may serve the LORD their God, or
else wilt thou see Egypt first destroyed? And then Moses and Aaron were
brought again unto Pharao, and he said unto them: Go and serve the LORD
your God but who are they that shall go? And Moses answered: we must go
with young and old: yea and with our sons and with our daughters, and
with our sheep and oxen must we go. For we must hold a feast unto the
LORD. And he said unto them: shall it be so? The LORD be with you,
should I let you go, and your children also? Take heed, for ye have
some mischief in hand. Nay not so: but go ye that are men and serve the
LORD, for that was your desire. And they thrust them out of Pharao's
presence. And the LORD said unto Moses: Stretch out thine hand over the
land of Egypt for grasshoppers, that they come upon the land of Egypt
and eat all the herbs of the land, and all that the hail left
untouched. And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt,
and the LORD brought an east wind upon the land, all that day and all
night. And in the morning the east wind brought the grasshoppers, and
the grasshoppers went up over all the land of Egypt and lighted in all
quarters of Egypt very grievously: so that before them were there no
such grasshoppers, neither after them shall be. And they covered all
the face of the earth, so that the land was dark therewith. And they
ate all the herbs of the land and all the fruits of the trees which the
hail had left: so that there was no green thing left in the trees and
herbs of the field thorow all the land of Egypt. Then Pharao called for
Moses and Aaron in haste and said: I have sinned against the LORD your
God and against you. Forgive me yet my sin only this once, and pray
unto the LORD your God that he may take away from me this death only.
And he went out from Pharao and prayed unto the LORD, and the LORD
turned the wind into a mighty strong west wind, and it took away the
grasshoppers and cast them into the reed sea: so that there was not one
grasshopper left in all the coasts of Egypt. But the LORD hardened
Pharao's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go. And
the LORD said unto Moses: Stretch out thy hand unto heaven, and let
there be darkness upon the land of Egypt: even that they may feel the
darkness. And Moses stretched forth his hand unto heaven, and there was
a dark mist {thick darkness} upon all the land of Egypt three days
long, so that no man saw another, neither rose up from the place where
he was by the space of three days, but all the children of Israel had
light where they dwelled. Then Pharao called for Moses and said: go and
serve the LORD, only let your sheep, and your oxen abide, but let your
children go with you. And Moses answered: thou must give us also
offerings and burnt offerings for to sacrifice unto the LORD our God.
Our cattle therefore shall go with us, and there shall not one hoof be
left behind, for thereof must we take to serve the LORD our God.
Moreover we can not know wherewith we shall serve the LORD, until we
come thither. But the LORD hardened Pharao's heart, so that he would
not let them go. And Pharao said unto him: get thee from me and take
heed to thyself that thou see my face no more. For whensoever thou
comest in my sight, thou shalt die. And Moses said: Let it be as thou
hast said: I will see thy face no more.
Chapter .xi.
And the LORD said unto Moses: yet will I bring one plague more upon
Pharao and upon Egypt, and after that he will let you go hence. And
when he letteth you go, he shall utterly drive you hence. But bid the
people that every man borrow of his neighbour and every woman of her
neighbouress: jewels of silver and jewels of gold. And the LORD gat the
people favour in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover Moses was very
great in the land of Egypt: both in the sight of Pharao, and also in
the sight of the people. And Moses said: thus sayeth the LORD. About
midnight will I go out among the Egyptians, and all the firstborn in
the land of Egypt shall die: even from the firstborn of Pharao that
sitteth on his seat, unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is in
the mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle. And there shall be a
great cry thorowout all the land of Egypt: so that there was never none
like nor shall be. And among all the children of Israel shall not a dog
move his tongue, nor yet man or beast: that ye may know, how the LORD
putteth a difference between the Egyptians and Israel. And all these
thy servants shall come down unto me, and fall before me and say: get
thee out and all the people that are under thee, and then will I
depart. And he went out from Pharao in a great anger. And the LORD said
unto Moses: Pharao shall not regard you, that many wonders may be
wrought in the land of Egypt. And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders
before Pharao. But the LORD hardened Pharao's heart, so that he would
not let the children of Israel go out of his land.
Chapter .xij.
And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt saying:
This month shall be your chief month: even the first month of the year
shall it be unto you. Speak ye unto all the fellowship of Israel
saying: that they take the tenth day of this month to every household,
a sheep. If the household be too few for a sheep, then let him and his
neighbour that is next unto this house, take according to the number of
souls, and count unto a sheep according to every man's eating. A sheep
without spot and a male of one year old shall it be, and from among the
lambs and the goats shall ye take it. And ye shall keep him in ward,
until the fourteenth day of the same month. And every man of the
multitude of Israel shall kill him about even. And they shall take of
the blood and strike on the two side posts and on the upper doorpost of
the houses, wherein they eat him. And they shall eat the flesh the same
night, roast with fire, and with unleavened bread, and with sour herbs
they shall eat it. See that ye eat not thereof sodden in water, but
roast with fire: both head, feet, and purtenance together. And see that
ye let nothing of it remain unto the morning: if ought remain burn it
with fire. Of this manner shall ye eat it: with your loins girded, and
shoes on your feet, and your staves in your hands. And ye shall eat it
in haste, for it is the LORD's passover, for I will go about in the
land of Egypt this same night, and will smite all the firstborn in the
land of Egypt, both of man and beast, and upon all the gods of Egypt
will I the LORD do execution. And the blood shall be unto you a token
upon the houses wherein ye are, for when I see the blood, I will pass
over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I
smite the land of Egypt. And this day shall be unto you a remembrance,
and ye shall keep it holy unto the LORD: even thorowout your
generations after you shall ye keep it holy day, that it be a custom
for ever. Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread, so that even the
first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses. For whosoever
eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that
soul shall be plucked out from Israel. The first day shall be a holy
feast unto you, and the seventh also. There shall be no manner of work
done in them, save about that only which every man must eat: that only
may ye do. And see that ye keep you to unleavened bread. For upon that
same day I will bring your armies out of the land of Egypt, therefore
ye shall observe this day and all your children after you, that it be a
custom for ever. The first month and the fourteenth day of the month at
even, ye shall eat sweet bread unto the twenty first day of the month
at even again. Seven days see that there be no leavened bread found in
your houses. For whosoever eateth leavened bread, that soul shall be
rooted out from the multitude of Israel: whether he be a stranger or
born in the land. Therefore see that ye eat no leavened bread, but in
all your habitations eat sweet bread. And Moses called for the elders
of Israel and said unto them: choose out and take to every household a
sheep, and kill passover. And take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the
blood that is in the basin, and strike it upon the upper post and on
the two side posts, and see that none of you go out at the door of his
house until the morning. For the LORD will go about and smite Egypt.
And when he seeth the blood upon the upper door post and on the two
side posts, he will pass over the door and will not suffer the
destroyer to come into your house to plague you. Therefore see that
thou observe this thing, that it be an ordinance to thee, and thy sons
for ever. And when ye be come into the land which the LORD will give
you according as he hath promised, see that ye keep this service. And
when your children ask you what manner of service is this ye do. Ye
shall say: it is the sacrifice of the LORD's passover, which passed
over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, as he smote the
Egyptians and saved our houses. Then the people bowed them selves and
worshipped. And the children of Israel went and did as the LORD had
commanded Moses and Aaron. And at midnight the LORD smote all the
firstborn in the land of Egypt: from the firstborn of Pharao that sat
on his seat, unto the firstborn of the captive that was in prison, and
all firstborn of the cattle. Then Pharao arose the same night and all
his servants and all the Egyptians, and there was a great crying
thorowout Egypt, for there was no house where there was not one dead.
And he called unto Moses and Aaron by night saying: Rise up, and get
you out from among my people: both ye and also the children of Israel,
and go and serve the LORD as ye have said. And take your sheep and your
oxen with you as ye have said, and depart and bless me also. And the
Egyptians were fierce upon the people and made haste to send them out
of the land: for they said: we be all dead men. And the people took the
dough before it was soured which they had in store, and bound it in
cloths, and put it upon their shoulders. And the children of Israel did
according to the saying of Moses: and they borrowed of the Egyptians
jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment. And the LORD gat the
people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and so they borrowed and
robbed the Egyptians. Thus took the children of Israel their journey
from Rameses to Sucoth six hundred thousand men of foot, beside
children. And much common people went also with them, and sheep, and
oxen, and cattle exceeding much. And they baked sweet cakes of the
dough which they brought out of Egypt, for it was not soured: because
they were thrust out of Egypt and could not tarry, neither had they
prepared them any other provision of meat. And the time of the dwelling
of the children of Israel which they dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred
and thirty years. And when the four hundred and thirty years were
expired, even the self same day departed all the hosts of the LORD out
of the land of Egypt. This is a night to be observed to the LORD,
because he brought them out of the land of Egypt. This is a night of
the LORD, to be kept of all the children of Israel and of their
generations after them. And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron: this is
the manner of passover: there shall no stranger eat thereof, but all
the servants that are bought for money shall ye circumcise, and then
let them eat thereof. A stranger and a hired servant shall not eat
thereof. In one house shall it be eaten. Ye shall carry none of the
flesh out at the doors: moreover, see that ye break not a bone thereof.
All the multitude of the children of Israel shall observe it. If a
stranger dwell among you, and will hold Passover unto the LORD, let him
circumcise all that be males, and then let him come and observe it, and
be taken as one that is born in the land. No uncircumcised person shall
eat thereof. One manner of law shall be unto them that are born in the
land, and unto the strangers that dwell among you. And all the children
of Israel did as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron. And even the self
same day did the LORD bring the children of Israel out of the land of
Egypt with their armies.
Chapter .xiij.
And the LORD spake unto Moses saying: Sanctify unto me all the
firstborn that open all manner matrices among the children of Israel,
as well of men as of beasts: for they are mine. And Moses said unto the
people: think on this day in which ye came out of Egypt and out of the
house of bondage: for with a mighty hand the LORD brought you out from
thence. See therefore that ye eat no leavened bread. This day come ye
out of Egypt in the month of Abib. When the LORD hath brought thee in
to the land of the Cananites, Hethites, Amorites, Hevites and
Iebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers that he would give thee: a
land wherein milk and honey floweth, then see that thou keep this
service in this same month. Seven days thou shalt eat sweet bread, and
the seventh day shall be feastful unto the LORD. Therefore thou shalt
eat sweet bread seven days, and see that there be no leavened bread
seen nor yet leaven among you in all your quarters. And thou shalt shew
thy son at that time saying: this is done, because of that which the
LORD did unto me when I came out of Egypt. Therefore it shall be a sign
unto thee upon thine hand and a remembrance between thine eyes, that
the LORD's law may be in thy mouth. For with a strong hand the LORD
brought thee out of Egypt, see thou keep therefore this ordinance in
his season from year to year. Moreover when the LORD hath brought thee
into the land of the Cananites, as he hath sworn unto thee and to thy
fathers, and hath given it thee, then thou shalt appoint unto the LORD
all that openeth the matrice, and all the firstborn among the beasts
which thou hast if they be males. And all the firstborn of the asses,
thou shalt redeem with a sheep: if thou redeem him not, then break his
neck. But all the firstborn among thy children shalt thou buy out. And
when thy son asketh thee in time to come saying: what is this? thou
shalt say unto him: with a mighty hand and LORD brought us out of
Egypt, out of the house of bondage. And when Pharao was loth to let us
go, the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt: as well the
firstborn of men as of beasts. And therefore I sacrifice unto the LORD
all the males that open the matrice, but all the firstborn of my
children I must redeem. And this shall be as a token in thine hand, and
as a thing hanged up between thine eyes: because the LORD brought us
out of Egypt with a mighty hand. When Pharao had let the people go, God
carried them not thorow the land of the Philistines, though it were a
nye way. For God said: the people might haply repent when they see war,
and so turn again to Egypt: therefore God led thee about thorow the
wilderness that bordereth on the red sea. The children of Israel went
harnessed out of the land of Egypt. And Moses took the bones of Ioseph
with him: for he made the children of Israel swear saying: God will
surely visit you, take my bones therefore away hence with you. And they
took their journey from Sucoth: and pitched their tents in Etham in the
edge of the wilderness. And the LORD went before them by day in a
pillar of a cloud to lead them the way: and by night in a pillar of
fire to give them light: that they might go both by day and night. And
the pillar of the cloud never departed by day nor the pillar of fire by
night out of the people's sight.
Chapter .xiiij.
Then the LORD spake unto Moses saying: bid the children of Israel that
they turn and pitch their tents before the entering of Hiroth between
Migdol and the sea toward Baal Zephon: even before that shall ye pitch
upon the sea. For Pharao will say of the children of Israel: they are
tangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in. And I will
harden his heart, that he shall follow after them, that I may get me
honour upon Pharao and upon all his host, that the Egyptians may know
that I am the LORD. And they did even so. And when it was told the king
of Egypt that the people fled, then Pharao's heart and all his servants
turned unto the people and said: why have we this done, that we have
let Israel go out of our service? and he made ready his chariots and
took his people with him and took six hundred chosen chariots and all
the chariots of Egypt and captains upon all his people. For the LORD
hardened the heart of Pharao king of Egypt, that he followed after the
children of Israel which for all that went out thorow an high hand. And
the Egyptians followed after them and overtook them where they pitched
by the sea, with all the horsses and chariots of Pharao and with his
horsemen and his host: even fast by the entering of Hiroth before Baal
Zephon. And Pharao drew nye, and when the children of Israel lift up
their eyes and saw how the Egyptians followed after them, they were
sore afraid and cried out unto the LORD. Then said they unto Moses:
were there no graves for us in Egypt, but thou must bring us away for
to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou served us thus, for to
carry us out of Egypt? Did not we tell thee this in Egypt saying, let
us be in rest and serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to
have served the Egyptians, than for to die in the wilderness. And Moses
said unto the people: fear ye not but stond still and behold how the
LORD shall save you this day: For as ye see the Egyptians this day,
shall ye see them no more for ever till the world's end. The LORD shall
fight for you and ye shall hold your peace. The LORD said unto Moses:
wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel that
they go forward. But lift thou up thy rod and stretch out thy hand over
the sea and divide it asunder, that the children of Israel may go on
dry ground thorow the middest thereof. And behold I will harden the
hearts of the Egyptians that they may follow you. And I will get me
honour upon Pharao and upon all his host, upon his chariots and upon
his horsemen. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD when I
have gotten me honour upon Pharao, upon his chariots and upon his
horsemen. And the angel of God which went before the host of Israel,
removed and went behind them. And the clouden pillar that was before
them removed and stood behind them and went between the host of the
Egyptians and the host of Israel. It was a dark cloud, and gave light
by night: so that all the night long the one could not come at the
other. When now Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, the LORD
carried away the sea with a strong east wind that blew all night, and
made the sea dry land and the water divided itself. And the children of
Israel went in thorow the middest of the sea upon the dry ground. And
the water was a wall unto them, both on their right hand and on their
left hand. And the Egyptians followed and went in after them to the
middest of the sea, with all Pharao's horses, and his chariots and his
horsemen. And in the morning watch, the LORD looked unto the host of
the Egyptians out of the fiery and cloudy pillar, and troubled their
host and smote off their chariot wheels and cast them down to the
ground. Then said the Egyptians: Let us flee from Israel, for the LORD
fighteth for them against us. Then said the LORD unto Moses: stretch
out thine hand over the sea, that the water may come again upon the
Egyptians upon their chariots and horsemen. Then stretched forth Moses
his hand over the sea, and it came again to his course early in the
morning, and the Egyptians fled against it. Thus the LORD overthrew the
Egyptians in the middest of the sea, and the water returned and covered
the chariots and the horsemen: so that of all the host of Pharao that
came into the sea after them, there remained not one. But the children
of Israel went upon dry land in the middest of the sea, and the water
was a wall unto them: both on the right hand of them and also on the
left. Thus the LORD delivered Israel the self same day out of the hand
of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea side.
And when Israel saw that mighty hand which the LORD had shewed upon the
Egyptians, they feared the LORD: and believed both the LORD and also
his servant Moses.
Chapter .xv.
Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song unto the LORD and
said: Let us sing unto the LORD, for he is become glorious, the horse
and him that rode upon him hath he overthrown in the sea. The LORD is
my strength and my song, and is become my salvation. He is my God and I
will glorify him, he is my father's God and I will lift him up on high.
{an hie} The LORD is a man of war, Iehouah is his name: Pharao's
chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea. His jolly captains are
drowned in the redde {reed} sea, the deep waters have covered them:
they sank to the bottom as a stone. Thine hand LORD is glorious in
power, thine hand LORD hath all to dashed the enemy. And with thy great
glory thou hast destroyed thine adversaries, thou sentest forth thy
wrath and it consumed them, even as stubble. With the breath of thine
anger the water gathered together and the floods stood still as a rock,
and the deep water congealed together in the middest of the sea. The
enemy said: I will follow and overtake them, and will divide the spoil:
I will satisfy my lust upon them: I will draw my sword, and mine hand
shall destroy them. Thou blewest with thy breath and the sea covered
them, and they sank as lead in the mighty waters. Who is like unto thee
o LORD among gods: who is like thee, so glorious in holiness, fearful,
laudable and that shewest wonders? Thou stretchedest out thy right
hand, and in the earth swallowed them. And thou carriedest with thy
mercy this people which thou deliveredest, and broughtest them with thy
strength unto thy holy habitation. The nations heard, and were afraid,
pangs came upon the Philistines. Then the dukes of the Edomites were
amazed, and trembling came upon the mightiest of the Moabites, and all
the inhabiters of Canaan waxed faint hearted. Let fear and dread fall
upon them thorow the greatness of thine arm, and let them be as still
as a stone, while thy people pass thorow o LORD, while the people pass
thorow, which thou hast gotten. Bring them in and plant them in the
mountains of thine inheritance, the place LORD {Lorde} which thou hast
made for to dwell in, the sanctuary Lord, which thy hands have
prepared. The LORD reign ever and allway. For Pharao went in on
horseback with his chariots and horsemen into the sea, and the LORD
brought the waters of the sea upon them. And the children of Israel
went on dry land thorow the middest of the sea. And Miriam a prophetess
the sister of Aaron took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women came
out after her with timbrels in a dance. And Miriam sang before them:
sing ye unto the LORD, for he is become glorious indeed: the horse and
his rider hath he overthrown in the sea. Moses brought Israel from the
redde {reed} sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Sur. And
they went three days long in the wilderness, and could find no water.
At the last they came to Mara: but they could not drink of the waters
for bitterness, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of the place
was called Mara. Then the people murmured against Moses, saying: what
shall we drink? And Moses cried unto the LORD, and he shewed him a
tree: {tre} and he cast it into the water, and they waxed sweet. There
he made them an ordinance and a law, and there he tempted them and
said: If ye will hearken unto the voice of the LORD your God, and will
do that which is right in his sight and will give an ear unto his
commandments, and keep all his ordinances: then will I put none of
these diseases upon thee which I brought upon the Egyptians, for I am
the LORD thy surgeon. And they came to Elim where were twelve wells of
water and seventy date trees, and they pitched there by the water.
Chapter .xvi.
And they took their journey from Elim, and all the whole company of the
children of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which lieth between
Elim and Sinai: the fifteenth day of the second month after that they
were come out of the land of Egypt. And the hole multitude of the
children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness,
and said unto them: would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in
the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and ate bread our
bellies' full for ye have brought us out into this wilderness to kill
this hole multitude for hunger. Then said the LORD unto Moses: behold,
I will rain bread from heaven down to you, and let the people go out,
and gather day by day, that I may prove them whether they will walk in
my law or no. The sixth day let them prepare that which they will bring
in, and let it be twice as much as they gather in daily. And Moses and
Aaron said unto all the children of Israel: at even ye shall know that
it is the LORD, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and in the
morning ye shall see the glory of the LORD: because he hath heard your
grudgings against the LORD: for what are we that ye should murmur
against us? And moreover spake Moses: At evening the LORD will give you
flesh to eat, and in the morning bread enough, because the LORD hath
heard your murmur which ye murmur against him: for what are we? your
murmuring is not against us, but against the LORD. And Moses spake unto
Aaron: Say unto all the company of the children of Israel, come forth
before the LORD, for he hath heard your grudgings. And as Aaron spake
unto the hole multitude of the children of Israel, they looked toward
the wilderness: and behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in a cloud.
And the LORD spake unto Moses saying: I have heard the murmuring of the
children of Israel, tell them therefore and say that at evening they
shall eat flesh, and in the morning they shall be filled with bread,
and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God. And at evening the
quails came and covered the ground where they lay. And in the morning
the dew lay round about the host. And when the dew was fallen: behold,
it lay upon the ground in the wilderness, small and round and thin as
the hoar frost on the ground. When the children of Israel saw it, they
said one to another: what is this? for they wist not what it was; And
Moses said: this is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.
This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, that ye gather every
man enough for him to eat: a gomer full for a man according to the
number of you, and gather every man for them which are in his tent. And
the children of Israel did even so, and gathered some more some less,
and did mete it with a gomer. And unto him that had gathered much
remained nothing over, and unto him that had gathered little was there
no lack: but every man had gathered sufficient for his eating. And
Moses said unto them: See that no man let ought remain of it till the
morning. Notwithstonding they hearkened not unto Moses: but some of the
left of it until the mornynge, and it waxed full of worms and stank,
and Moses was angry with them. And they gathered it all mornings: every
man as much as sufficed for his eating, for as soon as the heat of the
sonne came it melted. And the sixth day they gathered twice so much
bread, two gomers for one man, and the rulers of the multitude came and
told Moses. And he said unto them: this is that which the LORD hath
said: tomorrow is the Sabbath of the holy rest of the LORD: bake that
which ye will bake and fetch that ye will fetch, and that which
remaineth lay up for you, and keep it till the morning. And they laid
it up till the morning as Moses bade, and it stank not, neither was
there any worms therein. And Moses said: that eat this day: for today
it is the LORD's Sabbath: today ye shall find none in the field. Six
days ye shall gather it, for the seventh is the Sabbath: there shall be
none therein. Notwithstanding there went out of the people in the
seventh day for to gather: but they found none. Then the LORD said unto
Moses: how long shall it be, yer ye will keep my commandments and laws?
See because the LORD hath given you a Sabbath, therefore he giveth you
the sixth day bread for two days. Bide therefore every man at home, and
let no man go out of his place the seventh day. And the people rested
the seventh day. And the house of Israel called it Man. And it was like
unto Coriander seed and white, and the taste of it was like unto wafers
made with honey. And Moses said: this is that which the LORD
commandeth: fill a gomer of it, that it may be kept for your children
after you: that they may see the bread wherewith he fed you in
wilderness, when he had brought you out of the land of Egypt. And Moses
spake unto Aaron: take a cruse and put a gomer full of Man therein, and
lay it up before the LORD to be kept for your children after you, as
the LORD commanded Moses. And Aaron laid it up before the testimony
there to be kept. And the children of Israel ate man forty years until
they came unto a land inhabited. And so they ate Man, even until they
came unto the borders of the land of Canaan, and a gomer is the tenth
part of an Epha.
Chapter .xvij.
And all the company of the children of Israel went on their journeys
from the wilderness of Sin at the commandment of the LORD, and pitched
in Raphidim: where was no water for the people to drink. And the people
chode with Moses and said: give us water to drink. And Moses said unto
them: why chide ye with me, and wherefore do ye tempt the LORD? There
the people thirsted for water, and murmured against Moses and said:
wherefore hast thou brought us out of Egypt, to kill us and our
children and our cattle with thirst? And Moses cried unto the LORD
saying, what shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone
me. And the LORD said unto Moses: go before the people, and take with
thee of the elders of Israel: and thy rod wherewith thou smotest the
river, take in thine hand and go. Behold, I will stond there before
thee upon a rock in Horeb: and thou shalt smite the rock, and there
shall come water out thereof, that the people may drink. And Moses did
even so before the elders of Israel. And he called the name of the
place: Massa and Meriba: because of the chiding of the children of
Israel, and because they tempted the LORD saying: is the LORD among us
or not? Then came Amalek and fought with Israel in Raphidim. And Moses
said unto Iosua: choose out men and go fight with Amelech. Tomorrow I
will stond on the top of the hill and the rod of God in mine hand. And
Iosua did as Moses bade him, and fought with the Amalekites. And Moses,
Aaron and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And when Moses held up
his hand, Israel had the better. And when he let his hand down, Amelech
had the better. When Moses' hands were weary, they took a stone and put
it under him, and he sat down there on. And Aaron and Hur stayed up his
hands, the one on the one side and the other on the other side. And his
hands were steady until the son was down. And Iosua discomfited Amalek
and his people with the edge of his sword. And the LORD said unto
Moses: write this for a remembrance in a book and tell it unto Iosua,
for I will put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. And
Moses made an altar and called the name of it Iehouah Nissi, {The LORD
is he that exalteth, or worketh miracles for me.} for he said: the hand
is on the seat of the LORD, that the LORD will have war with Amalek
thorowout all generations.
Chapter .xviij.
Iethro the priest of Madian Moses' father-in-law heard of all that God
had done unto Moses and to Israel his people, how that the LORD had
brought Israel out of Egypt. And he took Zippora Moses' wife, after she
was sent back, and her two sons, of which the one was called Gerson,
for he said: I have been an alien {alient} in a strange land. And the
other was called Eliesar: for the God of my father was mine help and
delivered me from the sword of Pharao. And Iethro Moses' father-in-law
came with his two sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness:
where he had pitched his tent by the mount of God. And he sent word to
Moses: I thy father-in- law Iethro am come to thee, and thy wife also,
and her two sons with her. And Moses went out to meet his father-in-law
and did obeisance and kissed him, and they saluted each other and came
into the tent. And Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had
done unto Pharao and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, and all the
travail that had happened them by the way, and how the LORD had
delivered them. And Iethro rejoiced over all the good which the LORD
had done to Israel, and because he had delivered them out of the hand
of the Egyptians. And Iethro said: blessed be the LORD which hath
delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of
Pharao, which hath delivered his people from under the power of the
Egyptians. Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods, for
because that they dealt proudly with them. And Iethro Moses'
father-in-law offered burnt offerings and sacrifices unto God. And
Aaron and all the elders of Israel came to eat bread with Moses'
father-in-law before God. And it chanced on the morrow, that Moses sat
to judge the people, and the people stood about Moses from morning unto
evening. When his father-in- law saw all that he did unto the people,
he said: what is this that thou doest unto the people? why sittest thou
thyself and lettest all the people stond about thee from morning unto
even? And Moses said unto his father-in-law: because the people came
unto me to seek counsel, {councell} of God. For when they have a
matter, they come unto me, and I must judge between every man and his
neighbour, and must shew them the ordinances of God and his laws. And
his father-in-law said unto him: it is not well that thou doest. Thou
doest unwisely and also this people that is with thee: because the
thing is too grievous for thee, and thou art not able to do it thy self
alone. But hear my voice, and I will give thee counsel, {councell} and
God shall be with thee. Be thou unto the people to Godward, and bring
the causes unto God and provide them ordinances and laws, and shew them
the way wherein they must walk and the works that they must do.
Moreover seek out among all the people, men of activity which fear God,
and men that are true and hate covetousness: and make them heads over
the people, captains over thousands, over hundreds, over fifty, and
over ten. And let them judge the people at all seasons: If there be any
great matter, let them bring that unto thee, and let them judge all
small causes them selves, and ease thy self, and let them bear with
thee. If thou shalt do this thing, then thou shalt be able to endure
that which God chargeth thee with all, and all this people shall go to
their places quietly. And Moses heard the voice of his father-in-law,
and did all that he had said, and chose active men out of all Israel
and made them heads over the people, captains over thousands, over
hundreds, over fifty and over ten. And they judged the people at all
seasons, and brought the hard causes unto Moses: and judged all small
matters them selves. And then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and
he went in to his own land.
Chapter .xix.
The third month after the children of Israel were gone out of Egypt:
the same day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. For they were
departed from Raphidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai and had
pitched their tents in the wilderness. And there Israel pitched before
the mount. And Moses went up unto God. And the LORD called to him out
of the mountain saying: thus say unto the house of Iacob, and tell the
children of Israel: Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians and how
I took you up upon Eagles' wings, and have brought you unto myself. Now
therefore if ye will hear my voice and keep mine appointment: ye shall
be mine own above all nations, for all the earth is mine. Ye shall be
unto me a kingdom of priests and an holy people: these are the words
which thou shalt say unto the children of Israel. And Moses came and
called for the elders of Israel, and laid before them all these words
which the LORD had commanded him. And the people answered all together
and said: All that the LORD hath said, we will do. And Moses brought
the words of the people unto the LORD. And the LORD said unto Moses:
Lo, I will come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear
when I talk with thee, and also believe thee for ever. And Moses shewed
the words of the people unto the LORD. And the LORD said unto Moses: Go
unto the people and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash
their clothes: that they may be ready against the third day. For the
third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon
mount Sinai. And set marks round about the people and say: beware that
ye go not up into the mount, and that ye twich not the borders of it,
for whosoever twicheth the mount, shall surely die. There shall not an
hand twich it, but that he shall either be stoned or else shot thorow:
whether it be beast or man, it shall not live, when the horn bloweth:
then let them come up in to the mountain. And Moses went down from the
mount unto the people and sanctified them, and they washed their
clothes: And he said unto the people: be ready against the third day,
and see that ye come not at your wives. And the third day in the
morning there was thunder, and lightning and a thick cloud upon the
mount, and the voice of the horn waxed exceeding loud, and all the
people that was in the host was afraid. And Moses brought the people
out of the tents to meet with God, and they stood under the hill. And
mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke: because the LORD descended down
upon it in fire. And the smoke thereof ascended up, as it had been the
smoke of a kiln, and all the mount was exceeding fearful. And the voice
of the horn blew and waxed louder, and louder. Moses spake, and God
answered him and that with a voice. And the LORD came down upon mount
Sinai, even in the top of the hill, and called Moses up into the top of
the hill. And Moses went up. And the LORD said unto Moses: go down and
charge the people that they prease not up unto the LORD for to see him,
and so many of them perish. And let the priests also which come to the
LORD's presence, sanctify them selves: lest the LORD smite them. Then
Moses said unto the LORD: the people can not come up in to mount Sinai,
for thou chargedest us saying: set marks about the hill and sanctify
it. And the LORD said unto him: away, and get thee down: and come up
both thou and Aaron with thee. But let not the priests and the people
presume for to come up unto the LORD: lest he smite them. And Moses
went down unto the people and told them.
Chapter .xx.
And God spake all these words and said: I am the LORD thy God, which
have brought thee out of the land of Egypt and out of the house of
bondage. Thou shalt have none other gods in my sight. Thou shalt make
thee no graven image, neither any similitude that is in heaven above,
either in the earth beneath, or in the water that is beneath the earth.
See that thou neither bow thyself unto them neither serve them: for I
the LORD thy God, am a jealous God, and visit the sin of the fathers
upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that
hate me: and yet shew mercy unto thousands among them that love me and
keep my commandments. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God
in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name
in vain. Remember the Sabbath day that thou sanctify it. Six days mayst
thou labour and do all that thou hast to do: but the seventh day is the
Sabbath of the LORD thy God, in it thou shalt do no manner work:
neither thou nor thy son, nor thy daughter, neither thy manservant nor
thy maidservant, neither thy cattle neither yet the stranger that is
within thy gates. For in six days the LORD made both heaven and earth
and the sea and all that in them is and rested the seventh day:
wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. Honour thy
father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which the
LORD thy God giveth thee. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not break
wedlock. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt bear no false witness against
thy neighbour. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house: neither
shalt covet thy neighbour's wife, his manservant, his maid, his ox, his
ass or ought that is his. And all the people saw the thunder and the
lightning and the noise of the horn, and how the mountain smoked. And
when the people saw it, they removed and stood afar off and said unto
Moses: talk thou with us and we will hear, but let not God talk with
us, lest we die. And Moses said unto the people fear not, for God is
come to prove you, and that his fear may be among you that ye sin not.
And the people stood afar off, and Moses went into the thick cloud
where God was. And the LORD said unto Moses: thus thou shalt say unto
the children of Israel: Ye have seen how that I have talked with you
from out of heaven. Ye shall not make therefore with me gods of silver
nor gods of gold: in no wise shall ye do it. An altar of earth thou
shalt make unto me and thereon offer thy burnt offerings and thy peace
offerings, and thy sheep and thine oxen. And in all places where I
shall put the remembrance of my name, thither I will come unto thee and
bless thee. But and if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, see thou
make it not of hewed stone, for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou
shalt pollute it. Moreover thou shalt not go up with steps unto mine
altar, that thy nakedness be not shewed thereon.
Chapter .xxj.