Exodus 13

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

With a deep sense of authority and compassion, the LORD reached out to Moses, saying,

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

Dedicate to me every firstborn child and animal among the Israelites, for they belong to me.

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

Moses urged the people, "Never forget this day when you were freed from Egyptian slavery by God's mighty hand. On this day, nothing made with yeast is to be eaten."

This day came ye out in the month Abib.

On this day, you emerged in the month of Abib, filled with hope and anticipation.

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

When God guides you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites and Jebusites, the prosperous land He promised your ancestors, a place filled with abundance and sweetness, you are to keep this observance in this month.

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

For seven days, enjoy bread without yeast, and on the final day, celebrate with a joyful feast dedicated to the LORD.

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

For seven days, only eat bread without yeast. Don't let any bread with yeast or yeast itself be found anywhere in your home.

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

On that day, you'll tell your son, "This happened because of what the Lord did for me when I was freed from Egypt."

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

Let God's teachings be a constant reminder, like a mark on your hand or a symbol between your eyes. Speak His laws, for with a powerful hand He brought you out of Egypt.

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

You must faithfully follow this tradition, year after year, when the time comes.

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

When God finally leads you to the land of the Canaanites, a promise He made to you and your ancestors, and hands it over to you, you will feel an overwhelming sense of fulfillment and joy.

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

Devote to the Lord everything that first opens the womb. Every firstborn male of your animals belongs to the Lord.

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

You must trade a lamb for the firstborn of a donkey. If you refuse, you must end the donkey's life. Similarly, you must also ensure the redemption of your firstborn child.

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

When your child one day asks, "What does this mean?" You'll tell them, "With a powerful hand, God freed us from our chains in Egypt."

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

When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to free us, God took the lives of all firstborns in Egypt, both human and animal. That's why I offer all firstborn males to God, but I always save my own firstborn sons.

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

Let this be a reminder you can touch and see: God's mighty hand freed us from Egypt's chains.

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

When Pharaoh finally freed the people, God didn't guide them through the nearby Philistine land. He feared that if they saw war, they might regret their freedom and return to Egypt.

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

God guided His people, leading them through the barren wilderness towards the Red Sea. The children of Israel, prepared and ready, left their life in Egypt behind.

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

Moses, with a heavy heart, carried Joseph's remains. For Joseph had made the people of Israel swear a solemn oath, saying, "God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones away from here with you."

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

They journeyed from Succoth, setting up camp in Etham, right at the brink of the vast 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; to go by day and night:

With unwavering guidance, the LORD led them during the day as a cloud pillar, showing them the path. At night, He became a fiery pillar, illuminating their way, ceaselessly guiding them through both day and night.

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

He never removed the guiding cloud during the day or the fiery pillar at night, always leading his people.