Old Testament

New Testament

Exodus 12:22-34 Catholic Public Domain Version (CPDV)

22. And dip a little bundle of hyssop in the blood which is at the entrance, and sprinkle the upper threshold with it, and both of the door posts. Let none of you go out of the door of his house until morning.

23. For the Lord will cross through, striking the Egyptians. And when he will see the blood on the upper threshold, and on both the door posts, he will pass over the door of the house and not permit the Striker to enter into your houses or to do harm.

24. You shall keep this word as a law for you and for your sons, forever.

25. And when you have entered into the land that the Lord will give to you, just as he has promised, you shall observe these ceremonies.

26. And when your sons will say to you, 'What is the meaning of this religious observance?'

27. You shall say to them: 'It is the victim of the crossing of the Lord, when he passed over the houses of the sons of Israel in Egypt, striking the Egyptians, and freeing our houses.' " And the people, bowing down, worshipped.

28. And the sons of Israel, departing, did just as the Lord had instructed Moses and Aaron.

29. Then it happened, in the middle of the night: the Lord struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the captive woman who was in prison, and all the firstborn of the cattle.

30. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, and all his servants, and all of Egypt. And there arose a great outcry in Egypt. For there was not a house in which no one lay dead.

31. And Pharaoh, calling Moses and Aaron in the night, said: "Rise up and go forth from among my people, you and the sons of Israel. Go, sacrifice to the Lord, just as you say.

32. Your sheep and herds take along with you, as you requested, and as you go away, bless me."

33. And the Egyptians urged the people to go away from the land quickly, saying, "We will all die."

34. Therefore, the people took bread dough before it was leavened. And tying it in their cloaks, they placed it on their shoulders.

Read complete chapter Exodus 12