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The 1st Chapter
These are the
names of the children of Israel, which came to Egypt with Jacob,
every man with his household: Ruben, Simeon, Levi, Juda, Isachar,
Zabulon, Ben Jamin, Dan, Nephtali, Gad and Aser. All the souls that
came out of the loins of Jacob, were seventy and Joseph was in Egypt
already. When Joseph 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 Joseph.
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 themselves 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
burdens. 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 labor 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 ones 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 before 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. |
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The 2nd Chapter
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 rivers
brink. And his sister stood afar off, to know 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 rivers 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 Hebrews children. Then said his sister unto
Pharaos daughter: shall I go and call unto thee a nurse of the
Hebrews women, to nurse the child? And the maid ran and called the
childs mother. Then Pharaos daughter said unto her. Take this child
away and nurse it for me, and I will reward thee for thy labor. And
the woman took the child and nursed it up.
And when the child was grown, she brought it unto Pharaos
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 burdens, 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 neighbor? 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 wells side.
The priest of Madian had seven daughters which came and drew
water and filled the troughs, for to water their fathers 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 labor, and
cried. And their complaint came up unto God from the labor. And God
remembered his promise with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And God looked
upon the children of Israel, and knew them.
*flags (iris and
cattails)
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The 3rd Chapter
Moses kept the
sheep of Jethro 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 there 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 standest 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
Jacob. 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 Jebusites. 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 Jacob hath sent
me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial
throughout 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 Jacob, 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 Jebusites: 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.
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The 4th Chapter
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 Jacob 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. 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 mans 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. But he
said: Oh my Lord, 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 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 Jethro 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 Jethro 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 saith the Lord: Israel is
mine eldest son, and therefore saith 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
themselves, and worshiped.
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The 5th Chapter
Then Moses and
Aaron went and told Pharao, thus saith 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 labor. And Pharao said furthermore: behold there
is much people in the land, and ye make them play and let their work
stand.
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 themselves, 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 labor therein, and
then will they not turn themselves 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 yourselves and gather you straw where ye can find
it, yet shall none of your labor be minished. Then the people
scattered abroad throughout 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 Pharaos 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 whole tale of brick.
When the officers of the children of Israel saw themselves in
shrewd case (in that he said ye shall minish nothing of your daily
making of brick) then they met Moses and Aaron standing 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 and said: Lord 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, 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.
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The 6th Chapter
And God spake
unto Moses saying unto him: I am the Lord, and I appeared unto
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob an almighty God: but in my name Jehovah was
I not known unto them. Moreover I made an appointment with them to
give them the land of Canaan: 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 burdens 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 Jacob, 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 fathers
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, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, 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, Jesear, 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 Jochebed his niece to wife which bare him Aaron
and Moses. And Amram lived an hundred and thirty seven years. The
children of Jezear: 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 Aarons 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?
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The 7th Chapter
And the Lord said
unto Moses: behold, I have made thee Pharaos 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 Pharaos 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 saith: 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: and they did in
like manner with their sorcery. And they cast down every man his
rod, and they turned to serpents: but Aarons rod ate up their rods:
and yet for all that Pharaos heart was hardened, so that he
hearkened not unto them, even as the Lord had said. Then said the
Lord unto Moses: Pharaos 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 stand thou upon the rivers 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 saith 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
lifted 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
throughout all the land of Egypt.
And the enchanters of Egypt did likewise with their
enchantments, so that Pharaos 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
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