« | Exodus 13 | » |
1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
2 Sanctify to Me every firstborn, first produced, opening every womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast: it is Mine.
3 And Moses said to the people, Remember this day in which you came forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, for with a strong hand the Lord brought you out from this [place.] No leavened bread shall be eaten.
4 For on this day you are going out, in the month of new [grain].
5 And it shall come to pass when the Lord your God shall have brought you into the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Hivites and the Jebusites and the Girgashites and the Perizzites, which He swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall perform this service in this month.
6 Six days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day is a feast to the Lord.
7 Seven days shall you eat unleavened bread; nothing leavened shall be seen with you, neither shall you have leaven in all your borders.
8 And you shall tell your son in that day, saying, Therefore the Lord has dealt thus with me, as I was going out of Egypt.
9 And it shall be unto you a sign upon your hand and a memorial before your eyes, that the law of the Lord may be in your mouth, for with a strong hand the Lord God has brought you out of Egypt.
10 And preserve this law according to the times of the seasons, from year to year.
11 And it shall come to pass when the Lord your God shall bring you into the land of the Canaanites, as He swore to your fathers, and shall give it you,
12 that you shall set apart every [offspring] opening the womb, the males to the Lord, everyone that opens the womb out of the herds or among your cattle, as many as you shall have: you shall sanctify the males to the Lord.
13 Every [offspring] opening the womb of the donkey you shall change for a sheep; and if you will not change it, you shall redeem it. Every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem.
14 And if later on your son should ask you, saying, What is this? Then you shall say to him, With a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
15 And when Pharaoh hardened [his heart so as not] to send us away, He slew every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of beast; therefore I sacrifice every [offspring] that opens the womb, the males to the Lord, and every firstborn of my sons I will redeem.
16 And it shall be for a sign upon your hand, and immovable before your eyes, for with a strong hand the Lord has brought you out of Egypt.
17 And when Pharaoh sent forth the people, God led them not by the way of the land of the Philistines, because it was near; for God said, Lest at any time the people repent when they see war, and return to Egypt.
18 And God led the people round by the way to the wilderness, to the Red Sea. And in the fifth generation the children of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt.
19 And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had solemnly adjured the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here with you.
20 And the children of Israel departed from Succoth, and encamped in Etham by the wilderness.
21 And God led them in the day by a pillar of cloud, to show them the way, and in the night by a pillar of fire.
22 And the pillar of cloud failed not by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, before all the people.
The Apostles’ Bible Complete (ABC)
The Apostles’ Bible Complete (ABC) is a modern translation of the Bible that strives to offer a clear and faithful rendering of the scriptures in contemporary language. This translation is designed to be accessible to a wide audience, providing an easy-to-read yet accurate version of the biblical text. The ABC translation aims to bridge the gap between the ancient languages in which the Bible was originally written and the modern vernacular, making it an ideal choice for both personal study and public reading.
One of the notable features of the Apostles’ Bible Complete is its dedication to maintaining the integrity of the original manuscripts. The translators of the ABC worked meticulously with the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts to ensure that their translation accurately reflects the original meaning and intent of the scriptures. By employing a balance of formal equivalence (word-for-word) and dynamic equivalence (thought-for-thought) translation techniques, the ABC aims to preserve the nuances and richness of the original languages while ensuring readability and clarity for modern readers.
The ABC also incorporates extensive cross-references and study aids to enhance the reader’s understanding of the biblical text. These tools include footnotes that provide historical and cultural context, as well as explanations of difficult or ambiguous passages. This approach helps readers to grasp the deeper meanings of the scriptures and to see how different parts of the Bible interconnect. The inclusion of these study aids makes the ABC particularly useful for those who are new to the Bible, as well as for more experienced readers who are looking to deepen their understanding of the text.
Despite its strengths, the Apostles’ Bible Complete has faced some criticisms. Some readers feel that the translation could benefit from further refinement in certain passages, as the balance between formal and dynamic equivalence can sometimes lead to inconsistencies in style and tone. Others have noted that while the study aids are helpful, they can occasionally overwhelm the main text, making it difficult to focus on the scripture itself. Nonetheless, the ABC remains a valuable and respected translation, appreciated for its commitment to accuracy, clarity, and accessibility, and for its ability to bring the ancient words of the Bible to life for contemporary readers.