The Israelites Oppressed

1 These are the names of the sons of Israel^(A) who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with his family: ² Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah; ³ Issachar, Zebulun and Benjamin; ⁴ Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher.^{(B) 5} The descendants of Jacob numbered seventy^[a] in all;^(C) Joseph was already in Egypt.

⁶ Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died,^{(D) 7} but the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers^(E) and became so numerous that the land was filled with them.

⁸ Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt.^{(F) 9} “Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become far too numerous^(G) for us.^{(H) 10} Come, we must deal shrewdly^(I) with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.”^(J)

¹¹ So they put slave masters^(K) over them to oppress them with forced labor,^(L) and they built Pithom and Rameses^(M) as store cities^(N) for Pharaoh. ¹² But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites ¹³ and worked them ruthlessly.^{(O) 14} They made their lives bitter with harsh labor^(P) in brick^(Q) and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their harsh labor the Egyptians worked them ruthlessly.^(R)

Protection of Property

22 ^[a]“Whoever steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it must pay back^(A) five head of cattle for the ox and four sheep for the sheep.

² “If a thief is caught breaking in^(B) at night and is struck a fatal blow, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed;^{(C) 3} but if it happens after sunrise, the defender is guilty of bloodshed.

“Anyone who steals must certainly make restitution,^(D) but if they have nothing, they must be sold^(E) to pay for their theft. ⁴ If the stolen animal is found alive in their possession^(F)—whether ox or donkey or sheep—they must pay back double.^(G)

⁵ “If anyone grazes their livestock in a field or vineyard and lets them stray and they graze in someone else’s field, the offender must make restitution^(H) from the best of their own field or vineyard.

⁶ “If a fire breaks out and spreads into thornbushes so that it burns shocks^(I) of grain or standing grain or the whole field, the one who started the fire must make restitution.^(J)

⁷ “If anyone gives a neighbor silver or goods for safekeeping^(K) and they are stolen from the neighbor’s house, the thief, if caught, must pay back double.^{(L) 8} But if the thief is not found, the owner of the house must appear before the judges,^(M) and they must^[b] determine whether the owner of the house has laid hands on the other person’s property. ⁹ In all cases of illegal possession of an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or any other lost property about which somebody says, ‘This is mine,’ both parties are to bring their cases before the judges.^[c](N) The one whom the judges declare^[d] guilty must pay back double to the other.

¹⁰ “If anyone gives a donkey, an ox, a sheep or any other animal to their neighbor for safekeeping^(O) and it dies or is injured or is taken away while no one is looking, ¹¹ the issue between them will be settled by the taking of an oath^(P) before the Lord that the neighbor did not lay hands on the other person’s property. The owner is to accept this, and no restitution is required. ¹² But if the animal was stolen from the neighbor, restitution^(Q) must be made to the owner. ¹³ If it was torn to pieces by a wild animal, the neighbor shall bring in the remains as evidence and shall not be required to pay for the torn animal.^(R)

¹⁴ “If anyone borrows an animal from their neighbor and it is injured or dies while the owner is not present, they must make restitution.^{(S) 15} But if the owner is with the animal, the borrower will not have to pay. If the animal was hired, the money paid for the hire covers the loss.^(T)

Social Responsibility

¹⁶ “If a man seduces a virgin^(U) who is not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride-price,^(V) and she shall be his wife. ¹⁷ If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must still pay the bride-price for virgins.

¹⁸ “Do not allow a sorceress^(W) to live.

¹⁹ “Anyone who has sexual relations with an animal^(X) is to be put to death.

²⁰ “Whoever sacrifices to any god^(Y) other than the Lord must be destroyed.^[e](Z)

²¹ “Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner,^(AA) for you were foreigners^(AB) in Egypt.

²² “Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless.^{(AC) 23} If you do and they cry out^(AD) to me, I will certainly hear their cry.^{(AE) 24} My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children fatherless.^(AF)

²⁵ “If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest.^{(AG) 26} If you take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge,^(AH) return it by sunset, ²⁷ because that cloak is the only covering your neighbor has. What else can they sleep in?^(AI) When they cry out to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.^(AJ)

²⁸ “Do not blaspheme God^[f](AK) or curse^(AL) the ruler of your people.^(AM)

²⁹ “Do not hold back offerings^(AN) from your granaries or your vats.^[g]

“You must give me the firstborn of your sons.^{(AO) 30} Do the same with your cattle and your sheep.^(AP) Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but give them to me on the eighth day.^(AQ)

³¹ “You are to be my holy people.^(AR) So do not eat the meat of an animal torn by wild beasts;^(AS) throw it to the dogs.

Moses Flees to Midian

¹¹ One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people^(A) were and watched them at their hard labor.^(B) He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. ¹² Looking this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. ¹³ The next day he went out and saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one in the wrong, “Why are you hitting your fellow Hebrew?”^(C)

¹⁴ The man said, “Who made you ruler and judge over us?^(D) Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and thought, “What I did must have become known.”

¹⁵ When Pharaoh heard of this, he tried to kill^(E) Moses, but Moses fled^(F) from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian,^(G) where he sat down by a well. ¹⁶ Now a priest of Midian^(H) had seven daughters, and they came to draw water^(I) and fill the troughs^(J) to water their father’s flock. ¹⁷ Some shepherds came along and drove them away, but Moses got up and came to their rescue^(K) and watered their flock.^(L)

¹⁸ When the girls returned to Reuel^(M) their father, he asked them, “Why have you returned so early today?”

¹⁹ They answered, “An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds. He even drew water for us and watered the flock.”

²⁰ “And where is he?” Reuel asked his daughters. “Why did you leave him? Invite him to have something to eat.”^(N)

²¹ Moses agreed to stay with the man, who gave his daughter Zipporah^(O) to Moses in marriage. ²² Zipporah gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom,^[a](P) saying, “I have become a foreigner^(Q) in a foreign land.”

²¹ Once you were alienated from God and were enemies^(A) in your minds^(B) because of^[a] your evil behavior. ²² But now he has reconciled^(C) you by Christ’s physical body^(D) through death to present you^(E) holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation^(F)— ²³ if you continue^(G) in your faith, established^(H) and firm, and do not move from the hope^(I) held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven,^(J) and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.^(K)

Paul’s Labor for the Church

²⁴ Now I rejoice^(L) in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions,^(M) for the sake of his body, which is the church.^{(N) 25} I have become its servant^(O) by the commission God gave me^(P) to present to you the word of God^(Q) in its fullness— ²⁶ the mystery^(R) that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. ²⁷ To them God has chosen to make known^(S) among the Gentiles the glorious riches^(T) of this mystery, which is Christ in you,^(U) the hope of glory.

²⁸ He is the one we proclaim, admonishing^(V) and teaching everyone with all wisdom,^(W) so that we may present everyone fully mature^(X) in Christ. ²⁹ To this end I strenuously^(Y) contend^(Z) with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.^(AA)

2 I want you to know how hard I am contending^(AB) for you and for those at Laodicea,^(AC) and for all who have not met me personally. ² My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart^(AD) and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery^(AE) of God, namely, Christ, ³ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.^{(AF) 4} I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.^{(AG) 5} For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit^(AH) and delight to see how disciplined^(AI) you are and how firm^(AJ) your faith in Christ^(AK) is.

Spiritual Fullness in Christ

⁶ So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,^(AL) continue to live your lives in him, ⁷ rooted^(AM) and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught,^(AN) and overflowing with thankfulness.