The Passover

The Lord spoke to Moses in the Desert of Sinai in the first month(A) of the second year after they came out of Egypt.(B) He said, “Have the Israelites celebrate the Passover(C) at the appointed time.(D) Celebrate it at the appointed time, at twilight on the fourteenth day of this month,(E) in accordance with all its rules and regulations.(F)

So Moses told the Israelites to celebrate the Passover,(G) and they did so in the Desert of Sinai(H) at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month.(I) The Israelites did everything just as the Lord commanded Moses.(J)

But some of them could not celebrate the Passover on that day because they were ceremonially unclean(K) on account of a dead body.(L) So they came to Moses and Aaron(M) that same day and said to Moses, “We have become unclean because of a dead body, but why should we be kept from presenting the Lord’s offering with the other Israelites at the appointed time?(N)

Moses answered them, “Wait until I find out what the Lord commands concerning you.”(O)

Then the Lord said to Moses, 10 “Tell the Israelites: ‘When any of you or your descendants are unclean because of a dead body(P) or are away on a journey, they are still to celebrate(Q) the Lord’s Passover, 11 but they are to do it on the fourteenth day of the second month(R) at twilight. They are to eat the lamb, together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.(S) 12 They must not leave any of it till morning(T) or break any of its bones.(U) When they celebrate the Passover, they must follow all the regulations.(V) 13 But if anyone who is ceremonially clean and not on a journey fails to celebrate the Passover, they must be cut off from their people(W) for not presenting the Lord’s offering at the appointed time. They will bear the consequences of their sin.

14 “‘A foreigner(X) residing among you is also to celebrate the Lord’s Passover in accordance with its rules and regulations. You must have the same regulations for both the foreigner and the native-born.’”

The Cloud Above the Tabernacle

15 On the day the tabernacle, the tent of the covenant law,(Y) was set up,(Z) the cloud(AA) covered it. From evening till morning the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire.(AB) 16 That is how it continued to be; the cloud covered it, and at night it looked like fire.(AC) 17 Whenever the cloud lifted from above the tent, the Israelites set out;(AD) wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped.(AE) 18 At the Lord’s command the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they remained(AF) in camp. 19 When the cloud remained over the tabernacle a long time, the Israelites obeyed the Lord’s order(AG) and did not set out.(AH) 20 Sometimes the cloud was over the tabernacle only a few days; at the Lord’s command they would encamp, and then at his command they would set out. 21 Sometimes the cloud stayed only from evening till morning, and when it lifted in the morning, they set out. Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud lifted, they set out. 22 Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out. 23 At the Lord’s command they encamped, and at the Lord’s command they set out. They obeyed the Lord’s order, in accordance with his command through Moses.

[a]How beautiful your sandaled feet,
    O prince’s(A) daughter!
Your graceful legs are like jewels,
    the work of an artist’s hands.
Your navel is a rounded goblet
    that never lacks blended wine.
Your waist is a mound of wheat
    encircled by lilies.
Your breasts(B) are like two fawns,
    like twin fawns of a gazelle.
Your neck is like an ivory tower.(C)
Your eyes are the pools of Heshbon(D)
    by the gate of Bath Rabbim.
Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon(E)
    looking toward Damascus.
Your head crowns you like Mount Carmel.(F)
    Your hair is like royal tapestry;
    the king is held captive by its tresses.
How beautiful(G) you are and how pleasing,
    my love, with your delights!(H)
Your stature is like that of the palm,
    and your breasts(I) like clusters of fruit.
I said, “I will climb the palm tree;
    I will take hold of its fruit.”
May your breasts be like clusters of grapes on the vine,
    the fragrance of your breath like apples,(J)
    and your mouth like the best wine.

She

May the wine go straight to my beloved,(K)
    flowing gently over lips and teeth.[b]
10 I belong to my beloved,
    and his desire(L) is for me.(M)
11 Come, my beloved, let us go to the countryside,
    let us spend the night in the villages.[c]
12 Let us go early to the vineyards(N)
    to see if the vines have budded,(O)
if their blossoms(P) have opened,
    and if the pomegranates(Q) are in bloom(R)
    there I will give you my love.
13 The mandrakes(S) send out their fragrance,
    and at our door is every delicacy,
both new and old,
    that I have stored up for you, my beloved.(T)

Footnotes

  1. Song of Songs 7:1 In Hebrew texts 7:1-13 is numbered 7:2-14.
  2. Song of Songs 7:9 Septuagint, Aquila, Vulgate and Syriac; Hebrew lips of sleepers
  3. Song of Songs 7:11 Or the henna bushes

י Yodh

73 Your hands made me(A) and formed me;
    give me understanding to learn your commands.
74 May those who fear you rejoice(B) when they see me,
    for I have put my hope in your word.(C)
75 I know, Lord, that your laws are righteous,(D)
    and that in faithfulness(E) you have afflicted me.
76 May your unfailing love(F) be my comfort,
    according to your promise(G) to your servant.
77 Let your compassion(H) come to me that I may live,
    for your law is my delight.(I)
78 May the arrogant(J) be put to shame for wronging me without cause;(K)
    but I will meditate on your precepts.
79 May those who fear you turn to me,
    those who understand your statutes.(L)
80 May I wholeheartedly follow(M) your decrees,(N)
    that I may not be put to shame.(O)

כ Kaph

81 My soul faints(P) with longing for your salvation,(Q)
    but I have put my hope(R) in your word.
82 My eyes fail,(S) looking for your promise;(T)
    I say, “When will you comfort me?”
83 Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke,
    I do not forget(U) your decrees.
84 How long(V) must your servant wait?
    When will you punish my persecutors?(W)
85 The arrogant(X) dig pits(Y) to trap me,
    contrary to your law.
86 All your commands are trustworthy;(Z)
    help me,(AA) for I am being persecuted(AB) without cause.(AC)
87 They almost wiped me from the earth,
    but I have not forsaken(AD) your precepts.
88 In your unfailing love(AE) preserve my life,(AF)
    that I may obey the statutes(AG) of your mouth.

ל Lamedh

89 Your word, Lord, is eternal;(AH)
    it stands firm in the heavens.
90 Your faithfulness(AI) continues through all generations;(AJ)
    you established the earth, and it endures.(AK)
91 Your laws endure(AL) to this day,
    for all things serve you.(AM)
92 If your law had not been my delight,(AN)
    I would have perished in my affliction.(AO)
93 I will never forget(AP) your precepts,
    for by them you have preserved my life.(AQ)
94 Save me,(AR) for I am yours;
    I have sought out your precepts.(AS)
95 The wicked are waiting to destroy me,(AT)
    but I will ponder your statutes.(AU)
96 To all perfection I see a limit,
    but your commands are boundless.(AV)

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