Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

The Lord the Keeper of Israel.

A Song of Ascents.

²⁹ Now it came about at ^(A)midnight that ^(B)the Lord struck all ^(C)the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of ^(D)cattle. ³⁰ Pharaoh arose in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians, and there was ^(E)a great cry in Egypt, for there was no home where there was not someone dead. ³¹ Then ^(F)he called for Moses and Aaron at night and said, “Rise up, ^(G)get out from among my people, both you and the sons of Israel; and go, ^[a]worship the Lord, as you have said. ³² Take ^(H)both your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and go, and bless me also.”

Exodus of Israel

^33 (I)The Egyptians urged the people, to send them out of the land in haste, for they said, “We will all be dead.” ³⁴ So the people took ^(J)their dough before it was leavened, with their kneading bowls bound up in the clothes on their shoulders.

^35 (K)Now the sons of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, for they had requested from the Egyptians articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; ³⁶ and the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have their request. Thus they ^(L)plundered the Egyptians.

³⁷ Now the ^(M)sons of Israel journeyed from ^(N)Rameses to Succoth, about ^(O)six hundred thousand men on foot, aside from children. ³⁸ A ^(P)mixed multitude also went up with them, ^[b]along with flocks and herds, a ^(Q)very large number of livestock. ³⁹ They baked the dough which they had brought out of Egypt into cakes of unleavened bread. For it had not become leavened, since they were ^(R)driven out of Egypt and could not delay, nor had they ^[c]prepared any provisions for themselves.

⁴⁰ Now the time ^[d]that the sons of Israel lived in Egypt was ^(S)four hundred and thirty years. ⁴¹ And at the end of four hundred and thirty years, ^[e]to ^(T)the very day, ^(U)all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.

Ordinance of the Passover

^42 (V)It is a night ^[f]to be observed for the Lord for having brought them out from the land of Egypt; this night is for the Lord, ^[g]to be observed ^[h]by all the sons of Israel throughout their generations.

Be Subject to Government

13 Every ^[a](A)person is to be in ^(B)subjection to the governing authorities. For ^(C)there is no authority except ^[b]from God, and those which exist are established by God. ² Therefore ^[c]whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. ³ For ^(D)rulers are not a cause of fear for ^[d]good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; ⁴ for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an ^(E)avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. ⁵ Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also ^(F)for conscience’ sake. ⁶ For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. ^7 (G)Render to all what is due them: ^(H)tax to whom tax is due; ^(I)custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.