Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

God the Help of Those Who Seek Him

A Song of Ascents.

The Tenth Plague: Death of the Firstborn^(A)

^29 (B)And it came to pass at midnight that ^(C)the Lord struck all 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 ^[a]in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of ^(D)livestock. ³⁰ So Pharaoh rose in the night, he, all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not one dead.

The Exodus

³¹ Then he ^(E)called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, “Rise, go out from among my people, ^(F)both you and the children of Israel. And go, serve the Lord as you have ^(G)said. ^32 (H)Also take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone; and bless me also.”

^33 (I)And the Egyptians ^(J)urged the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste. For they said, “We shall all be dead.” ³⁴ So the people took their dough before it was leavened, having their kneading bowls bound up in their clothes on their shoulders. ³⁵ Now the children of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, and they had asked from the Egyptians ^(K)articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing. ^36 (L)And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. Thus ^(M)they plundered the Egyptians.

³⁷ Then ^(N)the children of Israel journeyed from ^(O)Rameses to Succoth, about ^(P)six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children. ³⁸ A ^(Q)mixed multitude went up with them also, and flocks and herds—a great deal of ^(R)livestock. ³⁹ And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they had brought out of Egypt; for it was not leavened, because ^(S)they were driven out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared provisions for themselves.

⁴⁰ Now the ^[b]sojourn of the children of Israel who lived in ^[c]Egypt was ^(T)four hundred and thirty years. ⁴¹ And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years—on that very same day—it came to pass that ^(U)all the armies of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. ⁴² It is ^(V)a ^[d]night of solemn observance to the Lord for bringing them out of the land of Egypt. This is that night of the Lord, a solemn observance for all the children of Israel throughout their generations.

Submit to Government

13 Let every soul be ^(A)subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. ² Therefore whoever resists ^(B)the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will ^[a]bring judgment on themselves. ³ For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? ^(C)Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. ⁴ For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. ⁵ Therefore ^(D)you must be subject, not only because of wrath ^(E)but also for conscience’ sake. ⁶ For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. ^7 (F)Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.