Exodus 13:3–16

³Then Moses said to the people, “Remember this day. It’s the day you came out of Egypt. That’s the land where you were slaves. The Lord used his mighty hand to bring you out of Egypt. Don’t eat anything that has yeast in it. ⁴You are leaving today. It’s the month of Abib.

⁵“The Lord will bring you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites and Jebusites. He took an oath and promised your people of long ago that he would give that land to you. It’s a land that has plenty of milk and honey. When you get there, keep this holy day in this month.

⁶“For seven days eat bread that is made without yeast. On the seventh day hold a feast in the Lord’s honor. ⁷Eat bread that is made without yeast during those seven days. Nothing that has yeast in it should be found among you. No yeast should be seen anywhere inside your borders.

⁸“On that day talk to your son. Tell him, ‘I’m doing this because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.’

⁹“When you celebrate this day, it will be like a mark on your hand. It will be like a reminder on your forehead. The law of the Lord must be on your lips. The Lord used his mighty hand to bring you out of Egypt. ¹⁰Obey this law at the appointed time year after year.

¹¹“The Lord will bring you into the land of Canaan. He will give it to you, just as he promised he would. He even took an oath when he made the promise to you and your people of long ago.

¹²“After you arrive there, give to the Lord the oldest son of every mother. Every male animal that is born first to its mother among your livestock belongs to the Lord. ¹³By sacrificing a lamb, buy back every male donkey that is born first to its mother. But if you don’t buy the donkey back, break its neck. Buy back every oldest son.

¹⁴“In days to come, your son will ask you, ‘What does this mean?’

“When he does, say to him, ‘The Lord used his mighty hand to bring us out of Egypt. That’s the land where we were slaves. ¹⁵Pharaoh was stubborn. He refused to let us go. So the Lord killed every oldest son in Egypt. He also killed every male animal that was born first to its mother. That’s why I sacrifice to the Lord every male animal that was born first. And that’s why I buy back each oldest son for him.’

¹⁶“This day will be like a mark on your hand. It will be like a sign on your forehead. It will remind you that the Lord used his mighty hand to bring us out of Egypt.”