Exodus 12:25-33

25When you enter the land that the Lord will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony.

26When your children ask you what this ceremony means to you,

27you must answer, ‘It’s the Passover sacrifice in the Lord’s honor. The Lord passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he killed the Egyptians.’ ” Then the people knelt, bowing with their faces touching the ground.

28The Israelites did as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron.

29At midnight the Lord killed every firstborn male in Egypt from the firstborn son of Pharaoh who ruled the land to the firstborn son of the prisoner in jail, and also every firstborn animal.

30Pharaoh, all his officials, and all the ⌞other⌟ Egyptians got up during the night. There was loud crying throughout Egypt because in every house someone had died.

31Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron during the night. He said, “You and the Israelites must leave my people at once. Go, worship the Lord as you asked.

32Take your flocks and herds, too, as you asked. Just go! And bless me, too!”

33The Egyptians begged the people to leave the country quickly. They said, “Soon we’ll all be dead!”