1上主訓示梅瑟說： 1And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
2「以色列子民中，無論是人是牲畜，凡是開胎首生的，都應祝聖於我，屬於我。」 2Sanctify unto me every firstborn that openeth the womb among the children of Israel, as well of men as of beasts: for they are all mine.
3梅瑟向百姓說：「你們應當記念從埃及，從為奴之家出來的這一天，因為上主在這一天用強有力的手臂，從那裡領出了你們，故此不可吃有酵的食物。 3And Moses said to the people: Remember this day in which you came forth out of Egypt, and out of the house of bondage, for with a strong hand hath the Lord brought you forth out of this place: that you eat no leavened bread.
4今天你們出來正在「阿彼布」月。 4This day you go forth in the month of new corn.
5幾時上主領你們進了客納罕人、赫特人、阿摩黎人、希威人和耶步斯人的地方，就是他向你的祖先起誓應許給你那流奶流蜜之地，你應在這一月舉行此禮： 5And when the Lord shall have brought thee into the land of the Chanaanite, and the Hethite, and the Amorrhite, and the Hevite, and the Jebusite, which he swore to thy fathers that he would give thee, a land that floweth with milk and honey, thou shalt celebrate this manner of sacred rites in this month.
6七天之內應吃無酵餅，第七天是敬禮上主的節日。 6Seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh day shall be the solemnity of the Lord.
7七天之內吃無酵餅，在你面前不可有發酵之物，在你四境之內也不可見有酵母。 7Unleavened bread shall you eat seven days: there shall not be seen any thing leavened with thee, nor in all thy coasts.
8在那一天要告訴你們的兒子說：是因為上主在我出埃及時，為我所行的事。 8And thou shalt tell thy son in that day, saying: This is what the Lord did to me when I came forth out of Egypt.
9應把這事做你手上的記號，做你額上的記念，好使上主的法律常在你口中，因為上主用強有力的手臂，領你出了埃及。 9And it shall be as a sign in thy hand, and as a memorial before thy eyes: and that the law of the Lord be always in thy mouth, for with a strong hand the Lord hath brought thee out of the land of Egypt.
10所以你應年年按照定期遵守這規定。 10Thou shalt keep this observance at the set time from days to days.
11當上主照他起誓向你和你祖先所許的話，領你到了客納罕人的地方，將那地給了你之後， 11And when the Lord shall have brought thee into the land of the Chanaanite, as he swore to thee and thy fathers, and shall give it thee:
12你應將一切開胎首生者歸於上主；你牲畜中，凡開胎首生的牲畜，亦應歸於上主。 12Thou shalt set apart all that openeth the womb for the Lord, and all that is first brought forth of thy cattle: whatsoever thou shalt have of the male sex, thou shalt consecrate to the Lord.
13凡首生的驢，應用羊贖回；你若不贖回，應打斷牠的頸項。你的子孫中，凡是長子，你應贖回。 13The firstborn of an ass thou shalt change for a sheep: and if thou do not redeem it, thou shalt kill it. And every firstborn of men thou shalt redeem with a price.
14將來若你的兒子問你：這是什麼意思？你要回答他說：這是因為上主用強有力的手臂領我們出離了埃及，出離了為奴之家。 14And when thy son shall ask thee tomorrow, saying: What is this? thou shalt answer him: With a strong hand did the Lord bring us forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
15原來法郎頑固，不釋放我們，上主就把埃及國一切首生者，不拘是人或牲畜的首生者都殺了，為此我把一切首開母胎的雄性都祭獻於上主；但首生的男孩，我卻要贖回。 15For when Pharao was hardened, and would not let us go, the Lord slew every firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of man to the firstborn of beasts: therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all that openeth the womb of the male sex, and all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.
16應將這事作你手上的記號，作你額上的標誌，記念上主用強有力的手臂領我們出了埃及。」 16And it shall be as a sign in thy hand, and as a thing hung between thy eyes, for a remembrance: because the Lord hath brought us forth out of Egypt by a strong hand.
17法郎放走百姓以後，天主沒有領他們走培肋舍特地的近路，因為天主想：「怕百姓遇見戰爭而後悔，再回到埃及。」 17And when Pharao had sent out the people, the Lord led them not by the way of the land of the Philistines which is near: thinking lest perhaps they would repent, if they should see wars arise against them, and would return into Egypt.
18因此天主領百姓繞道，走向靠紅海的曠野。以色列子民都武裝著離開了埃及。 18But he led them about by the way of the desert, which is by the Red Sea: and the children of Israel went up armed out of the land of Egypt.
19梅瑟也帶了若瑟的骨骸，因為若瑟曾叫以色列的兒子們起誓說：「天主必要眷顧你們，那時你們應把我的骨骸從此地帶回去。」 19And Moses took Joseph's bones with him: because he had adjured the children of Israel, saying: God shall visit you, carry out my bones from hence with you.
20他們從穌苛特起程前行，就在位於曠野邊緣的厄堂安了營。 20And marching from Socoth they encamped in Etham in the utmost coasts of the wilderness.
21上主在他們前面行，白天在雲柱裡給他們領路，夜間在火柱裡光照他們，為叫他們白天黑夜都能走路： 21And the Lord went before them to shew the way by day in a pillar of a cloud, and by night in a pillar of fire: that he might be the guide of their journey at both times.
22白天的雲柱，黑夜的火柱，總不離開百姓面前。 22There never failed the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, before the people.
13:1-10
天主藉梅瑟给以色列人所定的法规，是以叁个重要的史事为根据：一、第一个逾越节；二、天主显奇迹率领以色列子民出离埃及；叁、天主同以色列子民在西乃山缔结盟约。日後历代所增订的新法，也都以此叁史事为依据。
13:11-16
关於头胎牲畜的法律，参阅申15:19-20；户18:15-17；肋27:26-27；关於长子的法律，参阅出34:19-20；户3:45-46；创22。
13:17-19
以色列人出埃及，起初是沿大路前进，以後天主领他们离开大路走向旷野；法郎以为他们迷了路，乘机追赶，这正中了天主的计划，埃及军队全部被天主消灭，关於若瑟的遗骸，参阅创50:24。
13:20-22
关於以色列人的行程，参阅以色列人旷野行程图。火柱和云柱是保护以色列人的天主常亲临的证据。