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Exodus 12, 1-8.11-14
Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt,
'This month must be the first of all the months for you, the first month of your year.
Speak to the whole community of Israel and say, "On the tenth day of this month each man must take an animal from the flock for his family: one animal for each household.
If the household is too small for the animal, he must join with his neighbour nearest to his house, depending on the number of persons. When you choose the animal, you will take into account what each can eat.
It must be an animal without blemish, a male one year old; you may choose it either from the sheep or from the goats.
You must keep it till the fourteenth day of the month when the whole assembly of the community of Israel will slaughter it at twilight.
Some of the blood must then be taken and put on both door-posts and the lintel of the houses where it is eaten.
That night, the flesh must be eaten, roasted over the fire; it must be eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.
This is how you must eat it: with a belt round your waist, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. You must eat it hurriedly: it is a Passover in Yahweh's honour.
That night, I shall go through Egypt and strike down all the first-born in Egypt, man and beast alike, and shall execute justice on all the gods of Egypt, I, Yahweh!
The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are. When I see the blood I shall pass over you, and you will escape the destructive plague when I strike Egypt.
This day must be commemorated by you, and you must keep it as a feast in Yahweh's honour. You must keep it as a feast-day for all generations; this is a decree for all time.
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