23. The Lord will go through Egypt to kill the Egyptians. He will see the blood on the sides and tops of the doorframes. Then the Lord will pass over that house. He will not let the one who brings death come into your houses and kill you.
24. “You must keep this command. This law is for you and your descendants from now on.
25. Do this when you go to the land the Lord has promised to give to you.
26. When your children ask you, ‘Why are we doing these things?’
27. you will say, ‘This is the Passover sacrifice to honor the Lord. When we were in Egypt, the Lord passed over the houses of Israel. The Lord killed the Egyptians, but he saved our homes.’” So now the people bowed down and worshiped the Lord.
28. They did just as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron.
29. At midnight the Lord killed all the firstborn sons in the land of Egypt. The firstborn of the king, who sat on the throne, died. Even the firstborn of the prisoner in jail died. Also all the firstborn farm animals died.
30. The king, his officers and all the Egyptians got up during the night. Someone had died in every house. So there was loud crying everywhere in Egypt.
31. During the night the king called for Moses and Aaron. He said to them, “Get up and leave my people. You and your people may do as you have asked. Go and worship the Lord.
32. Take all of your sheep and cattle as you have asked. Go. And also bless me.”
33. The Egyptians also asked the Israelites to hurry and leave. They said, “If you don’t leave, we will all die!”