Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the  Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground,

When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the  Lord God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground,

The  Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.

The  Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.

So the  Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken.

therefore the  Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken.

Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.

Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil.

And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground.

When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.’

When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.”

For twelve years they had been subject to Kedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

Then the  Lord said to him, ‘Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and ill-treated there.

Then the  Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years.

But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterwards they will come out with great possessions.

But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions.

The  Lord said to her,

‘Two nations are in your womb,
and two peoples from within you will be separated;
one people will be stronger than the other,
and the elder will serve the younger.’

And the  Lord said to her,

“Two nations are in your womb,
and two peoples from within you shall be divided;
the one shall be stronger than the other,
the older shall serve the younger.”

May nations serve you
and peoples bow down to you.
Be lord over your brothers,
and may the sons of your mother bow down to you.
May those who curse you be cursed
and those who bless you be blessed.’

Let peoples serve you,
and nations bow down to you.
Be lord over your brothers,
and may your mother’s sons bow down to you.
Cursed be everyone who curses you,
and blessed be everyone who blesses you!”

You will live by the sword
and you will serve your brother.
But when you grow restless,
you will throw his yoke
from off your neck.’

By your sword you shall live,
and you shall serve your brother;
but when you grow restless
you shall break his yoke from your neck.”

Laban said to him, ‘Just because you are a relative of mine, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.’

Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?”

Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, ‘I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.’

Jacob loved Rachel. And he said “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”

So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.

So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.

When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, ‘What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?’

And in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?”

Finish this daughter’s bridal week; then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work.’

Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.”

Jacob made love to Rachel also, and his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years.

So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban for another seven years.

Give me my wives and children, for whom I have served you, and I will be on my way. You know how much work I’ve done for you.’

Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, that I may go, for you know the service that I have given you.”

Jacob said to him, ‘You know how I have worked for you and how your livestock has fared under my care.

Jacob said to him, “You yourself know how I have served you, and how your livestock has fared with me.

You know that I’ve worked for your father with all my strength,

You know that I have served your father with all my strength,

It was like this for the twenty years I was in your household. I worked for you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flocks, and you changed my wages ten times.

These twenty years I have been in your house. I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times.

When he sees how good is his resting place
and how pleasant is his land,
he will bend his shoulder to the burden
and submit to forced labour.

He saw that a resting place was good,
and that the land was pleasant,
so he bowed his shoulder to bear,
and became a servant at forced labor.

and worked them ruthlessly.

So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves

They made their lives bitter with harsh labour in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their harsh labour, the Egyptians worked them ruthlessly.

and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves.

And God said, ‘I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.’

He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”

and I told you, ‘Let my son go, so that he may worship me.’ But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son.”’

and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’”

Now get to work. You will not be given any straw, yet you must produce your full quota of bricks.’

Go now and work. No straw will be given you, but you must still deliver the same number of bricks.”

Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant.

Moreover I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant.

Then say to him, “The  Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to say to you: Let my people go, so that they may worship me in the wilderness. But until now you have not listened.

And you shall say to him, ‘The  Lord, the God of the Hebrews, sent me to you, saying, “Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness.” But so far, you have not obeyed.

Then the  Lord said to Moses, ‘Go to Pharaoh and say to him, “This is what the  Lord says: let my people go, so that they may worship me.

Then the  Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the  Lord, “Let my people go, that they may serve me.

Then the  Lord said to Moses, ‘Get up early in the morning and confront Pharaoh as he goes to the river and say to him, “This is what the  Lord says: let my people go, so that they may worship me.

Then the  Lord said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning and present yourself to Pharaoh, as he goes out to the water, and say to him, ‘Thus says the  Lord, “Let my people go, that they may serve me.

Then the  Lord said to Moses, ‘Go to Pharaoh and say to him, “This is what the  Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘Let my people go, so that they may worship me.’

Then the  Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the  Lord, the God of the Hebrews, “Let my people go, that they may serve me.

Then the  Lord said to Moses, ‘Get up early in the morning, confront Pharaoh and say to him, “This is what the  Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: let my people go, so that they may worship me,

Then the  Lord said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning and present yourself before Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the  Lord, the God of the Hebrews, “Let my people go, that they may serve me.

So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, ‘This is what the  Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: “How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, so that they may worship me.

So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh and said to him, “Thus says the  Lord, the God of the Hebrews, ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, that they may serve me.

Pharaoh’s officials said to him, ‘How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the people go, so that they may worship the  Lord their God. Do you not yet realise that Egypt is ruined?’

Then Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the  Lord their God. Do you not yet understand that Egypt is ruined?”

Then Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. ‘Go, worship the  Lord your God,’ he said. ‘But tell me who will be going.’

So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. And he said to them, “Go, serve the  Lord your God. But which ones are to go?”

No! Let only the men go and worship the  Lord, since that’s what you have been asking for.’ Then Moses and Aaron were driven out of Pharaoh’s presence.

No! Go, the men among you, and serve the  Lord, for that is what you are asking.” And they were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence.

Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and said, ‘Go, worship the  Lord. Even your women and children may go with you; only leave your flocks and herds behind.’

Then Pharaoh called Moses and said, “Go, serve the  Lord; your little ones also may go with you; only let your flocks and your herds remain behind.”

Our livestock too must go with us; not a hoof is to be left behind. We have to use some of them in worshipping the  Lord our God, and until we get there we will not know what we are to use to worship the  Lord.’

Our livestock also must go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for we must take of them to serve the  Lord our God, and we do not know with what we must serve the  Lord until we arrive there.”

During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, ‘Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the  Lord as you have requested.

Then he summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, “Up, go out from among my people, both you and the people of Israel; and go, serve the  Lord, as you have said.

When the  Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites and Jebusites – the land he swore to your ancestors to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey – you are to observe this ceremony in this month:

And when the  Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, you shall keep this service in this month.

When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, ‘What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services!’

When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the mind of Pharaoh and his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?”

Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, “Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians”? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!’

Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the  Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,

You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the  Lord your God am a jealous God visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me,

Six days you shall labour and do all your work,

Six days you shall labor, and do all your work,

‘If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free, without paying anything.

When you buy a Hebrew slave he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing.

then his master must take him before the judges. He shall take him to the door or the door-post and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life.

then his master shall bring him to God, and he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall be his slave forever.

Do not bow down before their gods or worship them or follow their practices. You must demolish them and break their sacred stones to pieces.

you shall not bow down to their gods nor serve them, nor do as they do, but you shall utterly overthrow them and break their pillars in pieces.

Worship the  Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away disease from among you,

You shall serve the  Lord your God, and he will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you.

Do not let them live in your land or they will cause you to sin against me, because the worship of their gods will certainly be a snare to you.’

They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against me; for if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you.”

‘Six days you shall labour, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the ploughing season and harvest you must rest.

“Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest. In plowing time and in harvest you shall rest.

They made the bronze basin and its bronze stand from the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

He made the basin of bronze and its stand of bronze, from the mirrors of the ministering women who ministered in the entrance of the tent of meeting.

‘“If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and sell themselves to you, do not make them work as slaves.

“If your brother becomes poor beside you and sells himself to you, you shall not make him serve as a slave:

They are to be treated as hired workers or temporary residents among you; they are to work for you until the Year of Jubilee.

he shall be with you as a hired worker and as a sojourner. He shall serve with you until the year of the jubilee.

You can bequeath them to your children as inherited property and can make them slaves for life, but you must not rule over your fellow Israelites ruthlessly.

You may bequeath them to your sons after you to inherit as a possession forever. You may make slaves of them, but over your brothers the people of Israel you shall not rule, one over another ruthlessly.

They are to perform duties for him and for the whole community at the tent of meeting by doing the work of the tabernacle.

They shall keep guard over him and over the whole congregation before the tent of meeting, as they minister at the tabernacle.

They are to take care of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, fulfilling the obligations of the Israelites by doing the work of the tabernacle.

They shall guard all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, and keep guard over the people of Israel as they minister at the tabernacle.

Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting.

From thirty years old up to fifty years old, you shall list them, all who can come to do duty, to do service in the tent of meeting.

‘This is the service of the Gershonite clans in their carrying and their other work:

This is the service of the clans of the Gershonites, in serving and bearing burdens:

the curtains of the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar, the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard, the ropes and all the equipment used in the service of the tent. The Gershonites are to do all that needs to be done with these things.

and the hangings of the court and the screen for the entrance of the gate of the court that is around the tabernacle and the altar, and their cords and all the equipment for their service. And they shall do all that needs to be done with regard to them.