Exodus 16

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Having set out from Elim, the whole Israelite community came into the desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departure from the land of Egypt.	1 And they set out from Elim. And the entire multitude of the sons of Israel arrived at the desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month, after they departed from the land of Egypt.
2 Here in the desert the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron.	2 And the entire congregation of the sons of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness.
3 The Israelites said to them, "Would that we had died at the LORD'S hand in the land of Egypt, as we sat by our fleshpots and ate our fill of bread! But you had to lead us into this desert to make the whole community die of famine!"	3 And the sons of Israel said to them: “If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat around bowls of meat and ate bread until filled. Why have you led us away, into this desert, so that you might kill the entire multitude with famine?”
4 Then the LORD said to Moses, "I will now rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather their daily portion; thus will I test them, to see whether they follow my instructions or not.	4 Then the Lord said to Moses: “Behold, I will rain down bread from heaven for you. Let the people go out and collect what is sufficient for each day, so that I may test them, as to whether or not they will walk in my law.
5 On the sixth day, however, when they prepare what they bring in, let it be twice as much as they gather on the other days."	5 But on the sixth day, let them prepare what they use for carrying, and let there be double what they were accustomed to collect on a single day.”
6 So Moses and Aaron told all the Israelites, "At evening you will know that it was the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt;	6 And Moses and Aaron said to the sons of Israel: “In the evening, you will know that the Lord has led you away from the land of Egypt.
7 and in the morning you will see the glory of the LORD, as he heeds your grumbling against him. But what are we that you should grumble against us?	7 And in the morning, you will see the glory of the Lord. For he has heard your murmuring against the Lord. But as for us, truly what are we, that you would whisper against us?”
8 When the LORD gives you flesh to eat in the evening," continued Moses, "and in the morning your fill of bread, as he heeds the grumbling you utter against him, what then are we? Your grumbling is not against us, but against the LORD."	8 And Moses said: “In the evening, the Lord will give you flesh to eat, and in the morning, bread in fullness. For he has heard your murmurings that you have murmured against him. For what are we? Your murmuring is not against us, but against the Lord.”
9 Then Moses said to Aaron, "Tell the whole Israelite community: Present yourselves before the LORD, for he has heard your grumbling."	9 Moses also said to Aaron: “Say to the whole congregation of the sons of Israel, ‘Approach before the Lord. For he has heard your murmuring.’ ”
10 When Aaron announced this to the whole Israelite community, they turned toward the desert, and lo, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud!	10 And when Aaron spoke to the entire assembly of the sons of Israel, they looked out toward the wilderness. And behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in a cloud.
11 The LORD spoke to Moses and said,	11 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
12 "I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them: In the evening twilight you shall eat flesh, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread, so that you may know that I, the LORD, am your God."	12 “I have heard the murmuring of the sons of Israel. Say to them: ‘In the evening, you will eat flesh, and in the morning, you will be filled with bread. And you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’ ”
13 In the evening quail came up and covered the camp. In the morning a dew lay all about the camp,	13 Therefore, it happened in the evening: quails, rising up, covered the camp. Likewise, in the morning, a dew lay all around the camp.
14 and when the dew evaporated, there on the surface of the desert were fine flakes like hoarfrost on the ground.	14 And when it had covered the face of the earth, it appeared, in the wilderness, small and as if crushed with a pestle, similar to hoar-frost on the ground.
15 On seeing it, the Israelites asked one another, "What is this?" for they did not know what it was. But Moses told them, "This is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat.	15 When the sons of Israel had seen it, they said one to another: “Manhu?” which means “What is this?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them: “This is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.
16 "Now, this is what the LORD has commanded. So gather it that everyone has enough to eat, an omer for each person, as many of you as there are, each man providing for those of his own tent."	16 This is the word that the Lord has instructed. Let each one collect as much of it as is sufficient to eat. One omer for each head. According to the number of your souls which live in a tent, so will you take of it.”
17 The Israelites did so. Some gathered a large and some a small amount.	17 And the sons of Israel did so. And they collected: some more, others less.
18 But when they measured it out by the omer, he who had gathered a large amount did not have too much, and he who had gathered a small amount did not have too little. They so gathered that everyone had enough to eat.	18 And they measured by the measure of an omer. He who collected more, did not have too much; nor did he who prepared less, find too little. But each one gathered according to what they were able to eat.
19 Moses also told them, "Let no one keep any of it over until tomorrow morning."	19 And Moses said to them, “Let no one leave any of it behind until morning.”
20 But they would not listen to him. When some kept a part of it over until the following morning, it became wormy and rotten. Therefore Moses was displeased with them.	20 And they did not listen to him, but they left some of it behind until morning, and it began to swarm with worms, and it putrefied. And Moses became angry against them.
21 Morning after morning they gathered it, till each had enough to eat; but when the sun grew hot, the manna melted away.	21 Then each one collected, in the morning, as much as would be sufficient to eat. And after the sun became hot, it melted.
22 On the sixth day they gathered twice as much food, two omers for each person. When all the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses,	22 But on the sixth day, they collected a double portion, that is, two omers for each man. Then all the leaders among the multitude came, and they discoursed with Moses.
23 he told them, "That is what the LORD prescribed. Tomorrow is a day of complete rest, the sabbath, sacred to the LORD. You may either bake or boil the manna, as you please; but whatever is left put away and keep for the morrow."	23 And he said to them: “This is what the Lord has spoken: Tomorrow, the rest day of the Sabbath, has been sanctified to the Lord. Whatever would be done, do it now. And whatever would be cooked, cook it now. Then anything that will have been left over, store it until morning.”
24 When they put it away for the morrow, as Moses commanded, it did not become rotten or wormy.	24 And they did just as Moses had instructed, and it did not putrefy, nor were there any worms found in it.
25 Moses then said, "Eat it today, for today is the sabbath of the LORD. On this day you will not find any of it on the ground.	25 And Moses said: “Eat it today, because it is the Sabbath of the Lord. Today it will not be found in the field.
26 On the other six days you can gather it, but on the seventh day, the sabbath, none of it will be there."	26 Gather for six days. But on the seventh day, it is the Sabbath of the Lord, for which reason it will not be found.”
27 Still, on the seventh day some of the people went out to gather it, although they did not find any.	27 And the seventh day arrived. And some of the people, going out to collect it, did not find it.
28 Then the LORD said to Moses, "How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and laws?	28 Then the Lord said to Moses: “How long will you be unwilling to keep my commandments and my law?
29 Take note! The LORD has given you the sabbath. That is why on the sixth day he gives you food for two days. On the seventh day everyone is to stay home and no one is to go out."	29 See how the Lord has given you the Sabbath, and, because of this, on the sixth day he distributes to you a double portion. Let each one remain with his own, and let no one go forth from his place on the seventh day.”
30 After that the people rested on the seventh day.	30 And the people kept the Sabbath on the seventh day.
31 The Israelites called this food manna. It was like coriander seed, but white, and it tasted like wafers made with honey.	31 And the house of Israel called its name ‘Manna.’ It was like white coriander seed, and its taste was like wheat flour with honey.
32 Moses said, "This is what the LORD has commanded. Keep an omerful of manna for your descendants, that they may see what food I gave you to eat in the desert when I brought you out of the land of Egypt."	32 Then Moses said: “This is the word that the Lord has instructed: Fill an omer of it, and let it be kept for future generations hereafter, so that they may know the bread, with which I nourished you in the wilderness, when you had been led away from the land of Egypt.”
33 Moses then told Aaron, "Take an urn and put an omer of manna in it. Then place it before the LORD in safekeeping for your descendants."	33 And Moses said to Aaron, “Take one vessel, and put manna into it, as much as an omer is able to hold. And store it in the sight of the Lord, to keep for your generations,
34 So Aaron placed it in front of the commandments for safekeeping, as the LORD had commanded Moses.	34 just as the Lord instructed Moses.” And so, Aaron placed it in the tabernacle, in reserve.
35 The Israelites ate this manna for forty years, until they came to settled land; they ate manna until they reached the borders of Canaan.	35 Now the sons of Israel ate manna for forty years, until they arrived in a habitable land. With this food they were nourished, even until they touched the borders of the land of Canaan.
36 (An omer is one tenth of an ephah.)	36 Now an omer is a tenth part of an ephah.