A reading from the book of Exodus.

A new king who knew nothing of Joseph came to power in Egypt.

He said to his subjects, look how numerous and powerful the people of the children of Israel are growing, more so than ourselves.

Come let us deal shrewdly with them to stop their increase.

Otherwise, in time of war, they too may join our enemies to fight against us and so leave our country accordingly taskmasters were set over the children of israel to oppress them with forced labor thus they had to build for build for Pharaoh the supply cities of Pittman and Ramses. Yet the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread.

The Egyptians then dreaded the children of Israel and reduced them to cruel slavery,

making their lives bitter for them with hard work and mortar and brick,

and with all kinds of fieldwork, the whole cruel fate of slaves. Pharaoh then commanded all his subjects.

Throw into the river every boy that is born to the Hebrews,

that you may let all the girls live.

The word of the Lord.

Our help is in the name of the Lord.

Our help is in the name of the Lord.

Had not the Lord been with us, let Israel say,

had not the Lord been with us when men rose up against us?

Then would they have swallowed us of live and when their fury was inflamed against us?

Our help is in the name of the Lord. Then would the waters have overwhelmed us, the torrents would have swept over us. Over us would have swept the raging waters. Blessed

be the Lord who did not leave us a prey to their teeth. Our help is in the name of the Lord.

We were rescued like a bird from the fowler's snare. Broken was the snare. And we were freed.

Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth.

Our help is in the name of the Lord.

My brothers and sisters may our Lord be with you.

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