They have turned aside quickly out of the way is literally “they went away hurrying from the path.” The word for way also has the meaning of “conduct” or “behavior,” so out of the way which I commanded them may be rendered as “from what I commanded them” (New International Version). Translator’s Old Testament simply has “Already disobeyed my commands,” and Contemporary English Version has “They have already stopped obeying me.” However, it will be possible in some instances to keep the figure by adding, for example, “the way that I commanded them to follow” (Good News Translation) or “They have quickly left the path that I commanded them to follow.”

They have made for themselves a molten calf is literal, and it uses the same expressions as verse 4. (See the comment there.) Good News Translation has “they have made a bull-calf out of melted gold,” adding the reference to “gold.” This may also be expressed as “They have taken gold and made a bull-calf.” However, New Revised Standard Version has simply “they have cast for themselves an image of a calf.” And have worshiped it literally means “and they have bowed themselves down to it” (Durham). And sacrificed to it is literally “and they slaughtered to [or, for] it.” This is the usual word for “sacrifice.” So one may also say “They have slaughtered animals and offered them to it [the bull-calf].”

And said, literally “and they said,” introduces the words of the people as a quote within a quote. These are your gods … the land of Egypt is identical with what the people say in verse 4. (See the comment there.)

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .