出埃及記 5
1 此後，梅瑟同亞郎去見法朗說：「以色列的天主雅威這樣說：「你應放我的百姓走，好叫他們在曠野裏過傑敬拜我。」
After these things, Moses and Aaron entered, and they said to Pharaoh: “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: Release my people, so that they may sacrifice to me in the desert.”
2 法朗問說：「誰是雅威，我該聽他的命，放以色列走﹖我不認識雅威，也不放以色列走。」
But he responded: “Who is the Lord, that I should listen to his voice and release Israel? I do not know the Lord, and I will not release Israel.”
3 他們回答說：「希伯來人的天主遇見了我們。請讓我們走三天的路到曠野裏，向上主我們的天主獻祭，免得他用瘟疫刀兵擊殺我們。」
And they said: “The God of the Hebrews has called us, so that we may go three days’ journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God. Otherwise, a pestilence or the sword may befall us.”
4 埃及王回答他們說：「梅瑟、亞郎啊! 你們為什麼妨礙百姓工作呢﹖去服你們的勞役罷! 」
The king of Egypt said to them: “Why do you, Moses and Aaron, distract the people from their works? Go back to your burdens.”
5 法朗又說：「現在他們比本地的人民還多，你們竟然叫他們歇工﹖」
And Pharaoh said: “The people of the land are many. You see that the turmoil has increased: how much more if you give them rest from the works?”
6 那一天法朗命令那些百姓中的監工和工頭說：「
Therefore, on the same day, he instructed the overseers of the works, and the taskmasters of the people, saying:
7 你們以後不要再像往日一樣，給百姓做磚用的草楷，叫他們自己去拾草。
“You shall no longer give chaff to the people to form bricks, as before. But they may go and gather straw.
8 但你們仍向他們要往日所做的同樣磚數，一點也不可減少，因為他們懶惰，所以才吶喊說：我們要去向我們的天主獻祭。
And you shall impose upon them the same quota of bricks that they made before. Neither will you lessen anything, for they are idle, and therefore they cry out, saying: ‘We shall go and sacrifice to our God.’
9 應給這些人加重工作，使他們只工作，而不聽謊言。」苦工加重
They shall be oppressed with works, and these shall occupy them, so that they may not agree to lying words.”
10 百姓中的監工頭遂出去向百姓說：「法朗這樣吩咐：我不再給你們草楷。
And so the overseers of the works and the taskmasters went out and said to the people: “Thus says Pharaoh: I give you no chaff.
11 你們看那裏能找到草楷，就到那裏去拾罷! 但應有的工作一點也不可減少。」
Go, and collect it wherever you are able to find it. Neither will anything of your work be diminished.”
12 百姓就分散到埃及全境，拾取麥莖充當草楷。
And the people were dispersed through all the land of Egypt, in order to gather straw.
13 監工催迫說：「你們每天應該完成當天的工作，像從前有草楷時一樣。」
Likewise, the overseers of the works pressured them, saying: “Complete your work each day, just as you were accustomed to do before, when straw was given to you.”
14 法朗的監工責打他們所派出的以色列子民的工頭說：「你們昨天今天為什麼沒有完成像前天所做的磚數呢﹖」
And those who were first in the works of the sons of Israel were scourged by Pharaoh’s taskmasters, saying: “Why have you not filled the quota of bricks, neither yesterday, nor today, just as before?”
15 以色列子民的工頭遂去向法朗訴苦說：「你為什麼這樣對待你的僕人們呢﹖
And the first among the sons of Israel came, and they cried out to Pharaoh, saying: “Why do act against your servants in this way?
16 不給你僕人們草楷，只對我們說：做磚罷! 原是你人民的錯，你卻來打你的僕人們。」
Straw is not given to us, and yet the same amount of bricks is commanded. So we, your servants, are cut up by scourging, and injustice is done against your people.”
17 法朗回答說：「你們太懶惰了! 所以說：讓我們去祭獻上主!
And he said: “You are idle. And for this reason you say, ‘We shall go and sacrifice to the Lord.’
18 現在都快去作工! 決不供給你們草楷，但是磚卻該如數交上。
Therefore, go and work. Straw will not be given to you, and you will return the customary number of bricks.”
19 以色列子民的工頭因所出的命令說：你們每天應做的磚數，不得減少，」便知自己更陷於困難中。梅瑟受責哀求天主
And the first among the sons of Israel saw themselves in a crisis, because it was said to them, “Nothing at all will be lessened from the bricks throughout each day.”
20 工頭們由法朗那裏出來，遇見梅瑟和亞郎正等候他們，
And they met with Moses and Aaron, who stood opposite them as they departed from Pharaoh.
21 就對他們說：「願上主鑑察懲罰你們! 你們使我們在法朗和他臣僕眼中成了可恨的，就好像把刀交在他們手中，宰殺我們。」
And they said to them: “May the Lord see and judge, because you have caused our odor to become foul before Pharaoh and his servants, and you have provided him with a sword, in order to kill us.”
22 梅瑟回到上主那裏說：「吾主，你為什麼折磨這百姓﹖為什麼偏偏打發我呢﹖
And Moses returned to the Lord, and he said: “Lord, why have you afflicted this people? Why have you sent me?
23 自從我到法朗那裏，奉你的名講話以來，他更加折磨這百姓，而你也沒有整救你的百姓。」
For from the time that I entered to Pharaoh, so as to speak in your name, he has afflicted your people. And you have not freed them.”
