出埃及記 5
1 後來摩西、亞倫去對法老說：「耶和華－以色列的上帝這樣說：『容我的百姓去，在曠野向我守節。』」
Afterward Moses and Aaron came, and said to Pharaoh, "This is what the LORD, God of Israel, says, 'Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.'"
2 法老說：「耶和華是誰，使我聽他的話，容以色列人去呢？我不認識耶和華，也不容以色列人去！」
Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD, that I should listen to his voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover I will not let Israel go."
3 他們說：「希伯來人的上帝遇見了我們。求你容我們往曠野去，走三天的路程，祭祀耶和華－我們的上帝，免得他用瘟疫、刀兵攻擊我們。」
They said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go three days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to our God, lest he fall on us with pestilence, or with the sword."
4 埃及王對他們說：「摩西、亞倫！你們為甚麼叫百姓曠工呢？你們去擔你們的擔子吧！」
The king of Egypt said to them, "Why do you, Moses and Aaron, take the people from their work? Get back to your burdens."
5 又說：「看哪，這地的以色列人如今眾多，你們竟叫他們歇下擔子！」
Pharaoh said, "Look, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens."
6 當天，法老吩咐督工的和官長說：
The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,
7 「你們不可照常把草給百姓做磚，叫他們自己去撿草。
"You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick, as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves.
8 他們素常做磚的數目，你們仍舊向他們要，一點不可減少；因為他們是懶惰的，所以呼求說：『容我們去祭祀我們的上帝。』
The number of the bricks, which they made before, you require from them. You shall not diminish anything of it, for they are idle; therefore they cry, saying, 'Let us go and sacrifice to our God.'
9 你們要把更重的工夫加在這些人身上，叫他們勞碌，不聽虛謊的言語。」
Let heavier work be laid on the men, so they may labor at it and pay no attention to lying words."
10 督工的和官長出來對百姓說：「法老這樣說：『我不給你們草。
The taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spoke to the people, saying, "This is what Pharaoh says: 'I will not give you straw.
11 你們自己在哪裏能找草，就往那裏去找吧！但你們的工一點不可減少。』」
Go yourselves, get straw where you can find it, for nothing of your work shall be diminished.'"
12 於是百姓散在埃及遍地，撿碎稭當作草。
So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather dry stalks for straw.
13 督工的催着說：「你們一天當完一天的工，與先前有草一樣。」
The taskmasters kept pressing them, saying, "Fulfill your work quota, your daily amount, as when there was straw."
14 法老督工的，責打他所派以色列人的官長，說：「你們昨天今天為甚麼沒有照向來的數目做磚、完你們的工作呢？」
The officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, "Why haven't you fulfilled your quota both yesterday and today, in making brick as before?"
15 以色列人的官長就來哀求法老說：「為甚麼這樣待你的僕人？
Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, saying, "Why do you deal this way with your servants?
16 督工的不把草給僕人，並且對我們說：『做磚吧！』看哪，你僕人挨了打，其實是你百姓的錯。」
No straw is given to your servants, and they tell us, 'Make bricks.' And look, your servants are beaten, but the fault is with your own people."
17 但法老說：「你們是懶惰的！你們是懶惰的！所以說：『容我們去祭祀耶和華。』
But he said, "You are slackers! Slackers! Therefore you say, 'Let us go and sacrifice to God.'
18 現在你們去做工吧！草是不給你們的，磚卻要如數交納。」
Go therefore now, and work, for no straw shall be given to you, yet you shall deliver the same number of bricks."
19 以色列人的官長聽說「你們每天做磚的工作一點不可減少」，就知道是遭遇禍患了。
The officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in trouble, when it was said, "You shall not diminish anything from your daily quota of bricks."
20 他們離了法老出來，正遇見摩西、亞倫站在對面，
They met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh:
21 就向他們說：「願耶和華鑒察你們，施行判斷；因你們使我們在法老和他臣僕面前有了臭名，把刀遞在他們手中殺我們。」
and they said to them, "May God look at you, and judge, because you have made us a stench to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us."
22 摩西回到耶和華那裏，說：「主啊，你為甚麼苦待這百姓呢？為甚麼打發我去呢？
Moses returned to the LORD, and said, "Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Why is it that you have sent me?
23 自從我去見法老，奉你的名說話，他就苦待這百姓，你一點也沒有拯救他們。」
For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people; neither have you delivered your people at all."
