Exodus 5
1 Afterward Moses and Aaron came, and said to Pharaoh, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says, ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.’”
After that, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’”
2 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.”
But Pharaoh replied, “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.”
3 They said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the LORD, our God, lest he fall on us with pestilence, or with the sword.”
“The God of the Hebrews has met with us,” they answered. “Please let us go on a three-day journey into the wilderness to sacrifice to the LORD our God, or He may strike us with plagues or with the sword.”
4 The king of Egypt said to them, “Why do you, Moses and Aaron, take the people from their work? Get back to your burdens!”
But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you draw the people away from their work? Get back to your labor!”
5 Pharaoh said, “Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens.”
Pharaoh also said, “Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you would be stopping them from their labor.”
6 The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their officers, saying,
That same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen:
7 “You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick, as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves.
“You shall no longer supply the people with straw for making bricks. They must go and gather their own straw.
8 You shall require from them the number of the bricks which they made before. You shall not diminish anything of it, for they are idle. Therefore they cry, saying, ‘Let’s go and sacrifice to our God.’
But require of them the same quota of bricks as before; do not reduce it. For they are lazy; that is why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’
9 Let heavier work be laid on the men, that they may labor in it. Do not let them pay any attention to lying words.”
Make the work harder on the men so they will be occupied and pay no attention to these lies.”
10 The taskmasters of the people went out with their officers, and they spoke to the people, saying, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I will not give you straw.
So the taskmasters and foremen of the people went out and said to them, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I am no longer giving you straw.
11 Go yourselves, get straw where you can find it, for nothing of your work shall be diminished.’”
Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it; but your workload will in no way be reduced.’”
12 So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.
So the people scattered all over the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.
13 The taskmasters were urgent saying, “Fulfill your work quota daily, as when there was straw!”
The taskmasters kept pressing them, saying, “Fulfill your quota each day, just as you did when straw was provided.”
14 The officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and were asked, “Why have not you fulfilled your quota both yesterday and today, in making brick as before?”
Then the Israelite foremen, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over the people, were beaten and asked, “Why have you not fulfilled your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as you did before?”
15 Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, saying, “Why do you deal this way with your servants?
So the Israelite foremen went and appealed to Pharaoh: “Why are you treating your servants this way?
16 No straw is given to your servants, and they tell us, ‘Make brick!’ and behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people.”
No straw has been given to your servants, yet we are told, ‘Make bricks!’ Look, your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people.”
17 But Pharaoh said, “You are idle! You are idle! Therefore you say, ‘Let’s go and sacrifice to the LORD.’
“You are slackers!” Pharaoh replied. “Slackers! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’
18 Go therefore now, and work; for no straw shall be given to you; yet you shall deliver the same number of bricks!”
Now get to work. You will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the full quota of bricks.”
19 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!”
The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, “You must not reduce your daily quota of bricks.”
20 They met Moses and Aaron, who stood along the way, as they came out from Pharaoh.
When they left Pharaoh, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who stood waiting to meet them.
21 They said to them, “May the LORD 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!”
“May the LORD look upon you and judge you,” the foremen said, “for you have made us a stench before Pharaoh and his officials; you have placed in their hand a sword to kill us!”
22 Moses returned to the LORD, and said, “Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Why is it that you have sent me?
So Moses returned to the LORD and asked, “Lord, why have You brought trouble upon this people? Is this why You sent me?
23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people. You have not rescued your people at all!”
Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and You have not delivered Your people in any way.”
