Exodus 5
1 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.’”
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。』」
2 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.”
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！」
3 “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.”
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。」
4 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!”
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！」
5 Pharaoh also said, “Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you would be stopping them from their labor.”
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！」
6 That same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen:
當天，法老吩咐督工的和官長說：
7 “You shall no longer supply the people with straw for making bricks. They must go and gather their own straw.
「你們不可照常把草給百姓做磚，叫他們自己去撿草。
8 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.’
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。』
9 Make the work harder on the men so they will be occupied and pay no attention to these lies.”
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。」
10 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.
督工的和官長出來對百姓說：「法老這樣說：『我不給你們草。
11 Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it; but your workload will in no way be reduced.’”
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。』」
12 So the people scattered all over the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.
於是百姓散在埃及遍地，撿碎稭當作草。
13 The taskmasters kept pressing them, saying, “Fulfill your quota each day, just as you did when straw was provided.”
督工的催着說：「你們一天當完一天的工，與先前有草一樣。」
14 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?”
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？」
15 So the Israelite foremen went and appealed to Pharaoh: “Why are you treating your servants this way?
以色列人的官長就來哀求法老說：「為甚麼這樣待你的僕人？
16 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.”
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。」
17 “You are slackers!” Pharaoh replied. “Slackers! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’
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。』
18 Now get to work. You will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the full quota of bricks.”
現在你們去做工吧！草是不給你們的，磚卻要如數交納。」
19 The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, “You must not reduce your daily quota of bricks.”
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。
20 When they left Pharaoh, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who stood waiting to meet them.
他們離了法老出來，正遇見摩西、亞倫站在對面，
21 “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!”
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。」
22 So Moses returned to the LORD and asked, “Lord, why have You brought trouble upon this people? Is this why You sent me?
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？
23 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.”
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。」
