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.’”

After these things Moses and Aaron went in, and said to Pharao: Thus saith the Lord God of Israel: Let my people go that they may sacrifice to me in the desert.

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.”

But he answered: Who is the Lord, that I should hear his voice, and let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.

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.”

And they said: The God of the Hebrews hath called us, to go three days’ journey into the wilderness and to sacrifice to the Lord our God: lest a pestilence or the sword fall upon us.

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!”

The king of Egypt said to them: Why do you Moses and Aaron draw off the people from their works? Get you gone to your burdens.

5 Pharaoh also said, “Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you would be stopping them from their labor.”

And Pharao said: The people of the land is numerous: you see that the multitude is increased: how much more if you give them rest from their works?

6 That same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen:

Therefore he commanded the same day the overseers of the works, and the taskmasters of the people, saying:

7 “You shall no longer supply the people with straw for making bricks. They must go and gather their own straw.

You shall give straw no more to the people to make brick, as before: but let them go and gather straw.

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.’

And you shall lay upon them the task of bricks, which they did before, neither shall you diminish any thing thereof: for they are idle, and therefore they cry, saying: Let us go and sacrifice to our God.

9 Make the work harder on the men so they will be occupied and pay no attention to these lies.”

Let them be oppressed, with works, and let them fulfill them: that they may not regard lying words.

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.

And the overseers of the works and the taskmasters went out and said to the people: Thus saith Pharao, I allow you no straw:

11 Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it; but your workload will in no way be reduced.’”

Go, and gather it where you can find it: neither shall any thing of your work be diminished.

12 So the people scattered all over the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.

And the people was scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather straw.

13 The taskmasters kept pressing them, saying, “Fulfill your quota each day, just as you did when straw was provided.”

And the overseers of the works pressed them, saying: Fulfill your work every day as before you were wont to do when straw was given you.

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?”

And they that were over the works of the children of Israel were scourged by Pharao’s taskmasters, saying: Why have you not made up the task of bricks both yesterday and today as before?

15 So the Israelite foremen went and appealed to Pharaoh: “Why are you treating your servants this way?

And the officers of the children of Israel came, and cried out to Pharao, saying: Why dealest thou so with thy servants?

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.”

Straw is not given us, and bricks are required of us as before: behold we thy servants are beaten with whips, and thy people is unjustly dealt withal.

17 “You are slackers!” Pharaoh replied. “Slackers! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’

And he said: You are idle, and therefore you say: Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.

18 Now get to work. You will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the full quota of bricks.”

Go therefore, and work: straw shall not be given you, and you shall deliver the accustomed number of bricks.

19 The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, “You must not reduce your daily quota of bricks.”

And the officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in evil case, because it was said to them: There shall not a whit be diminished of the bricks for every day.

20 When they left Pharaoh, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who stood waiting to meet them.

And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood over against them as they came out from Pharao:

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!”

And they said to them: The Lord see and judge, because you have made our savour to stink before Pharao and his servants, and you have given him a sword to kill us.

22 So Moses returned to the LORD and asked, “Lord, why have You brought trouble upon this people? Is this why You sent me?

And Moses returned to the Lord, and said: Lord, why hast thou afflicted this people? wherefore hast thou sent me?

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.”

For since the time that I went in to Pharao to speak in thy name, he hath afflicted thy people: and thou hast not delivered them.