Exodus 5

1 And after this went in Moses and Aaron to Pharao, and they said to him, These things says the Lord God of Israel, Send my people away, that they may keep a feast to me in the wilderness.

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.’”

2 And Pharao said, Who is he that I should listen to his voice, so that I should send away the children of Israel? I do not know the Lord, and I will not let Israel go.

Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should listen to his voice to let Israel go? I don’t know the LORD, and moreover I will not let Israel go.”

3 And they say to him, The God of the Hebrews has called us to him: we will go therefore a three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God, lest at any time death or slaughter happen to us.

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.”

4 And the king of Egypt said to them, Why do you, Moses and Aaron, turn the people from their works? depart each of you to your works.

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 And Pharao said, Behold now, the people is very numerous; let us not then give them rest from their work.

Pharaoh said, “Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens.”

6 And Pharao gave orders to the taskmasters of the people and the accountants, saying,

The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their officers, saying,

7 You shall no longer give straw to the people for brick-making as yesterday and the third day; but let them go themselves, and collect straw for themselves.

“You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick, as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves.

8 And you shall impose on them daily the rate of brick-making which they perform: you shall not abate anything, for they are idle; therefore have they cried, saying, Let us arise and do sacrifice to our God.

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.’

9 Let the works of these men be made grievous, and let them care for these things, and not care for vain words.

Let heavier work be laid on the men, that they may labour in it. Don’t let them pay any attention to lying words.”

10 And the taskmasters and the accountants hastened them, and they spoke to the people, saying, thus says Pharao, I [will] give you straw no longer.

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.

11 Go you, yourselves, get for yourselves straw whenever you can find it, for nothing is diminished from your rate.

Go yourselves, get straw where you can find it, for nothing of your work shall be diminished.’”

12 So the people were dispersed in all the land of Egypt, to gather stubble for straw.

So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.

13 and the taskmasters hastened them, saying, Fulfil your regular daily tasks, even as when straw was given you.

The taskmasters were urgent saying, “Fulfil your work quota daily, as when there was straw!”

14 And the accountants of the race of the children of Israel, who were set over them by the masters of Pharao, were scourged, [[and questioned, ] men] saying, Why have you not fulfilled your rates of brick work as yesterday and the third day, today also?

The officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and were asked, “Why haven’t you fulfilled your quota both yesterday and today, in making brick as before?”

15 And the accountants of the children of Israel went in and cried to Pharao, saying, Why do you act thus to your servants?

Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, saying, “Why do you deal this way with your servants?

16 Straw is not given to your servants, and they tell us to make brick; and behold your servants have been scourged: you will therefore injure your people.

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.”

17 And he said to them, You are idle, you are idlers: therefore you say, Let us go [and] do sacrifice to our God.

But Pharaoh said, “You are idle! You are idle! Therefore you say, ‘Let’s go and sacrifice to the LORD.’

18 Now then go and work, for straw shall not be given to you, yet you shall return the rate of bricks.

Go therefore now, and work; for no straw shall be given to you; yet you shall deliver the same number of bricks!”

19 And the accountants of the children of Israel saw themselves in an evil plight, [men] saying, You shall not fail to deliver the daily rate of the brick-making.

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 And they met Moses and Aaron coming forth to meet them, as they came forth from Pharao.

They met Moses and Aaron, who stood along the way, as they came out from Pharaoh.

21 And they said to them, The Lord look upon you and judge you, for you have made our savour abominable before Pharao, and before his servants, to put a sword into his hands to kill us.

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!”

22 And Moses turned to the Lord, and said, I pray, Lord, why have you afflicted this people? and therefore have you sent me?

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 For from the time that I went to Pharao to speak in your name, he has afflicted this people, and you have not delivered your people.

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!”