Exodus 5
1 After these things, Moses and Aaron entered, and they said to Pharaoh: “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: Release my people, so that they may sacrifice to me in the desert.”
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 he responded: “Who is the Lord, that I should listen to his voice and release Israel? I do not know the Lord, and I will not release Israel.”
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 And they said: “The God of the Hebrews has called us, so that we may go three days’ journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God. Otherwise, a pestilence or the sword may befall us.”
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 The king of Egypt said to them: “Why do you, Moses and Aaron, distract the people from their works? Go back to your burdens.”
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 And Pharaoh said: “The people of the land are many. You see that the turmoil has increased: how much more if you give them rest from the works?”
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 Therefore, on the same day, he instructed the overseers of the works, and the taskmasters of the people, saying:
當天，法老吩咐督工的和官長說：
7 “You shall no longer give chaff to the people to form bricks, as before. But they may go and gather straw.
「你們不可照常把草給百姓做磚，叫他們自己去撿草。
8 And you shall impose upon them the same quota of bricks that they made before. Neither will you lessen anything, for they are idle, and therefore they cry out, saying: ‘We shall 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 They shall be oppressed with works, and these shall occupy them, so that they may not agree to lying words.”
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 And so the overseers of the works and the taskmasters went out and said to the people: “Thus says Pharaoh: I give you no chaff.
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 collect it wherever you are able to find it. Neither will anything of your work be diminished.”
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 And the people were dispersed through all the land of Egypt, in order to gather straw.
於是百姓散在埃及遍地，撿碎稭當作草。
13 Likewise, the overseers of the works pressured them, saying: “Complete your work each day, just as you were accustomed to do before, when straw was given to you.”
督工的催着說：「你們一天當完一天的工，與先前有草一樣。」
14 And those who were first in the works of the sons of Israel were scourged by Pharaoh’s taskmasters, saying: “Why have you not filled the quota of bricks, neither yesterday, nor today, just as 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 And the first among the sons of Israel came, and they cried out to Pharaoh, saying: “Why do act against your servants in 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 Straw is not given to us, and yet the same amount of bricks is commanded. So we, your servants, are cut up by scourging, and injustice is done against your 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 And he said: “You are idle. And for this reason you say, ‘We shall 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 Therefore, go and work. Straw will not be given to you, and you will return the customary number 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 And the first among the sons of Israel saw themselves in a crisis, because it was said to them, “Nothing at all will be lessened from the bricks throughout each day.”
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 And they met with Moses and Aaron, who stood opposite them as they departed from Pharaoh.
他們離了法老出來，正遇見摩西、亞倫站在對面，
21 And they said to them: “May the Lord see and judge, because you have caused our odor to become foul before Pharaoh and his servants, and you have provided him with a sword, in order 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 And Moses returned to the Lord, and he said: “Lord, why have you afflicted this people? Why have 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 For from the time that I entered to Pharaoh, so as to speak in your name, he has afflicted your people. And you have not freed them.”
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。」
