Exodus 5

1 Then afterwarde Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may celebrate a feast vnto me in the wildernesse.

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 And Pharaoh saide, Who is the Lord, that I should heare his voyce, and let Israel go? I knowe not the Lord, neither will I let Israel goe.

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 And they saide, We worship the God of the Ebrewes: we pray thee, let vs goe three daies iourney in the desert, and sacrifice vnto the Lord our God, least he bring vpon vs the pestilence or 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 Then saide the King of Egypt vnto them, Moses and Aaron, why cause ye the people to cease from their workes? get you to your burdens.

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 saide furthermore, Behold, much people is nowe in the lande, and ye make them leaue their burdens.

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 Therefore Pharaoh gaue commandement the same day vnto the taskemasters of the people, and to their officers, saying,

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

7 Ye shall giue the people no more strawe, to make bricke (as in time past) but let them goe and gather them strawe them selues:

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

8 Notwithstanding lay vpon them the nober of bricke, which they made in time past, diminish nothing thereof: for they be idle, therefore they crie, saying, Let vs go to offer sacrifice vnto 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 Lay more worke vpon the men, and cause them to do it, and let the not regard vaine words.

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

10 Then went the taskemasters of the people and their officers out, and tolde the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will giue you no more strawe.

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 Goe your selues, get you strawe where yee can finde it, yet shall nothing of your labour bee diminished.

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

12 Then were the people scattered abroade throughout all the land of Egypt, for to gather stubble in steade of strawe.

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

13 And the taskemasters hasted them, saying, Finish your dayes worke euery dayes taske, as ye did when ye had strawe.

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 And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaohs taskemasters had set ouer them, were beaten, and demanded, Wherefore haue ye not fulfilled your taske in making bricke yesterday and to daye, as in times past?

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 Then the officers of the children of Israel came, and cryed vnto Pharaoh, saying, Wherfore dealest thou thus with thy seruants?

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

16 There is no strawe giuen to thy seruantes, and they say vnto vs, Make bricke: and loe, thy seruants are beaten, and thy people is blamed.

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 But he said, Ye are to much idle: therfore ye say, Let vs goe to offer sacrifice to the Lord.

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

18 Goe therefore nowe and worke: for there shall no strawe be giuen you, yet shall yee deliuer the whole tale of bricke.

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

19 Then the officers of the children of Israel sawe them selues in an euill case, because it was saide, Ye shall diminish nothing of your bricke, nor of euery dayes taske.

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 And they met Moses and Aaron, which stood in their way as they came out from Pharaoh,

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

21 To whom they said, The Lord looke vpon you and iudge: for yee haue made our sauour to stinke before Pharaoh and before his seruants, in that ye haue put a sword in their hand to slay vs.

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 Wherefore Moses returned to the Lord, and saide, Lord, why hast thou afflicted this people? wherefore hast thou thus sent me?

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

23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speake in thy Name, he hath vexed this people, and yet thou hast not deliuered thy people.

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.