< Exodus 5 >

1 And afterward Moses and Aaron came, and said unto Pharaoh: 'Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel: Let My people go, that they may hold a feast unto 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 And Pharaoh said: 'Who is the LORD, that I should hearken unto His voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, and moreover 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 And they said: 'The God of the Hebrews hath met with us. Let us go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice unto the LORD our God; lest He fall upon us with pestilence, 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 And the king of Egypt said unto them: 'Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, cause the people to break loose from their work? get you unto 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: 'Behold, the people of the land are now many, and will ye make them rest from their burdens?'
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 And the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying:
當天,法老吩咐督工的和官長說:
7 'Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore. Let them go and gather straw for themselves.
「你們不可照常把草給百姓做磚,叫他們自己去撿草。
8 And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish aught thereof; for they are idle; therefore they cry, saying: 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 Let heavier work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard 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 the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spoke to the people, saying: 'Thus saith Pharaoh: I will not give 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 yourselves, get you straw where ye can find it; for nought of your work shall 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 So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.
於是百姓散在埃及遍地,撿碎詡當作草。
13 And the taskmasters were urgent, saying: 'Fulfil your work, your daily task, as when there was straw.'
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 the officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, saying: 'Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your appointed task in making brick both yesterday and today as heretofore?'
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 Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying: 'Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?
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 There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us: Make brick; and, behold, thy servants are beaten, but the fault is in thine 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 But he said: 'Ye are idle, ye are idle; therefore ye say: 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 Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale 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 officers of the children of Israel did see that they were set on mischief, when they said: 'Ye shall not diminish aught from your bricks, your daily task.'
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 Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth 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 unto them: 'The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay 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 unto the LORD, and said: 'Lord, wherefore hast Thou dealt ill with this people? why is it that Thou hast 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 since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Thy name, he hath dealt ill with this people; neither hast Thou delivered Thy people at all.'
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。」

< Exodus 5 >