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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 to them, Why do you, Moses and Aaron, turn the people from their works? depart each of you to your works.
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 Pharao said, Behold now, the people is very numerous; let us not then give them rest from their work.
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 Pharao gave orders to the taskmasters of the people and the accountants, saying,
當天，法老吩咐督工的和官長說：
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.
「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 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.
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 the works of these men be made grievous, and let them care for these things, and not care for vain 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 and the accountants hastened them, and they spoke to the people, saying, thus says Pharao, I [will] give you straw no longer.
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 you, yourselves, get for yourselves straw whenever you can find it, for nothing is diminished from your rate.
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 dispersed in all the land of Egypt, to gather stubble for straw.
於是百姓散在埃及遍地，撿碎稭當作草。
13 and the taskmasters hastened them, saying, Fulfil your regular daily tasks, even as when straw was given 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 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?
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 accountants of the children of Israel went in and cried to Pharao, saying, Why do you act thus to your 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 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.
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 to them, You are idle, you are idlers: therefore you say, Let us go [and] do sacrifice to our God.
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 Now then go and work, for straw shall not be given to you, yet you shall return the rate 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 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.
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 coming forth to meet them, as they came forth from Pharao.
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, The Lord look upon you and judge you, for you have made our savor abominable before Pharao, and before his servants, to put a sword into his hands 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 turned to the Lord, and said, I pray, Lord, why have you afflicted this people? and therefore 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 went to Pharao to speak in your name, he has afflicted this people, and you have not delivered your people.
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。」
