Exodus 5

1 And afterward Moses and Aaron have entered, and they say to Pharaoh, “Thus said YHWH, God of Israel: Send My people away, and they keep a celebration for Me in the wilderness”;

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 says, “Who [is] YHWH, that I listen to His voice to send Israel away? I have not known YHWH, and I also do not send Israel away.”

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 say, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us; please let us go a journey of three days into the wilderness, and we sacrifice to our God YHWH, lest He meet us with pestilence or with 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 And the king of Egypt says to them, “Why, Moses and Aaron, do you free the people from its works? Go 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 also says, “Behold, the people of the land [are] numerous now, and you have caused them to cease from 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 And on that day Pharaoh commands the exactors among the people and its authorities, saying,

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

7 “You do not add to give straw to the people for the making of the bricks as before—they go and have gathered straw for themselves;

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

8 and you put on them the proper quantity of the bricks which they are making before, you do not diminish from it, for they are remiss, therefore they are crying, saying, Let us go, let us sacrifice to 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 let the service be heavy on the men, and let them work at it, and not be dazzled by lying words.”

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

10 And the exactors of the people, and its authorities, go out, and speak to the people, saying, “Thus said Pharaoh: I do not give you straw,

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 you—go, take straw for yourselves where you can find [it], for there is nothing diminished of your service.”

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

12 And the people are scattered over all the land of Egypt, to gather stubble for straw,

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

13 and the exactors are making haste, saying, “Complete your works, the matter of a day in its day, as when there is straw.”

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 authorities of the sons of Israel, whom the exactors of Pharaoh have placed over them, are beaten, saying, “Why have you not completed your portion in making brick as before, both yesterday and today?”

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 And the authorities of the sons of Israel come in and cry to Pharaoh, saying, “Why do you do thus to your servants?

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

16 Straw is not given to your servants, and they are saying to us, Make bricks, and behold, your servants are struck—and your people have sinned.”

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 And he says, “Remiss—you are remiss, therefore you are saying, Let us go, let us sacrifice to YHWH;

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

18 and now, go, serve; and straw is not given to you, and you give the [required] measure of bricks.”

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

19 And the authorities of the sons of Israel see them in affliction, saying, “You do not diminish from your bricks; the matter of a day in its day.”

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 meet Moses and Aaron standing to meet them in their coming out from Pharaoh,

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

21 and say to them, “YHWH look on you, and judge, because you have caused our fragrance to stink in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants—to give a sword into their hand to slay us.”

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 And Moses turns back to YHWH and says, “Lord, why have You done evil to this people? Why [is] this [that] You have sent me?

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

23 And since I have come to Pharaoh to speak in Your Name, he has done evil to this people, and You have not delivered Your people at all.”

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.