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 happened, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: 'Let my people go, so they can have a festival for me in the wilderness.'”
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.”
Pharaoh said, “Who is Yahweh? Why should I listen to his voice and let Israel go? I do not know Yahweh; moreover, I will not 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.”
They said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Let us go on a three-day journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to Yahweh our God so that he does not attack us with plague or with the sword.”
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.”
But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people from their work? Go back to your work.”
5 Pharaoh also says, “Behold, the people of the land [are] numerous now, and you have caused them to cease from their burdens!”
He also said, “There are now many people in our land, and you are making them stop their work.”
6 And on that day Pharaoh commands the exactors among the people and its authorities, saying,
On that same day, Pharaoh gave a command to the people's taskmasters and foremen. He said,
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;
“Unlike before, you must no longer give the people straw to make bricks. Let them go and gather straw for themselves.
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;
However, you must still demand from them the same number of bricks as they made before. Do not accept any fewer, because they are lazy. That is why they are calling out and saying, 'Allow us to 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.”
Increase the workload for the men so that they keep at it and pay no more attention to deceptive 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,
So the people's taskmasters and foremen went out and informed the people. They said, “This is what Pharaoh says: 'I will no longer give you any straw.
11 you—go, take straw for yourselves where you can find [it], for there is nothing diminished of your service.”
You yourselves must go and get straw wherever you can find it, but your workload will not be reduced.'”
12 And the people are scattered over all the land of Egypt, to gather stubble for straw,
So the people scattered throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for 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.”
The taskmasters kept urging them and saying, “Finish your work, just as when straw was given to 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?”
Pharaoh's taskmasters beat the Israelite foremen, those same men whom they had put in charge of the workers. The taskmasters kept asking them, “Why have you not produced all the bricks required of you, either yesterday and today, as you used to do in the past?”
15 And the authorities of the sons of Israel come in and cry to Pharaoh, saying, “Why do you do thus to your servants?
So the Israelite foremen came to Pharaoh and cried out to him. They said, “Why are you treating your servants this way?
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.”
No straw is being given to your servants anymore, but they are still telling us, 'Make bricks!' We, your servants, are even beaten now, but it is the fault of your own people.”
17 And he says, “Remiss—you are remiss, therefore you are saying, Let us go, let us sacrifice to YHWH;
But Pharaoh said, “You are lazy! You are lazy! You say, 'Allow us to go sacrifice to Yahweh.'
18 and now, go, serve; and straw is not given to you, and you give the [required] measure of bricks.”
So now go back to work. No more straw will be given to you, but you must still make the same 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.”
The Israelite foremen saw that they were in trouble when they were told, “You must not reduce the daily number of bricks.”
20 And they meet Moses and Aaron standing to meet them in their coming out from Pharaoh,
They met Moses and Aaron, who were standing outside the palace, as they went away from Pharaoh.
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.”
They said to Moses and Aaron, “May Yahweh look at you and punish you, because you have made us offensive in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants. You have put a sword in their hand 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?
Moses went back to Yahweh and said, “Lord, why have you caused trouble for this people? Why did you send me in the first place?
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.”
Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak to him in your name, he has caused trouble for this people, and you have not set your people free at all.”
