Exodus 5

1 Afterward Moses and Aaron came, and said to Pharaoh, "This is what the LORD, God of Israel, says, 'Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.'"

And afterwards have Moses and Aaron entered, and they say unto Pharaoh, 'Thus said Jehovah, God of Israel, Send My people away, and they keep a feast to Me in the wilderness;'

2 Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD, that I should listen to his voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover I will not let Israel go."

and Pharaoh saith, 'Who [is] Jehovah, that I hearken to His voice, to send Israel away? I have not known Jehovah, and Israel also I do not send away.'

3 They said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go three days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to our God, lest he fall on us with pestilence, or with the sword."

And they say, 'The God of the Hebrews hath met with us, let us go, we pray thee, a journey of three days into the wilderness, and we sacrifice to Jehovah our God, lest He meet us with pestilence or with sword.'

4 The king of Egypt said to them, "Why do you, Moses and Aaron, take the people from their work? Get back to your burdens."

And the king of Egypt saith unto them, 'Why, Moses and Aaron, do ye free the people from its works? go to your burdens.'

5 Pharaoh said, "Look, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens."

Pharaoh also saith, 'Lo, numerous now [is] the people of the land, and ye have caused them to cease from their burdens!'

6 The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,

And Pharaoh commandeth, on that day, the exactors among the people and its authorities, saying,

7 "You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick, as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves.

'Ye do not add to give straw to the people for the making of the bricks, as heretofore — they go and have gathered straw for themselves;

8 The number of the bricks, which they made before, you require from them. You shall not diminish anything of it, for they are idle; therefore they cry, saying, 'Let us go and sacrifice to our God.'

and the proper quantity of the bricks which they are making heretofore ye do put on them, ye do not diminish from it, for they are remiss, therefore they are crying, saying, Let us go, let us sacrifice to our God;

9 Let heavier work be laid on the men, so they may labor at it and pay no attention to lying words."

let the service be heavy on the men, and let them work at it, and not be dazzled by lying words.'

10 The taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spoke to the people, saying, "This is what Pharaoh says: 'I will not give you straw.

And the exactors of the people, and its authorities, go out, and speak unto the people, saying, 'Thus said Pharaoh, I do not give you straw,

11 Go yourselves, get straw where you can find it, for nothing of your work shall be diminished.'"

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

12 So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather dry stalks for straw.

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

13 The taskmasters kept pressing them, saying, "Fulfill your work quota, your daily amount, as when there was straw."

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

14 The officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, "Why haven't you fulfilled your quota both yesterday and today, in making brick as before?"

And the authorities of the sons of Israel, whom the exactors of Pharaoh have placed over them, are beaten, saying, 'Wherefore have ye not completed your portion in making brick as heretofore, both yesterday and to-day?'

15 Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, saying, "Why do you deal this way with your servants?

And the authorities of the sons of Israel come in and cry unto Pharaoh, saying, 'Why dost thou thus to thy servants?

16 No straw is given to your servants, and they tell us, 'Make bricks.' And look, your servants are beaten, but the fault is with your own people."

Straw is not given to thy servants, and they are saying to us, Make bricks, and lo, thy servants are smitten — and thy people hath sinned.'

17 But he said, "You are slackers! Slackers! Therefore you say, 'Let us go and sacrifice to God.'

And he saith, 'Remiss — ye are remiss, therefore ye are saying, Let us go, let us sacrifice to Jehovah;

18 Go therefore now, and work, for no straw shall be given to you, yet you shall deliver the same number of bricks."

and now, go, serve; and straw is not given to you, and the measure of bricks ye do give.'

19 The officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in trouble, when it was said, "You shall not diminish anything from your daily quota of bricks."

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

20 They met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh:

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

21 and they said to them, "May God look at you, and judge, because you have made us a stench to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us."

and say unto them, 'Jehovah look upon you, and judge, because ye 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.'

22 Moses returned to the LORD, and said, "Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Why is it that you have sent me?

And Moses turneth back unto Jehovah, and saith, 'Lord, why hast Thou done evil to this people? why [is] this? — Thou hast sent me!

23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people; neither have you delivered your people at all."

and since I have come unto Pharaoh, to speak in Thy name, he hath done evil to this people, and Thou hast not at all delivered Thy people.'