Exodus 5

1 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.'”

After that, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’”

2 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.”

But Pharaoh replied, “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.”

3 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.”

“The God of the Hebrews has met with us,” they answered. “Please let us go on a three-day journey into the wilderness to sacrifice to the LORD our God, or He may strike us with plagues or with the sword.”

4 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.”

But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you draw the people away from their work? Get back to your labor!”

5 He also said, “There are now many people in our land, and you are making them stop their work.”

Pharaoh also said, “Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you would be stopping them from their labor.”

6 On that same day, Pharaoh gave a command to the people's taskmasters and foremen. He said,

That same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen:

7 “Unlike before, you must no longer give the people straw to make bricks. Let them go and gather straw for themselves.

“You shall no longer supply the people with straw for making bricks. They must go and gather their own straw.

8 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.'

But require of them the same quota of bricks as before; do not reduce it. For they are lazy; that is why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’

9 Increase the workload for the men so that they keep at it and pay no more attention to deceptive words.”

Make the work harder on the men so they will be occupied and pay no attention to these lies.”

10 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.

So the taskmasters and foremen of the people went out and said to them, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I am no longer giving you straw.

11 You yourselves must go and get straw wherever you can find it, but your workload will not be reduced.'”

Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it; but your workload will in no way be reduced.’”

12 So the people scattered throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.

So the people scattered all over the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.

13 The taskmasters kept urging them and saying, “Finish your work, just as when straw was given to you.”

The taskmasters kept pressing them, saying, “Fulfill your quota each day, just as you did when straw was provided.”

14 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?”

Then the Israelite foremen, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over the people, were beaten and asked, “Why have you not fulfilled your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as you did before?”

15 So the Israelite foremen came to Pharaoh and cried out to him. They said, “Why are you treating your servants this way?

So the Israelite foremen went and appealed to Pharaoh: “Why are you treating your servants this way?

16 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.”

No straw has been given to your servants, yet we are told, ‘Make bricks!’ Look, your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people.”

17 But Pharaoh said, “You are lazy! You are lazy! You say, 'Allow us to go sacrifice to Yahweh.'

“You are slackers!” Pharaoh replied. “Slackers! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’

18 So now go back to work. No more straw will be given to you, but you must still make the same number of bricks.”

Now get to work. You will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the full quota of bricks.”

19 The Israelite foremen saw that they were in trouble when they were told, “You must not reduce the daily number of bricks.”

The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, “You must not reduce your daily quota of bricks.”

20 They met Moses and Aaron, who were standing outside the palace, as they went away from Pharaoh.

When they left Pharaoh, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who stood waiting to meet them.

21 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.”

“May the LORD look upon you and judge you,” the foremen said, “for you have made us a stench before Pharaoh and his officials; you have placed in their hand a sword to kill us!”

22 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?

So Moses returned to the LORD and asked, “Lord, why have You brought trouble upon this people? Is this why You sent me?

23 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.”

Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and You have not delivered Your people in any way.”