Exodus 5
1 Afterward Moses and Aaron came, and said to Pharaoh, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says, ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.’”
此後，梅瑟同亞郎去見法朗說：「以色列的天主雅威這樣說：「你應放我的百姓走，好叫他們在曠野裏過傑敬拜我。」
2 Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should listen to his voice to let Israel go? I don’t know the LORD, and moreover I will not let Israel go.”
法朗問說：「誰是雅威，我該聽他的命，放以色列走﹖我不認識雅威，也不放以色列走。」
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 the LORD, our God, lest he fall on us with pestilence, or with the sword.”
他們回答說：「希伯來人的天主遇見了我們。請讓我們走三天的路到曠野裏，向上主我們的天主獻祭，免得他用瘟疫刀兵擊殺我們。」
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!”
埃及王回答他們說：「梅瑟、亞郎啊! 你們為什麼妨礙百姓工作呢﹖去服你們的勞役罷! 」
5 Pharaoh said, “Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens.”
法朗又說：「現在他們比本地的人民還多，你們竟然叫他們歇工﹖」
6 The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their officers, saying,
那一天法朗命令那些百姓中的監工和工頭說：「
7 “You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick, as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves.
你們以後不要再像往日一樣，給百姓做磚用的草楷，叫他們自己去拾草。
8 You shall require from them the number of the bricks which they made before. You shall not diminish anything of it, for they are idle. Therefore they cry, saying, ‘Let’s go and sacrifice to our God.’
但你們仍向他們要往日所做的同樣磚數，一點也不可減少，因為他們懶惰，所以才吶喊說：我們要去向我們的天主獻祭。
9 Let heavier work be laid on the men, that they may labour in it. Don’t let them pay any attention to lying words.”
應給這些人加重工作，使他們只工作，而不聽謊言。」苦工加重
10 The taskmasters of the people went out with their officers, and they spoke to the people, saying, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I will not give you straw.
百姓中的監工頭遂出去向百姓說：「法朗這樣吩咐：我不再給你們草楷。
11 Go yourselves, get straw where you can find it, for nothing of your work shall be diminished.’”
你們看那裏能找到草楷，就到那裏去拾罷! 但應有的工作一點也不可減少。」
12 So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.
百姓就分散到埃及全境，拾取麥莖充當草楷。
13 The taskmasters were urgent saying, “Fulfil your work quota daily, as when there was straw!”
監工催迫說：「你們每天應該完成當天的工作，像從前有草楷時一樣。」
14 The officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and were asked, “Why haven’t you fulfilled your quota both yesterday and today, in making brick as before?”
法朗的監工責打他們所派出的以色列子民的工頭說：「你們昨天今天為什麼沒有完成像前天所做的磚數呢﹖」
15 Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, saying, “Why do you deal this way with your servants?
以色列子民的工頭遂去向法朗訴苦說：「你為什麼這樣對待你的僕人們呢﹖
16 No straw is given to your servants, and they tell us, ‘Make brick!’ and behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people.”
不給你僕人們草楷，只對我們說：做磚罷! 原是你人民的錯，你卻來打你的僕人們。」
17 But Pharaoh said, “You are idle! You are idle! Therefore you say, ‘Let’s go and sacrifice to the LORD.’
法朗回答說：「你們太懶惰了! 所以說：讓我們去祭獻上主!
18 Go therefore now, and work; for no straw shall be given to you; yet you shall deliver the same number of bricks!”
現在都快去作工! 決不供給你們草楷，但是磚卻該如數交上。
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!”
以色列子民的工頭因所出的命令說：你們每天應做的磚數，不得減少，」便知自己更陷於困難中。梅瑟受責哀求天主
20 They met Moses and Aaron, who stood along the way, as they came out from Pharaoh.
工頭們由法朗那裏出來，遇見梅瑟和亞郎正等候他們，
21 They said to them, “May the LORD 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!”
就對他們說：「願上主鑑察懲罰你們! 你們使我們在法朗和他臣僕眼中成了可恨的，就好像把刀交在他們手中，宰殺我們。」
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?
梅瑟回到上主那裏說：「吾主，你為什麼折磨這百姓﹖為什麼偏偏打發我呢﹖
23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people. You have not rescued your people at all!”
自從我到法朗那裏，奉你的名講話以來，他更加折磨這百姓，而你也沒有整救你的百姓。」
