Exodus 5
1 Post hæc ingressi sunt Moyses et Aaron, et dixerunt Pharaoni: Hæc dicit Dominus Deus Israël: Dimitte populum meum ut sacrificet mihi in deserto.
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 At ille respondit: Quis est Dominus, ut audiam vocem ejus, et dimittam Israël? nescio Dominum, et Israël non dimittam.
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 Dixeruntque: Deus Hebræorum vocavit nos, ut eamus viam trium dierum in solitudinem, et sacrificemus Domino Deo nostro: ne forte accidat nobis pestis aut gladius.
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 Ait ad eos rex Ægypti: Quare Moyses et Aaron sollicitatis populum ab operibus suis? ite ad onera vestra.
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 Dixitque Pharao: Multus est populus terræ: videtis quod turba succreverit: quanto magis si dederitis eis requiem ab operibus?
He also said, “There are now many people in our land, and you are making them stop their work.”
6 Præcepit ergo in die illo præfectis operum et exactoribus populi, dicens:
On that same day, Pharaoh gave a command to the people's taskmasters and foremen. He said,
7 Nequaquam ultra dabitis paleas populo ad conficiendos lateres, sicut prius: sed ipsi vadant, et colligant stipulas.
“Unlike before, you must no longer give the people straw to make bricks. Let them go and gather straw for themselves.
8 Et mensuram laterum, quam prius faciebant, imponetis super eos, nec minuetis quidquam: vacant enim, et idcirco vociferantur, dicentes: Eamus, et sacrificemus Deo nostro.
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 Opprimantur operibus, et expleant ea: ut non acquiescant verbis mendacibus.
Increase the workload for the men so that they keep at it and pay no more attention to deceptive words.”
10 Igitur egressi præfecti operum et exactores ad populum, dixerunt: Sic dicit Pharao: Non do vobis paleas:
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 ite, et colligite sicubi invenire poteritis, nec minuetur quidquam de opere vestro.
You yourselves must go and get straw wherever you can find it, but your workload will not be reduced.'”
12 Dispersusque est populus per omnem terram Ægypti ad colligendas paleas.
So the people scattered throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.
13 Præfecti quoque operum instabant, dicentes: Complete opus vestrum quotidie, ut prius facere solebatis quando dabantur vobis paleæ.
The taskmasters kept urging them and saying, “Finish your work, just as when straw was given to you.”
14 Flagellatique sunt qui præerant operibus filiorum Israël, ab exactoribus Pharaonis, dicentibus: Quare non impletis mensuram laterum sicut prius, nec heri, nec hodie?
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 Veneruntque præpositi filiorum Israël, et vociferati sunt ad Pharaonem dicentes: Cur ita agis contra servos tuos?
So the Israelite foremen came to Pharaoh and cried out to him. They said, “Why are you treating your servants this way?
16 paleæ non dantur nobis, et lateres similiter imperantur: en famuli tui flagellis cædimur, et injuste agitur contra populum tuum.
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 Qui ait: Vacatis otio, et idcirco dicitis: Eamus, et sacrificemus Domino.
But Pharaoh said, “You are lazy! You are lazy! You say, 'Allow us to go sacrifice to Yahweh.'
18 Ite ergo, et operamini: paleæ non dabuntur vobis, et reddetis consuetum numerum laterum.
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 Videbantque se præpositi filiorum Israël in malo, eo quod diceretur eis: Non minuetur quidquam de lateribus per singulos dies.
The Israelite foremen saw that they were in trouble when they were told, “You must not reduce the daily number of bricks.”
20 Occurreruntque Moysi et Aaron, qui stabant ex adverso, egredientibus a Pharaone:
They met Moses and Aaron, who were standing outside the palace, as they went away from Pharaoh.
21 et dixerunt ad eos: Videat Dominus et judicet, quoniam fœtere fecistis odorem nostrum coram Pharaone et servis ejus, et præbuistis ei gladium, ut occideret nos.
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 Reversusque est Moyses ad Dominum, et ait: Domine, cur afflixisti populum istum? quare misisti 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 ex eo enim quo ingressus sum ad Pharaonem ut loquerer in nomine tuo, afflixit populum tuum: et non liberasti eos.
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.”
