Exodus 5
1 Post haec ingressi sunt Moyses et Aaron, et dixerunt Pharaoni: Haec dicit Dominus Deus Israel: Dimitte populum meum ut sacrificet mihi in deserto.
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 At ille respondit: Quis est Dominus, ut audiam vocem eius, et dimittam Israel? nescio Dominum, et Israel non dimittam.
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 Dixeruntque: Deus Hebraeorum vocavit nos, ut eamus viam trium dierum in solitudinem, et sacrificemus Domino Deo nostro: ne forte accidat nobis pestis aut gladius.
“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 Ait ad eos rex Aegypti: Quare Moyses et Aaron solicitatis populum ab operibus suis? ite ad onera vestra.
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 Dixitque Pharao: Multus est populus terrae: videtis quod turba succreverit: quanto magis si dederitis eis requiem ab operibus?
Pharaoh also said, “Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you would be stopping them from their labor.”
6 Praecepit ergo in die illo praefectis operum et exactoribus populi, dicens:
That same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen:
7 Nequaquam ultra dabitis paleas populo ad conficiendos lateres, sicut prius: sed ipsi vadant, et colligant stipulas.
“You shall no longer supply the people with straw for making bricks. They must go and gather their own straw.
8 Et mensuram laterum, quam prius faciebant, imponetis super eos, nec minuetis quidquam: vacant enim, et idcirco vociferantur, dicentes: Eamus, et sacrificemus Deo nostro.
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 Opprimantur operibus, et expleant ea: ut non acquiescant verbis mendacibus.
Make the work harder on the men so they will be occupied and pay no attention to these lies.”
10 Igitur egressi praefecti operum et exactores, ad populum dixerunt: Sic dicit Pharao: Non do vobis paleas:
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 ite, et colligite sicubi invenire poteritis, nec minuetur quidquam de opere vestro.
Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it; but your workload will in no way be reduced.’”
12 Dispersusque est populus per omnem Terram Aegypti ad colligendas paleas.
So the people scattered all over the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.
13 Praefecti quoque operum instabant, dicentes: Complete opus vestrum quotidie, ut prius facere solebatis quando dabantur vobis paleae.
The taskmasters kept pressing them, saying, “Fulfill your quota each day, just as you did when straw was provided.”
14 Flagellatique sunt qui praeerant operibus filiorum Israel, ab exactoribus Pharaonis, dicentibus: Quare non implestis mensuram laterum sicut prius, nec heri, nec hodie?
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 Veneruntque praepositi filiorum Israel, et vociferati sunt ad Pharaonem dicentes: Cur ita agis contra servos tuos?
So the Israelite foremen went and appealed to Pharaoh: “Why are you treating your servants this way?
16 Paleae non dantur nobis, et lateres similiter imperantur: en famuli tui flagellis caedimur, et iniuste agitur contra populum tuum.
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 Qui ait: Vacatis otio, et idcirco dicitis: Eamus, et sacrificemus Domino.
“You are slackers!” Pharaoh replied. “Slackers! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’
18 Ite ergo, et operamini: paleae non dabuntur vobis, et reddetis consuetum numerum laterum.
Now get to work. You will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the full quota of bricks.”
19 Videbantque se praepositi filiorum Israel in malum, eo quod diceretur eis: Non minuetur quidquam de lateribus per singulos dies.
The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, “You must not reduce your daily quota of bricks.”
20 Occurreruntque Moysi et Aaron, qui stabant ex adverso, egredientibus a Pharaone:
When they left Pharaoh, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who stood waiting to meet them.
21 et dixerunt ad eos: Videat Dominus et iudicet, quoniam foetere fecistis odorem nostrum coram Pharaone et servis eius, et praebuistis ei gladium, ut occideret nos.
“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 Reversusque est Moyses ad Dominum, et ait: Domine, cur afflixisti populum istum? quare misisti me?
So Moses returned to the LORD and asked, “Lord, why have You brought trouble upon this people? Is this why You sent me?
23 Ex eo enim quo ingressus sum ad Pharaonem ut loquerer in nomine tuo, afflixit populum tuum: et non liberasti eos.
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.”
