Exodus 5

1 And after this went in Moses and Aaron to Pharao, and they said to him, These things says the Lord God of Israel, Send my people away, that they may keep 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 And Pharao said, Who is he that I should hearken to his voice, so that I should send away the children of Israel? I do not know the Lord, and 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 And they say to him, The God of the Hebrews has called us to him: we will go therefore a three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God, lest at any time death or slaughter happen to us.

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 And the king of Egypt said to them, Why do ye, Moses and Aaron, turn the people from their works? depart each of you to your works.

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 And Pharao said, Behold now, the people is very numerous; let us not then give them rest from their work.

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

6 And Pharao gave orders to the task-masters of the people and the accountants, saying,

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

7 Ye shall no longer give straw to the people for brick-making as yesterday and the third day; but let them go themselves, and collect 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 And thou shalt impose on them daily the rate of brick-making which they perform: thou shalt not abate anything, for they are idle; therefore have they cried, saying, Let us arise and do 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 the works of these men be made grievous, and let them care for these things, and not care for vain words.

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

10 And the taskmasters and the accountants hastened them, and they spoke to the people, saying, thus says Pharao, I [will] give you straw no longer.

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 ye, yourselves, get for yourselves straw whencesoever ye can find it, for nothing is diminished from your rate.

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

12 So the people were dispersed in all the land of Egypt, to gather stubble for straw.

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

13 and the taskmasters hastened them, saying, Fulfil your regular daily tasks, even as when straw was given you.

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

14 And the accountants of the race of the children of Israel, who were set over them by the masters of Pharao, were scourged, [[and questioned, ] men] saying, Why have ye not fulfilled your rates of brick-work as yesterday and the third day, to-day also?

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 And the accountants of the children of Israel went in and cried to Pharao, saying, Why dost thou act thus to thy servants?

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

16 Straw is not given to thy servants, and they tell us to make brick; and behold thy servants have been scourged: thou wilt therefore injure thy 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 And he said to them, Ye are idle, ye are idlers: therefore ye say, Let us go [and] do sacrifice to our God.

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

18 Now then go and work, for straw shall not be given to you, yet ye shall return the rate of bricks.

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

19 And the accountants of the children of Israel saw themselves in an evil plight, [men] saying, Ye shall not fail to deliver the daily rate of the brick-making.

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 And they met Moses and Aaron coming forth to meet them, as they came forth from Pharao.

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

21 And they said to them, The Lord look upon you and judge you, for ye have made our savour abominable before Pharao, and before his servants, to put a sword into his hands to slay 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 And Moses turned to the Lord, and said, I pray, Lord, why hast thou afflicted this people? and wherefore hast thou 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 from the time that I went to Pharao to speak in thy name, he has afflicted this people, and thou hast not delivered thy people.

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.'