Exodus 5

1 Afterward Moses and Aaron came, and said to Pharaoh, “This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.’”

And afterward Moses and Aaron have entered, and they say to Pharaoh, “Thus said YHWH, God of Israel: Send My people away, and they keep a celebration for Me in the wilderness”;

2 Pharaoh said, “Who is Yahweh, that I should listen to his voice to let Israel go? I don’t know Yahweh, and moreover I will not let Israel go.”

and Pharaoh says, “Who [is] YHWH, that I listen to His voice to send Israel away? I have not known YHWH, and I also do not send Israel away.”

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 Yahweh, our God, lest he fall on us with pestilence, or with the sword.”

And they say, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us; please let us go a journey of three days into the wilderness, and we sacrifice to our God YHWH, lest He meet us with pestilence or with sword.”

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!”

And the king of Egypt says to them, “Why, Moses and Aaron, do you free the people from its works? Go to your burdens.”

5 Pharaoh said, “Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens.”

Pharaoh also says, “Behold, the people of the land [are] numerous now, and you have caused them to cease from their burdens!”

6 The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their officers, saying,

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

7 “You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick, as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves.

“You do not add to give straw to the people for the making of the bricks as before—they go and have gathered straw for themselves;

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.’

and you put on them the proper quantity of the bricks which they are making before, you 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 heavier work be laid on the men, that they may labor in it. Don’t let them pay any attention to lying words.”

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

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.

And the exactors of the people, and its authorities, go out, and speak to the people, saying, “Thus said Pharaoh: I do not give you straw,

11 Go yourselves, get straw where you can find it, for nothing of your work shall be diminished.’”

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

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

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

13 The taskmasters were urgent saying, “Fulfill your work quota daily, as when there was straw!”

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

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?”

And the authorities of the sons of Israel, whom the exactors of Pharaoh have placed over them, are beaten, saying, “Why have you not completed your portion in making brick as before, both yesterday and today?”

15 Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, saying, “Why do you deal this way with your servants?

And the authorities of the sons of Israel come in and cry to Pharaoh, saying, “Why do you do thus to your servants?

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.”

Straw is not given to your servants, and they are saying to us, Make bricks, and behold, your servants are struck—and your people have sinned.”

17 But Pharaoh said, “You are idle! You are idle! Therefore you say, ‘Let’s go and sacrifice to Yahweh.’

And he says, “Remiss—you are remiss, therefore you are saying, Let us go, let us sacrifice to YHWH;

18 Go therefore now, and work; for no straw shall be given to you; yet you shall deliver the same number of bricks!”

and now, go, serve; and straw is not given to you, and you give the [required] measure of bricks.”

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!”

And the authorities of the sons of Israel see them in affliction, saying, “You do not diminish from your bricks; the matter of a day in its day.”

20 They met Moses and Aaron, who stood along the way, as they came out from Pharaoh.

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

21 They said to them, “May Yahweh 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!”

and say to them, “YHWH look on you, and judge, because you 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 Moses returned to Yahweh, and said, “Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Why is it that you have sent me?

And Moses turns back to YHWH and says, “Lord, why have You done evil to this people? Why [is] this [that] You have sent me?

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!”

And since I have come to Pharaoh to speak in Your Name, he has done evil to this people, and You have not delivered Your people at all.”