1 A fterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.

¶ And afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go that they may celebrate a feast unto me in the wilderness.

2 B ut Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.

And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should hearken to his voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.

3 A nd they said, The God of the Hebrews has met with us; let us go, we pray you, three days’ journey into the desert and sacrifice to the Lord our God, lest He fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.

¶ And they said, The God of the Hebrews has found us; therefore we shall go three days’ journey into the desert and sacrifice unto the LORD our God lest he encounter us with pestilence or with the sword.

4 T he king of Egypt said to Moses and Aaron, Why do you take the people from their jobs? Get to your burdens!

Then the king of Egypt said unto them, Why do ye, Moses and Aaron, keep the people from their works? Go unto your burdens.

5 P haraoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and you make them rest from their burdens!

Pharaoh also said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them cease from their burdens.

6 T he very same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their officers,

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

7 Y ou shall no more give the people straw to make brick; let them go and gather straw for themselves.

Ye shall no longer give the people firewood to make brick as until now; let them go and gather firewood for themselves.

8 B ut the number of the bricks which they made before you shall still require of them; you shall not diminish it in the least. For they are idle; that is why they cry, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.

And the tally of the bricks which they made before, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish any of it; for they are idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.

9 L et heavier work be laid upon the men that they may labor at it and pay no attention to lying words.

Let more work be laid upon them that they may occupy themselves with it; and let them not regard words of deception.

10 T he taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they said to the people, Thus says Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.

¶ And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spoke to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you firewood.

11 G o, get straw where you can find it; but your work shall not be diminished in the least.

Go ye, gather firewood where ye can find it; yet none of your work shall be diminished.

12 S o the people were scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather the short stubble instead of straw.

So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather brush for firewood.

13 A nd the taskmasters were urgent, saying, Finish your work, your daily quotas, as when there was straw.

And the taskmasters hasted them, saying, Fulfil your works, your daily quotas, as when there was firewood.

14 A nd the Hebrew foremen, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, Why have you not fulfilled all your quota of making bricks yesterday and today, as before?

And the officers of the sons of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and they demanded, Why have ye not fulfilled your quotas in making brick both yesterday and today, as until now?

15 T hen the Hebrew foremen came to Pharaoh and cried, Why do you deal like this with your servants?

¶ Then the officers of the sons of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Why doest thou deal thus with thy slaves?

16 N o straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, Make bricks! And behold, your servants are beaten, but the fault is in your own people.

There is no firewood given unto thy slaves, yet they say to us, Make brick. Behold, thy slaves are beaten; and thy people sin.

17 B ut said, You are idle, lazy and idle! That is why you say, Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.

And he replied, Ye are idle, ye are idle, therefore ye say, Let us go and sacrifice unto the LORD.

18 G et out now and get to work; for no straw shall be given you, yet you shall deliver the full quota of bricks.

Go therefore now and work, for no firewood shall be given you, yet ye shall deliver the tally of bricks.

19 A nd the Hebrew foremen saw that they were in an evil situation when it was said, You shall not diminish in the least your full daily quota of bricks.

Then the officers of the sons of Israel saw that they were afflicted after it was said, Ye shall not diminish any from the bricks of your daily quota.

20 A nd the foremen met Moses and Aaron, who were standing in the way as they came forth from Pharaoh.

And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh;

21 A nd the foremen said to them, The Lord look upon you and judge, because you have made us a rotten stench to be detested by Pharaoh and his servants and have put a sword in their hand to slay us.

and they said unto them, The LORD look upon you and judge because ye have made our savour to be a stench before Pharaoh and his slaves, putting a sword in their hands to slay us.

22 T hen Moses turned again to the Lord and said, O Lord, why have You dealt evil to this people? Why did You ever send me?

Then Moses returned unto the LORD and said, Lord, why hast thou so afflicted this people? Why is it that thou hast sent me?

23 F or since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done evil to this people, neither have You delivered Your people at all.

For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he has afflicted this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all.