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 came and said to Pharaoh, “ Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘ Let My people go that they may celebrate a feast to 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.

But Pharaoh said, “ Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and besides, I will not 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.

Then they said, “ The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please, let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God, otherwise He will fall upon 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!

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 labors!”

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

Again Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land are now many, and you would have them cease from their labors!”

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

So the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters over the people and their foremen, saying,

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

“You are no longer to give the people straw to make brick as previously; let them go and gather straw 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.

But the quota of bricks which they were making previously, you shall impose on them; you are not to reduce any of it. Because they are lazy, therefore they cry out, ‘ 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 the labor be heavier on the men, and let them work at it so that they will pay no attention to false words.”

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.

So the taskmasters of the people and their foremen went out and spoke to the people, saying, “Thus says Pharaoh, ‘I am not going to give you any straw.

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

You go and get straw for yourselves wherever you can find it, but none of your labor will be reduced.’”

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

So the people scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.

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

The taskmasters pressed them, saying, “Complete your work quota, your daily amount, just as when you had straw.”

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?

Moreover, the foremen of the sons of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, “Why have you not completed your required amount either yesterday or today in making brick as previously?”

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

Then the foremen of the sons of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, “Why do you deal this way with your servants?

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 straw given to your servants, yet they keep saying to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And behold, your servants are being beaten; but it is the fault of your own people.”

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

But he said, “You are lazy, very lazy; therefore you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to 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.

So go now and work; for you will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the quota 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.

The foremen of the sons of Israel saw that they were in trouble because they were told, “You must not reduce your daily amount of bricks.”

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

When they left Pharaoh’s presence, they met Moses and Aaron as they were waiting for them.

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.

They said to them, “ May the Lord look upon you and judge you, for you have made us odious in Pharaoh’s sight and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill 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 to the Lord and said, “ O Lord, why have You brought harm to this people? Why did You ever send 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.

Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done harm to this people, and You have not delivered Your people at all.”