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.

Afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘Let My people go, that they may hold 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.

And Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor 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.

So they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please, let us go three days’ journey into the desert and sacrifice to the Lord our God, lest He 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!

Then the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people from their work? Get back to your labor.”

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

And Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land are many now, and you make them rest from their labor!”

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

So the same day Pharaoh commanded 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.

“You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick as before. 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.

And you shall lay on them the quota of bricks which they made before. You shall not reduce it. For they are idle; therefore they cry out, 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 on the men, that they may labor in it, and let them not regard 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.

And the taskmasters of the people and their officers went out and spoke to the people, saying, “Thus says Pharaoh: ‘I will not give you straw.

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

Go, get yourselves straw where you can find it; yet none of your work 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 were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw.

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

And the taskmasters forced them to hurry, saying, “Fulfill your work, your daily quota, as when there was 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?

Also the officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, “Why have you not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and today, as before?”

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 children of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, “Why are you dealing thus 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, and they say to us, ‘Make brick!’ And indeed your servants are beaten, but the fault is in 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 idle! Idle! 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.

Therefore go now and work; for no straw shall be given you, yet you shall 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.

And the officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in trouble after it was said, “You shall not reduce any bricks from your daily quota.”

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

Then, as they came out from Pharaoh, they met Moses and Aaron who stood there to meet 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.

And they said to them, “Let the Lord look on you and judge, because you have made us abhorrent in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us.” Israel’s Deliverance Assured

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?

So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Why is it You have 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 Your name, he has done evil to this people; neither have You delivered Your people at all.”