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.

After this, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “The Lord, the God of Israel, says this: ‘Let My people go, that they may have a special supper to honor Me in the desert.’”

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 Him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord. And 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. We ask of you, let us travel into the desert three days, to give a gift on an altar in worship to the Lord our God. Or He may send death to us by disease or by 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 take the people away from their work? Return to your work!”

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

Then Pharaoh said, “See, the people of the land are now many. And you would have them stop working!”

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

That same day Pharaoh told the men who made the people work,

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

“Do not give the people straw for making clay blocks any more. 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 have them make the same number of clay blocks as before, and no less. They are crying, ‘Let us go and give a gift in worship to our God,’ because they are lazy.

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 given to the men so they will not have time to listen to lies.”

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 men who made the people work went out and said to the people, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘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.

You go and get straw for yourselves where you can find it. But you will not work any less than before.’”

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

So the people went out through all the land of Egypt to gather what they could use for straw.

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

The men who made them work made them hurry, saying, “Finish your full day’s work as you did 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?

And the Hebrew men who had been made to rule over the people by Pharaoh’s work-leaders were beaten. They were asked, “Why have you not made as many clay blocks yesterday or today as you made before?”

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

Then the Hebrew men who made the people work went to Pharaoh and cried, “Why do you act this way toward 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 still say to us, ‘Make clay blocks!’ See, your servants are being beaten. But your own people are to blame.”

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

But Pharaoh said, “You are lazy, very lazy. So you say, ‘Let us go and give a gift on an altar in worship 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.

Go now and work. You will be given no straw. Yet you must make the same number of clay blocks.”

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 Hebrew men who made the people work knew that they were in trouble because they were told, “You must make the same number of clay blocks each day.”

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

When they came from Pharaoh, they met Moses and Aaron who 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 Moses and Aaron, “May the Lord look upon you and judge you. For you have caused us to be hated by Pharaoh and his servants. You have put a sword in their hand to kill us.” God’s Promise to Israel

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 hurt these 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.

For since I went to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has hurt these people. You have not set Your people free at all.”