1 A nd afterwards Moses and Aaron went in, and said to Pharaoh, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, Let my people go that they may celebrate 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 A nd Pharaoh said, Who is Jehovah, to whose voice I am to hearken to let Israel go? I do not know Jehovah, 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 thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to Jehovah our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with 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 A nd the king of Egypt said to them, Why do ye, Moses and Aaron, wish to have the people go off from their works? Away, 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 A nd Pharaoh said, Behold the people of the land are now many, and ye wish to 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 A nd Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,

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

7 Y e shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: 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 A nd the number of the bricks they have made heretofore shall ye lay upon them: ye shall not diminish any of it, for they are idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go 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 them put heavier labour on the men, that they may be taken up with it, and not regard vain 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 A nd 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:

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 ye, get yourselves straw where ye may find it; but none of your work shall be diminished.

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

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

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

13 A nd the taskmasters urged, saying, Fulfil your labours, the daily work, 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 officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, it was said, Why have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick, both yesterday and to-day, as heretofore?

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 officers of the children of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, saying, Why dost thou deal thus with thy bondmen?

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 T here is no straw given to thy bondmen, and they say to us, Make brick; and behold, thy bondmen are beaten, but it is the fault of thy 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 A nd he said, Ye are idle, idle! therefore ye say, Let us go and sacrifice to Jehovah.

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

18 A nd now go—work! and straw shall not be given you, and ye shall deliver the measure 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 officers of the children of Israel saw it stood ill with them, because it was said, Ye shall not diminish anything from your bricks, the daily work.

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

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

21 A nd they said to them, Jehovah look upon you and judge, that ye have made our odour to stink in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his bondmen, putting a sword into their hand to kill 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 A nd Moses returned to Jehovah, and said, Lord, why hast thou done evil to this people? why now hast thou sent 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 ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy 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.”