1 ¶ 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.

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 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.

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 ¶ 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.

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 hen the king of Egypt said unto them, Why do ye, Moses and Aaron, keep the people from their works? Go unto 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 also said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them cease 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 longer give the people firewood to make brick as until now; let them go and gather firewood 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 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.

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

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 ¶ 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.

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, gather firewood where ye can find it; yet 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 S o the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather brush for firewood.

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

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

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 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?

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

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 firewood given unto thy slaves, yet they say to us, Make brick. Behold, thy slaves are beaten; and thy people sin.

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

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

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

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

19 T hen 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.

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 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 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.

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 returned unto the LORD and said, Lord, why hast thou so afflicted this people? Why is it that thou hast 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 since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he has afflicted 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.”