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.

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 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.

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 ¶ 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.

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 hen the king of Egypt said unto them, Why do ye, Moses and Aaron, keep the people from their works? Go unto 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 also said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them cease from their burdens.

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

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 of the people and their officers, 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 shall no longer give the people straw to make brick as before. 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.

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

Let more work be laid on the men, that they may labor in it, and let them not regard 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.

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 ye, gather firewood where ye can find it; yet none of your work shall be diminished.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 they met Moses and Aaron, who stood 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 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.

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 returned unto the LORD and said, Lord, why hast thou so afflicted this people? Why is it that thou hast sent 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 thy name, he has afflicted this people; neither hast thou delivered thy 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.”