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.

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 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 Him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord. And 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. 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 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 take the people away from their work? Return to your work!”

5 P haraoh also said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them cease from their burdens.

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

6 A nd Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people and their officers, saying,

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

7 Y e shall no longer give the people firewood to make brick as until now; let them go and gather firewood for themselves.

“Do not give the people straw for making clay blocks any more. 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 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 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 given to the men so they will not have time to listen to lies.”

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

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 abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather brush for firewood.

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

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

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 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?

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

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

17 A nd he replied, Ye are idle, ye are idle, therefore ye say, Let us go and sacrifice unto 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 o therefore now and work, for no firewood shall be given you, yet ye shall deliver the tally of bricks.

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

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 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 they met Moses and Aaron, who stood 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 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 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 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 hurt these 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.

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.”