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 came, and said to Pharaoh, “This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, ‘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.

Pharaoh said, “Who is Yahweh, that I should listen to his voice to let Israel go? I don’t know Yahweh, and moreover 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.

They said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to Yahweh, our God, lest he fall on 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.

The king of Egypt said to them, “Why do you, Moses and Aaron, take the people from their work? Get back to your burdens!”

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

Pharaoh said, “Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens.”

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

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.

The number of the bricks, which they made before, you require from them. You shall not diminish anything of it, for they are idle; therefore they cry, 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 heavier work be laid on the men, that they may labor therein; and don’t let them pay any attention to lying 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.

The taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spoke to the people, saying, “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.

Go yourselves, get straw where you can find it, for nothing of your work shall be diminished.’”

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 for straw.

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

The taskmasters were urgent saying, “Fulfill your work quota daily, 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?

The officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, “Why haven’t you fulfilled your quota both yesterday and today, in making brick 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 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.

No straw is given to your servants, and they tell us, ‘Make brick!’ and behold, 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! You are idle! Therefore you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to Yahweh.’

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

Go therefore now, and work, for no straw shall be given to you, yet you shall deliver the same number 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 officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in trouble, when it was said, “You shall not diminish anything from your daily quota of bricks!”

20 A nd they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh;

They met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came out from Pharaoh:

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, “May Yahweh look at you, and judge, because you have made us a stench to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes 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?

Moses returned to Yahweh, and said, “Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Why is it that 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 brought trouble on this people; and you have not rescued your people at all.”