1 A fter 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.’”

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 B ut 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.”

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 T hen 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.”

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 B ut the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people away from their work? Return to your work!”

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

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

6 T hat same day Pharaoh told the men who made the people work,

So the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their officers, saying,

7 “ Do not give the people straw for making clay blocks any more. Let them go and gather straw for themselves.

“You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves.

8 B ut 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.

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 given to the men so they will not have time to listen to lies.”

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

10 S o 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.

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 Y ou go and get straw for yourselves where you can find it. But you will not work any less than before.’”

Go, get yourselves straw where you can find it; yet none of your work will be reduced.’”

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

So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw.

13 T he men who made them work made them hurry, saying, “Finish your full day’s work as you did when there was straw.”

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

14 A nd 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?”

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 T hen the Hebrew men who made the people work went to Pharaoh and cried, “Why do you act this way toward your servants?

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 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.”

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 B ut 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.’

But he said, “You are idle! Idle! Therefore you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’

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

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

19 T he 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.”

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 W hen they came from Pharaoh, they met Moses and Aaron who were waiting for them.

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

21 T hey 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

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 to the Lord and said, “O Lord, why have You hurt these people? Why did you ever send 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 went to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has hurt these people. You have not set Your people free 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.”