1 A fterward 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.’”

Afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.

2 P haraoh 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.”

But Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.

3 T hey 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.”

And they said, The God of the Hebrews has met with us; let us go, we pray you, 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 he king of Egypt said to them, “Why do you, Moses and Aaron, take the people from their work? Get back to your burdens!”

The king of Egypt said to Moses and Aaron, Why do you take the people from their jobs? Get to your burdens!

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

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

6 T he same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,

The very same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their officers,

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

You shall no more give the people straw to make brick; let them go and gather straw for themselves.

8 T he 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.’

But the number of the bricks which they made before you shall still require of them; you shall not diminish it in the least. For they are idle; that is why they cry, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.

9 L et heavier work be laid on the men, that they may labor therein; and don’t let them pay any attention to lying words.”

Let heavier work be laid upon the men that they may labor at it and pay no attention to lying words.

10 T he 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.

The taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they said to the people, Thus says Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.

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

Go, get straw where you can find it; but your work shall not be diminished in the least.

12 S o the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.

So the people were scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather the short stubble instead of straw.

13 T he taskmasters were urgent saying, “Fulfill your work quota daily, as when there was straw!”

And the taskmasters were urgent, saying, Finish your work, your daily quotas, as when there was straw.

14 T he 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?”

And the Hebrew foremen, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, Why have you not fulfilled all your quota of making bricks yesterday and today, as before?

15 T hen the officers of the children of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, saying, “Why do you deal this way with your servants?

Then the Hebrew foremen came to Pharaoh and cried, Why do you deal like this with your servants?

16 N o 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.”

No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, Make bricks! And behold, your servants are beaten, but the fault is in your own people.

17 B ut he said, “You are idle! You are idle! Therefore you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to Yahweh.’

But said, You are idle, lazy and idle! That is why you say, Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.

18 G o therefore now, and work, for no straw shall be given to you, yet you shall deliver the same number of bricks!”

Get out now and get to work; for no straw shall be given you, yet you shall deliver the full quota of bricks.

19 T he 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!”

And the Hebrew foremen saw that they were in an evil situation when it was said, You shall not diminish in the least your full daily quota of bricks.

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

And the foremen met Moses and Aaron, who were standing in the way as they came forth from Pharaoh.

21 a nd 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.”

And the foremen said to them, The Lord look upon you and judge, because you have made us a rotten stench to be detested by Pharaoh and his servants and have put a sword in their hand to slay us.

22 M oses returned to Yahweh, and said, “Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Why is it that you have sent me?

Then Moses turned again to the Lord and said, O Lord, why have You dealt evil to this people? Why did You ever send me?

23 F or 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.”

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.