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.’”

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 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 Him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord. And I will not 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.”

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 he king of Egypt said to them, “Why do you, Moses and Aaron, take the people from their work? Get back to 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 said, “Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens.”

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

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

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

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

“Do not give the people straw for making clay blocks any more. 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 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 heavier work be laid on the men, that they may labor therein; and don’t let them pay any attention to lying words.”

Let more work be given to the men so they will not have time to listen to lies.”

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.

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 yourselves, get straw where you can find it, for nothing 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 stubble for straw.

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

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

The men who made them work made them hurry, saying, “Finish your full day’s work as you did 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 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 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 men who made the people work went to Pharaoh and cried, “Why do you act this way toward 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.”

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

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 straw shall be given to you, yet you shall deliver the same number of bricks!”

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

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!”

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

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

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.”

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 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 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 your name, he has brought trouble on this people; and you have not rescued your 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.”