Exodus 5

1 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.’”

After this Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and told him, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says, ‘Let my people go so they can hold a religious festival for me in the desert.’”

2 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.”

“Who is this ‘Lord’ that I should listen to his request to let Israel go?” Pharaoh replied. “I don't know the Lord and I certainly won't let Israel leave!”

3 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.”

“The God of the Hebrews came to us,” they added. “Please allow us to go a three days journey into the desert and offer sacrifices to the Lord our God. Otherwise he'll kill us by disease or by the sword.”

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

“Moses and Aaron, why are you trying to take people away from their assigned labor?” Pharaoh asked. “Get back to work!” he ordered.

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

“Look here,” he went on. “There are many of your people here in our country and you are preventing them from doing their assigned labor.”

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

That very day he ordered the slave drivers and those in charge of the people:

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

“Don't give them any more straw to make bricks like before. Have them go and collect the straw themselves.

8 You shall require from them the number of the bricks which they made before. You shall not diminish anything of it, for they are idle. Therefore they cry, saying, ‘Let’s go and sacrifice to our God.’

But still make them produce the same quantity of bricks as before. They're lazy people—that's why they're calling out, asking, ‘Please let us go and offer sacrifices to our god.

9 Let heavier work be laid on the men, that they may labor in it. Don’t let them pay any attention to lying words.”

Make their work harder so they can get on with it and not pay any attention to all these lies!”

10 The taskmasters of the people went out with their officers, and they spoke to the people, saying, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I will not give you straw.

So the slave drivers and those in charge went out and told the people, “This is what Pharaoh has ordered: ‘I won't give you any more straw.

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

Go and get straw for yourselves wherever you can find it, because your work quota won't be reduced.”

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

So the people went all over Egypt collecting stubble for straw.

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

The slave drivers kept on forcing them, saying, “You still have to do the same work as you did when you had straw provided!”

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

They beat the Israelite supervisors they had put in charge, shouting at them, “Why haven't you met your quota of bricks as you did before?”

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

The Israelite supervisors went to Pharaoh to complain, saying, “Why are you treating us your servants like this?

16 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.”

You don't give us any straw but your slave drivers demand that we make bricks, and they beat us! Your people are treating us badly!”

17 But Pharaoh said, “You are idle! You are idle! Therefore you say, ‘Let’s go and sacrifice to Yahweh.’

“No, you're just lazy, lazy people!” Pharaoh replied. “That's why you keep on asking, ‘Please let us go and offer sacrifices to the Lord.’

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

Now get out of here and go back to work! You won't be given any straw but you'll still have to produce the full quota of bricks!”

19 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!”

The Israelite supervisors realized they were in trouble when they were told, “You must not reduce the daily production of bricks.”

20 They met Moses and Aaron, who stood along the way, as they came out from Pharaoh.

They went over to Moses and Aaron who were waiting for them after their meeting with Pharaoh,

21 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 said, “May the Lord see what you have done and judge you accordingly! You have made us like a bad smell to Pharaoh and his officials. You have put a sword in their hands to kill us!”

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

Moses went back to the Lord and complained, “Why have you caused all this trouble for your own people, Lord? Was this why you sent me?

23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people. You have not rescued your people at all!”

Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak for you, he has been even harder on your people, and you haven't done anything to save them!”