| Chapter 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.`" |
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." |
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." |
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!" |
5 |
Pharaoh said, "Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens." |
6 |
The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying, |
7 |
"You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick, as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves. |
8 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
Go yourselves, get straw where you can find it, for nothing of your work shall be diminished." |
12 |
So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. |
13 |
The taskmasters were urgent saying, "Fulfill your work quota daily, as when there was straw!" |
14 |
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 children of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, saying, "Why do you deal this way with your servants? |
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." |
17 |
But he said, "You are idle! You are idle! Therefore you say, `Let us go and sacrifice to Yahweh.` |
18 |
Go therefore now, and work, for no straw shall be given to you, yet shall you deliver the same number 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!" |
20 |
They met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh: |
21 |
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 |
Moses returned to Yahweh, and said, "Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Why is it that you have sent me? |
23 |
For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people; neither have you delivered your people at all." |