New Living Translation

Darby Bible Translation

Moses and Aaron Speak to Pharaoh

After this presentation to Israel’s leaders, Moses and Aaron went and spoke to Pharaoh. They told him, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Let my people go so they may hold a festival in my honor in the wilderness.”

1

Pharaoh's First Refusal

And afterwards Moses and Aaron went in, and said to Pharaoh, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, Let my people go that they may celebrate a feast to me in the wilderness.

2

“Is that so?” retorted Pharaoh. “And who is the LORD? Why should I listen to him and let Israel go? I don’t know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.”

2

And Pharaoh said, Who is Jehovah, to whose voice I am to hearken to let Israel go? I do not know Jehovah, neither will I let Israel go.

3

But Aaron and Moses persisted. “The God of the Hebrews has met with us,” they declared. “So let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness so we can offer sacrifices to the LORD our God. If we don’t, he will kill us with a plague or with the sword.”

3

And they said, The God of the Hebrews has met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to Jehovah our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with sword.

4

Pharaoh replied, “Moses and Aaron, why are you distracting the people from their tasks? Get back to work!

4

And the king of Egypt said to them, Why do ye, Moses and Aaron, wish to have the people go off from their works? Away, to your burdens!

5

Look, there are many of your people in the land, and you are stopping them from their work.”

5

And Pharaoh said, Behold the people of the land are now many, and ye wish to make them rest from their burdens.

6

Making Bricks without Straw

That same day Pharaoh sent this order to the Egyptian slave drivers and the Israelite foremen:

6

Bricks and Straw

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

7

“Do not supply any more straw for making bricks. Make the people get it themselves!

7

Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.

8

But still require them to make the same number of bricks as before. Don’t reduce the quota. They are lazy. That’s why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifices to our God.’

8

And the number of the bricks they have made heretofore shall ye lay upon them: ye shall not diminish any of it, for they are idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go [and] sacrifice to our God.

9

Load them down with more work. Make them sweat! That will teach them to listen to lies!”

9

Let them put heavier labour on the men, that they may be taken up with it, and not regard vain words.

10

So the slave drivers and foremen went out and told the people: “This is what Pharaoh says: I will not provide any more straw for you.

10

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

Go and get it yourselves. Find it wherever you can. But you must produce just as many bricks as before!”

11

go ye, get yourselves straw where ye may find it; but none of your work shall be diminished.

12

So the people scattered throughout the land of Egypt in search of stubble to use as straw.

12

And the people were scattered abroad throughout the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.

13

Meanwhile, the Egyptian slave drivers continued to push hard. “Meet your daily quota of bricks, just as you did when we provided you with straw!” they demanded.

13

And the taskmasters urged [them], saying, Fulfil your labours, the daily work, as when there was straw.

14

Then they whipped the Israelite foremen they had put in charge of the work crews. “Why haven’t you met your quotas either yesterday or today?” they demanded.

14

And the officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, [and] it was said, Why have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick, both yesterday and to-day, as heretofore?

15

So the Israelite foremen went to Pharaoh and pleaded with him. “Please don’t treat your servants like this,” they begged.

15

The Israelites' Cry

Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, saying, Why dost thou deal thus with thy bondmen?

16

“We are given no straw, but the slave drivers still demand, ‘Make bricks!’ We are being beaten, but it isn’t our fault! Your own people are to blame!”

16

There is no straw given to thy bondmen, and they say to us, Make brick; and behold, thy bondmen are beaten, but it is the fault of thy people.

17

But Pharaoh shouted, “You’re just lazy! Lazy! That’s why you’re saying, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifices to the LORD.’

17

And he said, Ye are idle, idle! therefore ye say, Let us go and sacrifice to Jehovah.

18

Now get back to work! No straw will be given to you, but you must still produce the full quota of bricks.”

18

And now go -- work! and straw shall not be given you, and ye shall deliver the measure of bricks.

19

The Israelite foremen could see that they were in serious trouble when they were told, “You must not reduce the number of bricks you make each day.”

19

And the officers of the children of Israel saw [that] it stood ill with them, because it was said, Ye shall not diminish anything from your bricks, the daily work.

20

As they left Pharaoh’s court, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who were waiting outside for them.

20

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

21

The foremen said to them, “May the LORD judge and punish you for making us stink before Pharaoh and his officials. You have put a sword into their hands, an excuse to kill us!”

21

And they said to them, Jehovah look upon you and judge, that ye have made our odour to stink in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his bondmen, putting a sword into their hand to kill us!

22

Then Moses went back to the LORD and protested, “Why have you brought all this trouble on your own people, Lord? Why did you send me?

22

And Moses returned to Jehovah, and said, Lord, why hast thou done evil to this people? why now hast thou sent me?

23

Ever since I came to Pharaoh as your spokesman, he has been even more brutal to your people. And you have done nothing to rescue them!”

23

For ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all!

Parallel

New Living Translation

Darby Bible Translation

Exodus 5

Exodus 5