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 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 .’
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 ."
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 .
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 were asked, " 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 Pharaoh said , " You are idle ! You are idle ! Therefore you say, ‘ Let ’s go and sacrifice to Yahweh .’
18 Go therefore now , and work ; for no straw shall be given to you ; yet you shall 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 along the way , as they came out from 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 !"
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 . You have not rescued your people at all !"