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Exodus 5

Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, 'This is what the Lord God of Israel says: Let my people go, so they can hold a feast for me in the wilderness.' Pharaoh said, 'Who's the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I don't know the Lord, and I'm not letting Israel go.' They said, 'The God of the Hebrews has met with

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Let my people go

Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, 'This is what the Lord God of Israel says: Let my people go, so they can hold a feast for me in the wilderness.' Pharaoh said, 'Who's the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I don't know the Lord, and I'm not letting Israel go.' They said, 'The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go three days into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God, or he may strike us with plague or sword.' The king of Egypt snapped, 'Moses and Aaron, why are you dragging the people away from their work? Get back to your burdens.' Pharaoh said, 'Look how many of them there are in the land, and now you want them knocking off work.' That same day Pharaoh gave orders to the taskmasters and officers over the people: 'Don't give them straw for making bricks any more. Make them go and gather their own.' 'But demand the same quota of bricks as before. Don't reduce it. They're idle — that's why they're crying out, “Let us go and sacrifice to our God.”' 'Pile the work on them. Keep them working hard, and they won't have time to listen to empty words.'

And after that Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh: This is what the Lord God of Israel says. Let my people go, so they can hold a feast to me in the wilderness. And Pharaoh said: Who's the Lord, that I should listen to his voice and let Israel go? I don't know the Lord, and I won't let Israel go either. And they said: The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Let us go three days' journey into the wilderness, please, and sacrifice to the Lord our God, or he'll fall on us with plague or with the sword. And the king of Egypt said to them: Moses and Aaron, why do you pull the people away from their work? Get to your loads. And Pharaoh said: Look — the people of the land are plenty now, and you make them rest from their loads. And that same day Pharaoh ordered the taskmasters of the people and their officers: You won't give the people straw any more to make brick, the way you did before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves. And you'll lay on them the number of bricks they made before. You won't take anything off it. Because they're lazy. That's why they cry out: Let us go and sacrifice to our God. Let more work be laid on the men, so they'll be busy with it and won't take any notice of empty words.

And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness. And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go. And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days’ journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the LORD our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword. And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens. And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens. And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying, Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves. And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God. Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words.

1

Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, 'This is what the Lord God of Israel says: Let my people go, so they can hold a feast for me in the wilderness.'

Plain English

And after that Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh: This is what the Lord God of Israel says. Let my people go, so they can hold a feast to me in the wilderness.

King James Version, 1611

And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.

2

Pharaoh said, 'Who's the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I don't know the Lord, and I'm not letting Israel go.'

Plain English

And Pharaoh said: Who's the Lord, that I should listen to his voice and let Israel go? I don't know the Lord, and I won't let Israel go either.

King James Version, 1611

And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.

3

They said, 'The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go three days into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God, or he may strike us with plague or sword.'

Plain English

And they said: The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Let us go three days' journey into the wilderness, please, and sacrifice to the Lord our God, or he'll fall on us with plague or with the sword.

King James Version, 1611

And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days’ journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the LORD our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.

4

The king of Egypt snapped, 'Moses and Aaron, why are you dragging the people away from their work? Get back to your burdens.'

Plain English

And the king of Egypt said to them: Moses and Aaron, why do you pull the people away from their work? Get to your loads.

King James Version, 1611

And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens.

5

Pharaoh said, 'Look how many of them there are in the land, and now you want them knocking off work.'

Plain English

And Pharaoh said: Look — the people of the land are plenty now, and you make them rest from their loads.

King James Version, 1611

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

6

That same day Pharaoh gave orders to the taskmasters and officers over the people:

Plain English

And that same day Pharaoh ordered the taskmasters of the people and their officers:

King James Version, 1611

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

7

'Don't give them straw for making bricks any more. Make them go and gather their own.'

Plain English

You won't give the people straw any more to make brick, the way you did before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves.

King James Version, 1611

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

8

'But demand the same quota of bricks as before. Don't reduce it. They're idle — that's why they're crying out, “Let us go and sacrifice to our God.”'

Plain English

And you'll lay on them the number of bricks they made before. You won't take anything off it. Because they're lazy. That's why they cry out: Let us go and sacrifice to our God.

King James Version, 1611

And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.

9

'Pile the work on them. Keep them working hard, and they won't have time to listen to empty words.'

Plain English

Let more work be laid on the men, so they'll be busy with it and won't take any notice of empty words.

King James Version, 1611

Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words.

Bricks without straw

The taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spoke to the people: This is what Pharaoh says. I won't give you straw. Go, get straw for yourselves wherever you can find it. But none of your work will be taken off. So the people were scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw. The taskmasters pushed them: Get your work done, your daily amount, as you did when there was straw. The officers of the Israelites, that Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and asked: Why haven't you finished your set amount of bricks yesterday and today, as you did before? Then the Israelite officers came and cried to Pharaoh, 'Why are you treating your servants like this?' 'We're given no straw, but we're still told, “Make bricks!” Your servants are being beaten, and it's your own people's fault.' Pharaoh replied, 'Idle! That's what you are — idle. That's why you keep saying, “Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.”' 'Now get back to work. You won't be given straw, but you'll still deliver the full number of bricks.' The officers of the Israelites saw they were in a bad way, after it was said: You won't take anything off your bricks, off your daily amount. As they came out from Pharaoh, they met Moses and Aaron waiting for them. They said to Moses and Aaron, 'May the Lord look on you and judge you. You've made us stink in Pharaoh's eyes and his servants' eyes, and you've put a sword in their hands to kill us.' Moses went back to the Lord and said, 'Lord, why have you brought this evil on the people? Why did you send me?' 'Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he's treated this people worse, and you haven't delivered them at all.'

And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spoke to the people: This is what Pharaoh says. I won't give you straw. Go, get straw for yourselves wherever you can find it. But none of your work will be taken off. So the people were scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw. And the taskmasters pushed them: Get your work done, your daily amount, the way you did when there was straw. And the officers of the people of Israel, that Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and asked: Why haven't you finished your set amount of bricks yesterday and today, the way you did before? Then the officers of the people of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh: Why do you deal like this with your servants? No straw is given to your servants, and they say to us: Make brick. And look — your servants are beaten. But the fault is in your own people. But he said: You're lazy, you're lazy. That's why you say: Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord. So go now and work. Because no straw will be given you, and you'll give the same number of bricks. And the officers of the people of Israel saw they were in a bad way, after it was said: You won't take anything off your bricks, off your daily amount. And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way as they came out from Pharaoh. And they said to them: The Lord look on you and judge. Because you've made us stink in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of his servants, and put a sword in their hand to kill us. And Moses went back to the Lord and said: Lord, why have you dealt badly with this people? Why is it you've sent me? Because since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he's done badly by this people. And you haven't rescued your people at all.

And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spake to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw. Go ye, get you straw where ye can find it: yet not ought of your work shall be diminished. So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw. And the taskmasters hasted them, saying, Fulfil your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw. And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and to day, as heretofore? Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants? There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thine own people. But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the LORD. Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks. And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, after it was said, Ye shall not minish ought from your bricks of your daily task. And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh: And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us. And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, LORD, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me? For 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.

10

The taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spoke to the people: This is what Pharaoh says. I won't give you straw.

Plain English

And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spoke to the people: This is what Pharaoh says. I won't give you straw.

King James Version, 1611

And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spake to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.

11

Go, get straw for yourselves wherever you can find it. But none of your work will be taken off.

King James Version, 1611

Go ye, get you straw where ye can find it: yet not ought of your work shall be diminished.

12

So the people were scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw.

King James Version, 1611

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

13

The taskmasters pushed them: Get your work done, your daily amount, as you did when there was straw.

Plain English

And the taskmasters pushed them: Get your work done, your daily amount, the way you did when there was straw.

King James Version, 1611

And the taskmasters hasted them, saying, Fulfil your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw.

14

The officers of the Israelites, that Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and asked: Why haven't you finished your set amount of bricks yesterday and today, as you did before?

Plain English

And the officers of the people of Israel, that Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and asked: Why haven't you finished your set amount of bricks yesterday and today, the way you did before?

King James Version, 1611

And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and to day, as heretofore?

15

Then the Israelite officers came and cried to Pharaoh, 'Why are you treating your servants like this?'

Plain English

Then the officers of the people of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh: Why do you deal like this with your servants?

King James Version, 1611

Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?

16

'We're given no straw, but we're still told, “Make bricks!” Your servants are being beaten, and it's your own people's fault.'

Plain English

No straw is given to your servants, and they say to us: Make brick. And look — your servants are beaten. But the fault is in your own people.

King James Version, 1611

There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thine own people.

17

Pharaoh replied, 'Idle! That's what you are — idle. That's why you keep saying, “Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.”'

Plain English

But he said: You're lazy, you're lazy. That's why you say: Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.

King James Version, 1611

But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the LORD.

18

'Now get back to work. You won't be given straw, but you'll still deliver the full number of bricks.'

Plain English

So go now and work. Because no straw will be given you, and you'll give the same number of bricks.

King James Version, 1611

Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks.

19

The officers of the Israelites saw they were in a bad way, after it was said: You won't take anything off your bricks, off your daily amount.

Plain English

And the officers of the people of Israel saw they were in a bad way, after it was said: You won't take anything off your bricks, off your daily amount.

King James Version, 1611

And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, after it was said, Ye shall not minish ought from your bricks of your daily task.

20

As they came out from Pharaoh, they met Moses and Aaron waiting for them.

Plain English

And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way as they came out from Pharaoh.

King James Version, 1611

And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh:

21

They said to Moses and Aaron, 'May the Lord look on you and judge you. You've made us stink in Pharaoh's eyes and his servants' eyes, and you've put a sword in their hands to kill us.'

Plain English

And they said to them: The Lord look on you and judge. Because you've made us stink in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of his servants, and put a sword in their hand to kill us.

King James Version, 1611

And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.

22

Moses went back to the Lord and said, 'Lord, why have you brought this evil on the people? Why did you send me?'

Plain English

And Moses went back to the Lord and said: Lord, why have you dealt badly with this people? Why is it you've sent me?

King James Version, 1611

And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, LORD, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me?

23

'Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he's treated this people worse, and you haven't delivered them at all.'

Plain English

Because since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he's done badly by this people. And you haven't rescued your people at all.

King James Version, 1611

For 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.