Exodus 5

1After thatH310, MosesH4872 and AaronH175 wentH935 toH413 PharaohH6547 and saidH559, “This is whatH3541 the LORDH3068, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478, saysH559: ‘Let My peopleH5971 goH7971, so that they may hold a feastH2287 to Me in the wildernessH4057.’”

2But PharaohH6547 repliedH559, “WhoH4310 is the LORDH3068 thatH834 I should obeyH8085 His voiceH6963 and let IsraelH3478 goH7971? I do notH3808 knowH3045 the LORDH3068, andH1571 I will notH3808 let IsraelH3478 goH7971.”

3“The GodH430 of the HebrewsH5680 has metH7122 with usH5921,” they answeredH559. “PleaseH4994 let us go onH1980 a three-dayH7969H3117 journeyH1870 into the wildernessH4057 to sacrificeH2076 to the LORDH3068 our GodH430, orH6435 He may strike usH6293 with plaguesH1698 orH176 with the swordH2719.”

4But the kingH4428 of EgyptH4714 saidH559 to themH413, “MosesH4872 and AaronH175, whyH4100 do you drawH6544 the peopleH5971 away from their workH4639? Get backH1980 to your laborH5450!” 5PharaohH6547 also saidH559, “LookH2005, the peopleH5971 of the landH776 are now numerousH7227H6258, and you would be stoppingH7673 themH853 from their laborH5450.”

Bricks and Straw

6That sameH1931 dayH3117 PharaohH6547 commandedH6680 the taskmastersH5065 of the peopleH5971 and their foremenH7860H559: 7“You shall noH3808 longerH3254 supplyH5414 the peopleH5971 with strawH8401 for makingH3835 bricksH3843. TheyH1992 must goH1980 and gatherH7197 their own strawH8401. 8But requireH7760 of themH5921 the same quotaH4971 of bricksH3843 asH1992 beforeH8543H8032; do notH3808 reduce itH1639H4480. ForH3588 theyH1992 are lazyH7503; that is whyH5921H3651 theyH1992 are crying outH6817H559, ‘Let us goH1980 and sacrificeH2076 to our GodH430.’ 9Make the work harderH3513H5656 onH5921 the menH582 so they will be occupiedH6213 and pay no attentionH408H8159 to these liesH8267H1697.”

10So the taskmastersH5065 and foremenH7860 of the peopleH5971 went outH3318 and saidH559 toH413 themH5971, “This is whatH3541H559 PharaohH6547 saysH559: ‘I am no longerH369 givingH5414 you strawH8401. 11GoH1980 and getH3947 your own strawH8401 whereverH834 you can find itH4672; butH3588 your workloadH5656 will in no wayH369 be reducedH1639.’”

12So the peopleH5971 scatteredH6327 all overH3605 the landH776 of EgyptH4714 to gatherH7197 stubbleH7179 for strawH8401. 13The taskmastersH5065 kept pressing themH213, sayingH559, “FulfillH3615 your quotaH1697H4639 each dayH3117, just as you did whenH834 strawH8401 was providedH1961.”

14Then the IsraeliteH1121H3478 foremenH7860, whomH834 Pharaoh’sH6547 taskmastersH5065 had setH7760 over the peopleH5921, were beatenH5221 and askedH559, “WhyH4069 have you notH3808 fulfilledH3615 your quotaH2706 of bricksH3835 yesterdayH8543 or todayH1571H3117, as you did beforeH8543H1571H8032?”

The Cry of the Israelites

15So the IsraeliteH1121H3478 foremenH7860 wentH935 and appealedH6817 toH413 PharaohH6547H559: “WhyH4100 are you treatingH6213 your servantsH5650 this wayH3541? 16NoH369 strawH8401 has been givenH5414 to your servantsH5650, yet we are toldH559, ‘MakeH6213 bricksH3843!’ LookH2009, your servantsH5650 are being beatenH5221, but the faultH2398 is with your own peopleH5971.”

17“YouH859 are slackersH7503!” Pharaoh repliedH559. “SlackersH7503! That is whyH5921H3651 youH859 keep sayingH559, ‘Let us goH1980 and sacrificeH2076 to the LORDH3068.’ 18NowH6258 get toH1980 workH5647. You will be givenH5414 noH3808 strawH8401, yet you must deliverH5414 the full quotaH8506 of bricksH3843.”

19The IsraeliteH1121H3478 foremenH7860 realizedH7200 they were in troubleH7451 when they were toldH559, “You must notH3808 reduceH1639 your dailyH3117 quotaH1697 of bricksH3843.” 20When they leftH3318H854 PharaohH6547, they confrontedH6293 MosesH4872 and AaronH175, who stoodH5324 waiting to meet themH7122.

21“May the LORDH3068H5921 look upon youH7200 and judge youH8199,” the foremen saidH559H413, “forH834 you have made us a stenchH887 beforeH5869 PharaohH6547H5869 and his officialsH5650; you have placedH5414 in their handH3027 a swordH2719 to kill usH2026!”

22So MosesH4872 returnedH7725 toH413 the LORDH3068 and askedH559, “LordH136, whyH4100 have You brought troubleH7489 upon thisH2088 peopleH5971? Is thisH2088 whyH4100 You sent meH7971? 23Ever sinceH227 I wentH935 toH413 PharaohH6547 to speakH1696 in Your nameH8034, he has brought troubleH7489 on thisH2088 peopleH5971, and You have notH3808 deliveredH5337 Your peopleH5971 in any wayH5337.”