Pharaoh Refuses to Let Israel Go

1And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus says the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.

2And 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.

3And they said, The God of the Hebrews has met with us: let us go, we pray you, three days' journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the LORD our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.

4And the king of Egypt said unto them, Why do you, Moses and Aaron, take the people from their work? get you unto your burdens.

5And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and you make them rest from their burdens.

6And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,

7You shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as before: let them go and gather straw for themselves.

8And the number of the bricks, which they did make before, you shall lay upon them; you shall not diminish any of them: for they are idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.

9Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labor in it; and let them not give regard to vain words.

Bricks Without Straw

10And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spoke to the people, saying, Thus says Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.

11Go, get you straw where you can find it: yet not any of your work shall be diminished.

12So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw.

13And the taskmasters pushed them, saying, Fulfill your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw.

14And the officers of the children of Israel, that Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and asked, Why have you not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and today, as before?

15Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Why dealt you thus with your servants?

16There is no straw given unto your servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people.

17But he said, you are idle, you are idle: therefore you say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the LORD.

18Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall you deliver the number of bricks.

19And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in an evil plight, after it was said, you shall not reduce any from your bricks of your daily task.

20And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh:

21And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because you have made our favor 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.

God Promises Deliverance

22And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Lord, why have you brought evil upon this people? why is it that you have sent me?

23For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people; neither have you delivered your people at all.