| English Standard Version | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1Afterward Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.’” | 1And afterward Moses and Aaron came and said to Pharaoh, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Let My people go that they may celebrate a feast to Me in the wilderness.'" |
| 2But Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.” | 2But Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and besides, I will not let Israel go." |
| 3Then they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God, lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.” | 3Then they said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please, let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God, otherwise He will fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword." |
| 4But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people away from their work? Get back to your burdens.” | 4But the king of Egypt said to them, "Moses and Aaron, why do you draw the people away from their work? Get back to your labors!" |
| 5And Pharaoh said, “Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens!” | 5Again Pharaoh said, "Look, the people of the land are now many, and you would have them cease from their labors!" |
| 6The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen, | 6So the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters over the people and their foremen, saying, |
| 7“You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as in the past; let them go and gather straw for themselves. | 7"You are no longer to give the people straw to make brick as previously; let them go and gather straw for themselves. |
| 8But the number of bricks that they made in the past you shall impose on them, you shall by no means reduce it, for they are idle. Therefore they cry, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifice to our God.’ | 8"But the quota of bricks which they were making previously, you shall impose on them; you are not to reduce any of it. Because they are lazy, therefore they cry out, 'Let us go and sacrifice to our God.' |
| 9Let heavier work be laid on the men that they may labor at it and pay no regard to lying words.” | 9"Let the labor be heavier on the men, and let them work at it so that they will pay no attention to false words." |
| 10So the taskmasters and the foremen of the people went out and said to the people, “Thus says Pharaoh, ‘I will not give you straw. | 10So the taskmasters of the people and their foremen went out and spoke to the people, saying, "Thus says Pharaoh, 'I am not going to give you any straw. |
| 11Go and get your straw yourselves wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced in the least.’” | 11You go and get straw for yourselves wherever you can find it, but none of your labor will be reduced.'" |
| 12So the people were scattered throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. | 12So the people scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. |
| 13The taskmasters were urgent, saying, “Complete your work, your daily task each day, as when there was straw.” | 13The taskmasters pressed them, saying, "Complete your work quota, your daily amount, just as when you had straw." |
| 14And the foremen of the people of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, “Why have you not done all your task of making bricks today and yesterday, as in the past?” | 14Moreover, the foremen of the sons of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, "Why have you not completed your required amount either yesterday or today in making brick as previously?" |
| 15Then the foremen of the people of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, “Why do you treat your servants like this? | 15Then the foremen of the sons of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, "Why do you deal this way with your servants? |
| 16No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people.” | 16"There is no straw given to your servants, yet they keep saying to us, 'Make bricks!' And behold, your servants are being beaten; but it is the fault of your own people." |
| 17But he said, “You are idle, you are idle; that is why you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’ | 17But he said, "You are lazy, very lazy; therefore you say, 'Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.' |
| 18Go now and work. No straw will be given you, but you must still deliver the same number of bricks.” | 18"So go now and work; for you will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the quota of bricks." |
| 19The foremen of the people of Israel saw that they were in trouble when they said, “You shall by no means reduce your number of bricks, your daily task each day.” | 19The foremen of the sons of Israel saw that they were in trouble because they were told, "You must not reduce your daily amount of bricks." |
| 20They met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them, as they came out from Pharaoh; | 20When they left Pharaoh's presence, they met Moses and Aaron as they were waiting for them. |
| 21and they said to them, “The LORD look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.” | 21They said to them, "May the LORD look upon you and judge you, for you have made us odious in Pharaoh's sight and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us." |
| 22Then Moses turned to the LORD and said, “O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? | 22Then Moses returned to the LORD and said, "O Lord, why have You brought harm to this people? Why did You ever send me? |
| 23For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all.” | 23"Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done harm to this people, and You have not delivered Your people at all." |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
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