| New American Standard Bible 1995 | Berean Study Bible |
| 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.'" | 1After that, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’ ” |
| 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." | 2But Pharaoh replied, “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and 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, otherwise He will fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword." | 3“The God of the Hebrews has met with us,” they answered. “Please let us go on a three-day journey into the wilderness to sacrifice to the LORD our God, or He may strike us with plagues or with the sword.” |
| 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!" | 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 labor!” |
| 5Again Pharaoh said, "Look, the people of the land are now many, and you would have them cease from their labors!" | 5Pharaoh also said, “Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you would be stopping them from their labor.” |
| 6So the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters over the people and their foremen, saying, | 6That same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen: |
| 7"You are no longer to give the people straw to make brick as previously; let them go and gather straw for themselves. | 7“You shall no longer supply the people with straw for making bricks. They must go and gather their own straw. |
| 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.' | 8But require of them the same quota of bricks as before; do not reduce it. For they are lazy; that is why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ |
| 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." | 9Make the work harder on the men so they will be occupied and pay no attention to these lies.” |
| 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. | 10So the taskmasters and foremen of the people went out and said to them, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I am no longer giving you straw. |
| 11You go and get straw for yourselves wherever you can find it, but none of your labor will be reduced.'" | 11Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it; but your workload will in no way be reduced.’ ” |
| 12So the people scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. | 12So the people scattered all over the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. |
| 13The taskmasters pressed them, saying, "Complete your work quota, your daily amount, just as when you had straw." | 13The taskmasters kept pressing them, saying, “Fulfill your quota each day, just as you did when straw was provided.” |
| 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?" | 14Then the Israelite foremen, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over the people, were beaten and asked, “Why have you not fulfilled your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as you did before?” |
| 15Then the foremen of the sons of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, "Why do you deal this way with your servants? | 15So the Israelite foremen went and appealed to Pharaoh: “Why are you treating your servants this way? |
| 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." | 16No straw has been given to your servants, yet we are told, ‘Make bricks!’ Look, your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people.” |
| 17But he said, "You are lazy, very lazy; therefore you say, 'Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.' | 17“You are slackers!” Pharaoh replied. “Slackers! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’ |
| 18"So go now and work; for you will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the quota of bricks." | 18Now get to work. You will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the full quota of bricks.” |
| 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." | 19The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, “You must not reduce your daily quota of bricks.” |
| 20When they left Pharaoh's presence, they met Moses and Aaron as they were waiting for them. | 20When they left Pharaoh, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who stood waiting to meet them. |
| 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." | 21“May the LORD look upon you and judge you,” the foremen said, “for you have made us a stench before Pharaoh and his officials; you have placed in their hand a sword to kill us!” |
| 22Then Moses returned to the LORD and said, "O Lord, why have You brought harm to this people? Why did You ever send me? | 22So Moses returned to the LORD and asked, “Lord, why have You brought trouble upon this people? Is this why You sent me? |
| 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." | 23Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and You have not delivered Your people in any way.” |
| 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 | The Berean Bible (Berean Study Bible (BSB) © 2016, 2018 by Bible Hub and Berean.Bible. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. |
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