| NET Bible | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Release my people so that they may hold a pilgrim feast to me in the desert.'" | 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 him by releasing Israel? I do not know the LORD, and I will not release Israel!" | 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." |
| 3And they said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Let us go a three-day journey into the desert so that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God, so that he does not strike us with plague or 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." |
| 4The king of Egypt said to them, "Moses and Aaron, why do you cause the people to refrain from their work? Return to your labor!" | 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!" |
| 5Pharaoh was thinking, "The people of the land are now many, and you are giving them rest from their labor." | 5Again Pharaoh said, "Look, the people of the land are now many, and you would have them cease from their labors!" |
| 6That same day Pharaoh commanded the slave masters and foremen who were over the people: | 6So the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters over the people and their foremen, saying, |
| 7"You must no longer give straw to the people for making bricks as before. Let them go and collect 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 you must require of them the same quota of bricks that they were making before. Do not reduce it, for they are slackers. That is why they are crying, 'Let us go 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.' |
| 9Make the work harder for the men so they will keep at it and pay no attention 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 slave masters of the people and their foremen went to the Israelites and said, "Thus says Pharaoh: 'I am not giving 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. |
| 11You go get straw for yourselves wherever you can find it, because there will be no reduction at all in your workload.'" | 11You go and get straw for yourselves wherever you can find it, but none of your labor will be reduced.'" |
| 12So the people spread out through all the land of Egypt to collect stubble for straw. | 12So the people scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. |
| 13The slave masters were pressuring them, saying, "Complete your work for each day, just like when there was straw!" | 13The taskmasters pressed them, saying, "Complete your work quota, your daily amount, just as when you had straw." |
| 14The Israelite foremen whom Pharaoh's slave masters had set over them were beaten and were asked, "Why did you not complete your requirement for brickmaking as in the past--both yesterday and today?" | 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?" |
| 15The Israelite foremen went and cried out to Pharaoh, "Why are you treating your servants this way? | 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, but we are told, 'Make bricks!' Your servants are even being beaten, but the fault is with your 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 Pharaoh replied, "You are slackers! Slackers! That is why you are saying, 'Let us go sacrifice to the LORD.' | 17But he said, "You are lazy, very lazy; therefore you say, 'Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.' |
| 18So now, get back to work! You will not be given straw, but you must still produce your quota of bricks!" | 18"So go now and work; for you will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the quota of bricks." |
| 19The Israelite foremen saw that they were in trouble when they were told, "You must not reduce the daily quota of your 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." |
| 20When they went out from Pharaoh, they encountered Moses and Aaron standing there to meet them, | 20When they left Pharaoh's presence, they met Moses and Aaron as they were waiting for them. |
| 21and they said to them, "May the LORD look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the opinion of Pharaoh and his servants, so that you have given them an excuse 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." |
| 22Moses returned to the LORD, and said, "Lord, why have you caused trouble for 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? |
| 23From the time I went to speak to Pharaoh in your name, he has caused trouble for this people, and you have certainly not rescued them!" | 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." |
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