| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Afterward 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 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.’ ” |
| 2And Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, nor will I 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.” |
| 3So they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please, let us go three days’ journey into the desert and sacrifice to the LORD our God, lest He 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.” |
| 4Then the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people from their work? Get back 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 labor!” |
| 5And Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land are many now, and you make them rest from their labor!” | 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 of the people and their officers, saying, | 6That same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen: |
| 7“You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick as before. 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. |
| 8And you shall lay on them the quota of bricks which they made before. You shall not reduce it. For they are idle; therefore they cry out, saying, ‘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.’ |
| 9Let more work be laid on the men, that they may labor in it, and let them not regard false words.” | 9Make the work harder on the men so they will be occupied and pay no attention to these lies.” |
| 10And the taskmasters of the people and their officers went out and spoke to the people, saying, “Thus says Pharaoh: ‘I will not give you 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. |
| 11Go, get yourselves straw where you can find it; yet none of your work 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 were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw. | 12So the people scattered all over the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. |
| 13And the taskmasters forced them to hurry, saying, “Fulfill your work, your daily quota, as when there was straw.” | 13The taskmasters kept pressing them, saying, “Fulfill your quota each day, just as you did when straw was provided.” |
| 14Also the officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, “Why have you not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and today, as before?” | 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 officers of the children of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, “Why are you dealing thus with your servants? | 15So the Israelite foremen went and appealed to Pharaoh: “Why are you treating your servants this way? |
| 16There is no straw given to your servants, and they say to us, ‘Make brick!’ And indeed your servants are beaten, but the fault is in 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 idle! Idle! 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.’ |
| 18Therefore go now and work; for no straw shall be given you, yet you shall deliver the quota of bricks.” | 18Now get to work. You will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the full quota of bricks.” |
| 19And the officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in trouble after it was said, “You shall not reduce any bricks from your daily quota.” | 19The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, “You must not reduce your daily quota of bricks.” |
| 20Then, as they came out from Pharaoh, they met Moses and Aaron who stood there to meet them. | 20When they left Pharaoh, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who stood waiting to meet them. |
| 21And they said to them, “Let the LORD look on you and judge, because you have made us abhorrent in the sight of Pharaoh 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!” |
| 22So Moses returned to the LORD and said, “Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Why is it You have sent me? | 22So Moses returned to the LORD and asked, “Lord, why have You brought trouble upon this people? Is this why You 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.” | 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.” |
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