| New Living Translation | Berean Study Bible |
| 1After this presentation to Israel’s leaders, Moses and Aaron went and spoke to Pharaoh. They told him, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Let my people go so they may hold a festival in my honor 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.’ ” |
| 2“Is that so?” retorted Pharaoh. “And who is the LORD? Why should I listen to him and let Israel go? I don’t know the LORD, and 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.” |
| 3But Aaron and Moses persisted. “The God of the Hebrews has met with us,” they declared. “So let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness so we can offer sacrifices to the LORD our God. If we don’t, he will kill us with a plague 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.” |
| 4Pharaoh replied, “Moses and Aaron, why are you distracting the people from their tasks? Get back to work! | 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!” |
| 5Look, there are many of your people in the land, and you are stopping them from their work.” Making Bricks without Straw | 5Pharaoh also said, “Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you would be stopping them from their labor.” |
| 6That same day Pharaoh sent this order to the Egyptian slave drivers and the Israelite foremen: | 6That same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen: |
| 7“Do not supply any more straw for making bricks. Make the people get it themselves! | 7“You shall no longer supply the people with straw for making bricks. They must go and gather their own straw. |
| 8But still require them to make the same number of bricks as before. Don’t reduce the quota. They are lazy. That’s why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifices 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.’ |
| 9Load them down with more work. Make them sweat! That will teach them to listen to lies!” | 9Make the work harder on the men so they will be occupied and pay no attention to these lies.” |
| 10So the slave drivers and foremen went out and told the people: “This is what Pharaoh says: I will not provide any more straw for you. | 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 and get it yourselves. Find it wherever you can. But you must produce just as many bricks as before!” | 11Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it; but your workload will in no way be reduced.’ ” |
| 12So the people scattered throughout the land of Egypt in search of stubble to use as straw. | 12So the people scattered all over the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. |
| 13Meanwhile, the Egyptian slave drivers continued to push hard. “Meet your daily quota of bricks, just as you did when we provided you with straw!” they demanded. | 13The taskmasters kept pressing them, saying, “Fulfill your quota each day, just as you did when straw was provided.” |
| 14Then they whipped the Israelite foremen they had put in charge of the work crews. “Why haven’t you met your quotas either yesterday or today?” they demanded. | 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?” |
| 15So the Israelite foremen went to Pharaoh and pleaded with him. “Please don’t treat your servants like this,” they begged. | 15So the Israelite foremen went and appealed to Pharaoh: “Why are you treating your servants this way? |
| 16“We are given no straw, but the slave drivers still demand, ‘Make bricks!’ We are being beaten, but it isn’t our fault! Your own people are to blame!” | 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 Pharaoh shouted, “You’re just lazy! Lazy! That’s why you’re saying, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifices to the LORD.’ | 17“You are slackers!” Pharaoh replied. “Slackers! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’ |
| 18Now get back to work! No straw will be given to you, but you must still produce the full quota of bricks.” | 18Now get to work. You will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the full quota of bricks.” |
| 19The Israelite foremen could see that they were in serious trouble when they were told, “You must not reduce the number of bricks you make each day.” | 19The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, “You must not reduce your daily quota of bricks.” |
| 20As they left Pharaoh’s court, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who were waiting outside for them. | 20When they left Pharaoh, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who stood waiting to meet them. |
| 21The foremen said to them, “May the LORD judge and punish you for making us stink before Pharaoh and his officials. You have put a sword into their hands, an excuse 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 went back to the LORD and protested, “Why have you brought all this trouble on your own people, Lord? Why did you 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? |
| 23Ever since I came to Pharaoh as your spokesman, he has been even more brutal to your people. And you have done nothing to rescue them!” | 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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