| NET Bible | New International Version |
| 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.'" | 1Afterward 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 festival 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!" | 2Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD and 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. Now let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God, or he may strike us with plagues 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, "Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their labor? Get back to your work!" |
| 5Pharaoh was thinking, "The people of the land are now many, and you are giving them rest from their labor." | 5Then Pharaoh said, "Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you are stopping them from working." |
| 6That same day Pharaoh commanded the slave masters and foremen who were over the people: | 6That same day Pharaoh gave this order to the slave drivers and overseers in charge of the people: |
| 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 supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their own straw. |
| 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.' | 8But require them to make the same number of bricks as before; don't reduce the quota. They are lazy; that is why they are crying 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!" | 9Make the work harder for the people so that they keep working and pay no attention to lies." |
| 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. | 10Then the slave drivers and the overseers went out and said to the people, "This is what Pharaoh says: 'I will not give you any more straw. |
| 11You go get straw for yourselves wherever you can find it, because there will be no reduction at all in your workload.'" | 11Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced at all.'" |
| 12So the people spread out through all the land of Egypt to collect stubble for straw. | 12So the people scattered all over Egypt to gather stubble to use for straw. |
| 13The slave masters were pressuring them, saying, "Complete your work for each day, just like when there was straw!" | 13The slave drivers kept pressing them, saying, "Complete the work required of you for each day, 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?" | 14And Pharaoh's slave drivers beat the Israelite overseers they had appointed, demanding, "Why haven't you met your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as before?" |
| 15The Israelite foremen went and cried out to Pharaoh, "Why are you treating your servants this way? | 15Then the Israelite overseers went and appealed to Pharaoh: "Why have you treated your servants this way? |
| 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." | 16Your servants are given no straw, yet we are told, 'Make bricks!' Your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people." |
| 17But Pharaoh replied, "You are slackers! Slackers! That is why you are saying, 'Let us go sacrifice to the LORD.' | 17Pharaoh said, "Lazy, that's what you are--lazy! That is why you keep saying, '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!" | 18Now get to work. You will not be given any straw, yet you must produce your full 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 Israelite overseers realized they were in trouble when they were told, "You are not to reduce the number of bricks required of you for each day." |
| 20When they went out from Pharaoh, they encountered Moses and Aaron standing there to meet them, | 20When they left Pharaoh, they found Moses and Aaron waiting to meet 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!" | 21and they said, "May the LORD look on you and judge you! You have made us obnoxious to Pharaoh and his officials and have 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? | 22Moses returned to the LORD and said, "Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is this why you sent 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!" | 23Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and you have not rescued your people at all." |
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