Exodus 5
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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.'"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.”
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."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.”
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."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.”
4But the king of Egypt said, "Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their labor? Get back to your work!"4Pharaoh replied, “Moses and Aaron, why are you distracting the people from their tasks? Get back to work!
5Then Pharaoh said, "Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you are stopping them from working."5Look, there are many of your people in the land, and you are stopping them from their work.” Making Bricks without Straw
6That same day Pharaoh gave this order to the slave drivers and overseers in charge of the people:6That same day Pharaoh sent this order to the Egyptian slave drivers and the Israelite foremen:
7"You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their own straw.7“Do not supply any more straw for making bricks. Make the people get it themselves!
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.'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.’
9Make the work harder for the people so that they keep working and pay no attention to lies."9Load them down with more work. Make them sweat! That will teach them to listen to lies!”
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.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.
11Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced at all.'"11Go and get it yourselves. Find it wherever you can. But you must produce just as many bricks as before!”
12So the people scattered all over Egypt to gather stubble to use for straw.12So the people scattered throughout the land of Egypt in search of stubble to use as straw.
13The slave drivers kept pressing them, saying, "Complete the work required of you for each day, just as when you had 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.
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?"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.
15Then the Israelite overseers went and appealed to Pharaoh: "Why have you treated your servants this way?15So the Israelite foremen went to Pharaoh and pleaded with him. “Please don’t treat your servants like this,” they begged.
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."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!”
17Pharaoh said, "Lazy, that's what you are--lazy! That is why you keep saying, 'Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.'17But Pharaoh shouted, “You’re just lazy! Lazy! That’s why you’re saying, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifices to the LORD.’
18Now get to work. You will not be given any straw, yet you must produce your full quota of bricks."18Now get back to work! No straw will be given to you, but you must still produce the full quota of 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."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.”
20When they left Pharaoh, they found Moses and Aaron waiting to meet them,20As they left Pharaoh’s court, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who were waiting outside for them.
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."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!”
22Moses returned to the LORD and said, "Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is this why you sent me?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?
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."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!”
New International Version (NIV)

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Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Exodus 4
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