Exodus 5:2-12
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 5
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.' 3Then they said, 'The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please, let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness so that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God, otherwise He will strike us with plague or with the sword.' 4But the king of Egypt said to them, 'Moses and Aaron, why do you let the people neglect their work? Get back to your labors!' 5Again Pharaoh said, 'Look, the people of the land are now many, and you would have them cease from their labors!' 6So the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters over the people and their foremen, saying, 7You are no longer to give the people straw to make bricks as previously; have them go and gather straw for themselves. 8But you shall impose on them the quota of bricks which they were making before; you are not to reduce any of it. Because they are lazy, for that reason they cry out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ 9Let the labor be heavier on the men, and have them work at it so that they will pay no attention to false words.'
10So the taskmasters of the people and their foremen went out and spoke to the people, saying, 'This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I am not going to give you any straw.
11You go, get straw for yourselves wherever you can find it; but none of your labor will be reduced.’?'
12So the people scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.
King James Version
3And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the LORD our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.
4And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens.
5And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens.
6And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,
7Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.
8And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.
9Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words.
10And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spake to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.
11Go ye, get you straw where ye can find it: yet not ought of your work shall be diminished.
12So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw.
Christian Standard Bible
4The king of Egypt said to them, "Moses and Aaron, why are you causing the people to neglect their work? Get to your labor! "
5Pharaoh also said, "Look, the people of the land are so numerous, and you would stop them from their labor."
6That day Pharaoh commanded the overseers of the people as well as their foremen,
7"Don't continue to supply the people with straw for making bricks, as before. They must go and gather straw for themselves.
8But require the same quota of bricks from them as they were making before; do not reduce it. For they are slackers--that is why they are crying out, 'Let us go and sacrifice to our God.'
9Impose heavier work on the men. Then they will be occupied with it and not pay attention to deceptive words."
10So the overseers and foremen of the people went out and said to them, "This is what Pharaoh says: 'I am not giving you straw.
11Go get straw yourselves wherever you can find it, but there will be no reduction at all in your workload.' "
12So the people scattered throughout the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.
New Living Translation
4Pharaoh replied, 'Moses and Aaron, why are you distracting the people from their tasks? Get back to work!
5Look, there are many of your people in the land, and you are stopping them from their work.'
6That same day Pharaoh sent this order to the Egyptian slave drivers and the Israelite foremen:
7Do not supply any more straw for making bricks. Make the people get it themselves!
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.’
9Load them down with more work. Make them sweat! That will teach them to listen to 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.
11Go and get it yourselves. Find it wherever you can. But you must produce just as many bricks as before!'
12So the people scattered throughout the land of Egypt in search of stubble to use as straw.
English Standard Version
Chapter 5
2But Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.” 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, lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.” 4But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people away from their work? Get back to your burdens.” 5And Pharaoh said, “Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens!” 6The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen, 7“You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as in the past; let them go and gather straw for themselves. 8But the number of bricks that they made in the past you shall impose on them, you shall by no means reduce it, for they are idle. Therefore they cry, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifice to our God.’ 9Let heavier work be laid on the men that they may labor at it and pay no regard to lying words.”
10So the taskmasters and the foremen of the people went out and said to the people, “Thus says Pharaoh, ‘I will not give you straw.
11Go and get your straw yourselves wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced in the least.’”
12So the people were scattered throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.
New International Version
4But the king of Egypt said, 'Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their labor? Get back to your work!'
5Then Pharaoh said, 'Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you are stopping them from working.'
6That same day Pharaoh gave this order to the slave drivers and overseers in charge of the people:
7You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their own straw.
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 people so that they keep working and pay no attention 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.
11Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced at all.''
12So the people scattered all over Egypt to gather stubble to use for straw.
New King James Version
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.”
5And Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land are many now, and you make them rest from their labor!”
6So the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their officers, saying,
7“You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves.
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.’
9Let more work be laid on the men, that they may labor in it, and let them not regard false words.”
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.
11Go, get yourselves straw where you can find it; yet none of your work will be reduced.’ ”
12So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw.
