Exodus 5

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 After these things Moses and Aaron went in, and said to Pharao: Thus saith the Lord God of Israel: Let my people go that they may sacrifice to me in the desert.	1 After that, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Let my people go, that they may celebrate a feast to me in the desert."
2 But he answered: Who is the Lord, that I should hear his voice, and let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.	2 Pharaoh answered, "Who is the LORD, that I should heed his plea to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD; even if I did, I would not let Israel go."
3 And they said: The God of the Hebrews hath called us, to go three days' journey into the wilderness and to sacrifice to the Lord our God: lest a pestilence or the sword fall upon us.	3 They replied, "The God of the Hebrews has sent us word. Let us go a three days' journey in the desert, that we may offer sacrifice to the LORD, our God; otherwise he will punish us with pestilence or the sword."
4 The king of Egypt said to them: Why do you Moses and Aaron draw off the people from their works? Get you gone to your burdens.	4 The king of Egypt answered them, "What do you mean, Moses and Aaron, by taking the people away from their work? Off to your labor!
5 And Pharao said: The people of the land is numerous: you see that the multitude is increased: how much more if you give them rest from their works?	5 Look how numerous the people of the land are already," continued Pharaoh, "and yet you would give them rest from their labor!"
6 Therefore he commanded the same day the overseers of the works, and the taskmasters of the people, saying:	6 That very day Pharaoh gave the taskmasters and foremen of the people this order:
7 You shall give straw no more to the people to make brick, as before: but let them go and gather straw.	7 "You shall no longer supply the people with straw for their brickmaking as you have previously done. Let them go and gather straw themselves!
8 And you shall lay upon them the task of bricks, which they did before, neither shall you diminish any thing thereof: for they are idle, and therefore they cry, saying: Let us go and sacrifice to our God.	8 Yet you shall levy upon them the same quota of bricks as they have previously made. Do not reduce it. They are lazy; that is why they are crying, 'Let us go to offer sacrifice to our God.'
9 Let them be oppressed, with works, and let them fulfill them: that they may not regard lying words.	9 Increase the work for the men, so that they keep their mind on it and pay no attention to lying words."
10 And the overseers of the works and the taskmasters went out and said to the people: Thus saith Pharao, I allow you no straw:	10 So the taskmasters and foremen of the people went out and told them, "Thus says Pharaoh: I will not provide you with straw.
11 Go, and gather it where you can find it: neither shall any thing of your work be diminished.	11 Go and gather the straw yourselves, wherever you can find it. Yet there must not be the slightest reduction in your work."
12 And the people was scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather straw.	12 The people, then, scattered throughout the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw,
13 And the overseers of the works pressed them, saying: Fulfill your work every day as before you were wont to do when straw was given you.	13 while the taskmasters kept driving them on, saying, "Finish your work, the same daily amount as when your straw was supplied."
14 And they that were over the works of the children of Israel were scourged by Pharao's taskmasters, saying: Why have you not made up the task of bricks both yesterday and to day as before?	14 The foremen of the Israelites, whom the taskmasters of Pharaoh had placed over them, were beaten, and were asked, "Why have you not completed your prescribed amount of bricks yesterday and today, as before?"
15 And the officers of the children of Israel came, and cried out to Pharao, saying: Why dealest thou so with thy servants?	15 Then the Israelite foremen came and made this appeal to Pharaoh: "Why do you treat your servants in this manner?
16 Straw is not given us, and bricks are required of us as before: behold we thy servants are beaten with whips, and thy people is unjustly dealt withal.	16 No straw is supplied to your servants, and still we are told to make bricks. Look how your servants are beaten! It is you who are at fault."
17 And he said: You are idle, and therefore you say: Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.	17 Pharaoh answered, "It is just because you are lazy that you keep saying, 'Let us go and offer sacrifice to the LORD.'
18 Go therefore, and work: straw shall not be given you, and you shall deliver the accustomed number of bricks.	18 Off to work, then! Straw shall not be provided for you, but you must still deliver your quota of bricks."
19 And the officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in evil case, because it was said to them: There shall not a whit be diminished of the bricks for every day.	19 The Israelite foremen knew they were in a sorry plight, having been told not to reduce the daily amount of bricks.
20 And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood over against them as they came out from Pharao:	20 When, therefore, they left Pharaoh and came upon Moses and Aaron, who were waiting to meet them,
21 And they said to them: The Lord see and judge, because you have made our savour to stink before Pharao and his servants, and you have given him a sword to kill us.	21 they said to them, "The LORD look upon you and judge! You have brought us into bad odor with Pharaoh and his servants and have put a sword in their hands to slay us."
22 And Moses returned to the Lord, and said: Lord, why hast thou afflicted this people? wherefore hast thou sent me?	22 Moses again had recourse to the LORD and said, "Lord, why do you treat this people so badly? And why did you send me on such a mission?
23 For since the time that I went in to Pharao to speak in thy name, he hath afflicted thy people: and thou hast not delivered them.	23 Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has maltreated this people of yours, and you have done nothing to rescue them."