Exodus 5

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 After these things, Moses and Aaron entered, and they said to Pharaoh: “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: Release my people, so 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 responded: “Who is the Lord, that I should listen to his voice and release Israel? I do not know the Lord, and I will not release Israel.”	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 has called us, so that we may go three days’ journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God. Otherwise, a pestilence or the sword may befall 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, distract the people from their works? Go back 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 Pharaoh said: “The people of the land are many. You see that the turmoil has increased: how much more if you give them rest from the 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, on the same day, he instructed 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 no longer give chaff to the people to form bricks, as before. But they may 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 impose upon them the same quota of bricks that they made before. Neither will you lessen anything, for they are idle, and therefore they cry out, saying: ‘We shall 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 They shall be oppressed with works, and these shall occupy them, so that they may not agree to 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 so the overseers of the works and the taskmasters went out and said to the people: “Thus says Pharaoh: I give you no chaff.	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 collect it wherever you are able to find it. Neither will anything 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 were dispersed through all the land of Egypt, in order to gather straw.	12 The people, then, scattered throughout the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw,
13 Likewise, the overseers of the works pressured them, saying: “Complete your work each day, just as you were accustomed to do before, when straw was given to 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 those who were first in the works of the sons of Israel were scourged by Pharaoh’s taskmasters, saying: “Why have you not filled the quota of bricks, neither yesterday, nor today, just 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 first among the sons of Israel came, and they cried out to Pharaoh, saying: “Why do act against your servants in this way?	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 to us, and yet the same amount of bricks is commanded. So we, your servants, are cut up by scourging, and injustice is done against your people.”	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 for this reason you say, ‘We shall 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 Therefore, go and work. Straw will not be given to you, and you will return the customary 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 first among the sons of Israel saw themselves in a crisis, because it was said to them, “Nothing at all will be lessened from the bricks throughout each 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 with Moses and Aaron, who stood opposite them as they departed from Pharaoh.	20 When, therefore, they left Pharaoh and came upon Moses and Aaron, who were waiting to meet them,
21 And they said to them: “May the Lord see and judge, because you have caused our odor to become foul before Pharaoh and his servants, and you have provided him with a sword, in order 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 he said: “Lord, why have you afflicted this people? Why have you 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 from the time that I entered to Pharaoh, so as to speak in your name, he has afflicted your people. And you have not freed 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."