Exodus 5
5
Bricks Without Straw
1Later on, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh. They said, “The Lord is the God of Israel. He says, ‘Let my people go. Then they will be able to hold a feast to honor me in the desert.’ ”
2Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord? Why should I obey him? Why should I let Israel go? I don’t even know the Lord. And I won’t let Israel go.”
3Then Moses and Aaron said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Now let us take a journey that lasts about three days. We want to go into the desert to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God. If we don’t, he might strike us with plagues. Or he might let us be killed by swords.”
4But the king of Egypt said, “Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their work? Get back to work!” 5Pharaoh continued, “There are large numbers of your people in the land. But you are stopping them from working.”
6That same day Pharaoh gave orders to the slave drivers and the overseers in charge of the people. 7He said, “Don’t give the people any more straw to make bricks. Let them go and get their own straw. 8But require them to make the same number of bricks as before. Don’t lower the number they have to make. They are lazy. That’s why they are crying out, ‘Let us go. We want to offer sacrifices to our God.’ 9Make them work harder. Then they will be too busy to pay attention to lies.”
10The slave drivers and the overseers left. They said to the people, “Pharaoh says, ‘I won’t give you any more straw. 11Go and get your own straw anywhere you can find it. But you still have to make the same number of bricks.’ ” 12So the people scattered all over Egypt. They went to gather any pieces of straw left in the fields. 13Pharaoh’s slave drivers kept making the people work hard. They said, “Finish the work you are required to do each day. Make the same number of bricks you made when you had straw.” 14The slave drivers whipped the Israelite overseers they had appointed. The slave drivers asked, “Why haven’t you made the same number of bricks yesterday or today, just as before?”
15Then the Israelite overseers appealed to Pharaoh. They asked, “Why have you treated us like this? 16You didn’t give us any straw. But you told us, ‘Make bricks!’ We are being whipped. But it’s the fault of your own people.”
17Pharaoh said, “You are lazy! That’s why you keep saying, ‘Let us go. We want to offer sacrifices to the Lord.’ 18Now get to work. We won’t give you any straw. But you still have to make the same number of bricks.”
19The Israelite overseers realized they were in trouble. They knew it when they were told, “Don’t reduce the number of bricks you are required to make each day.” 20When they left Pharaoh, they found Moses and Aaron waiting to meet them. 21They said to Moses and Aaron, “We want the Lord to look at what you have done! We want him to judge you for it! We are like a very bad smell to Pharaoh and his officials. You have given them an excuse to kill us with their swords.”
The Lord Promises to Save the Israelites
22Moses returned to talk to the Lord. He said to him, “Why, Lord? Why have you brought trouble on these people? Is this why you sent me? 23I went to Pharaoh to speak to him in your name. Ever since then, he has brought nothing but trouble on these people. And you haven’t saved your people at all.”
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Exodus 5: NIrV
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Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV®
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Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Exodus 5
5
1After 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.
2But 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.
3And 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.
4The 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.
5And 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?
6Therefore he commanded the same day the overseers of the works, and the taskmasters of the people, saying:
7You shall give straw no more to the people to make brick, as before: but let them go and gather straw.
8And 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.
9Let them be oppressed, with works, and let them fulfill them: that they may not regard lying words.
10And the overseers of the works and the taskmasters went out and said to the people: Thus saith Pharao, I allow you no straw.
11Go, and gather it where you can find it: neither shall any thing of your work be diminished.
12And the people was scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather straw.
13And 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.
14And 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 today as before?
15And the officers of the children of Israel came, and cried out to Pharao, saying: Why dealest thou so with thy servants?
16Straw 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.
17And he said: You are idle, and therefore you say: Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.
18Go therefore, and work. Straw shall not be given you; and you shall deliver the accustomed number of bricks.
19And 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.
20And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood over against them as they came out from Pharao.
21And 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.
22And Moses returned to the Lord, and said: Lord, why hast thou afflicted this people? Wherefore hast thou sent me?
23For 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.
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An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.