| Berean Study Bible | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1After that, 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 feast to Me in the wilderness.’ ” | 1Later, Moses and Aaron went in and said to Pharaoh, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival for me in the wilderness." |
| 2But Pharaoh replied, “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.” | 2But Pharaoh responded, "Who is the LORD that I should obey him by letting Israel go? I don't know the LORD, and besides, I will not let Israel go." |
| 3“The God of the Hebrews has met with us,” they answered. “Please let us go on a three-day journey into the wilderness to sacrifice to the LORD our God, or He may strike us with plagues or with the sword.” | 3They answered, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go on a three-day trip into the wilderness so that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God, or else he may strike us with plague or sword." |
| 4But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you draw the people away from their work? Get back to your labor!” | 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 now numerous, and you would be stopping them from their labor.” | 5Pharaoh also said, "Look, the people of the land are so numerous, and you would stop them from their labor." |
| 6That same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen: | 6That day Pharaoh commanded the overseers of the people as well as their foremen: |
| 7“You shall no longer supply the people with straw for making bricks. They must go and gather their own straw. | 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 of them the same quota of bricks as before; do not reduce it. For they are lazy; that is why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ | 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.' |
| 9Make the work harder on the men so they will be occupied and pay no attention to these lies.” | 9Impose heavier work on the men. Then they will be occupied with it and not pay attention to deceptive words." |
| 10So the taskmasters and foremen of the people went out and said to them, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I am no longer giving you straw. | 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 and get your own straw wherever you can find it; but your workload will in no way be reduced.’ ” | 11Go get straw yourselves wherever you can find it, but there will be no reduction at all in your workload.'" |
| 12So the people scattered all over the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. | 12So the people scattered throughout the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. |
| 13The taskmasters kept pressing them, saying, “Fulfill your quota each day, just as you did when straw was provided.” | 13The overseers insisted, "Finish your assigned work each day, just as you did when straw was provided." |
| 14Then the Israelite foremen, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over the people, were beaten and asked, “Why have you not fulfilled your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as you did before?” | 14Then the Israelite foremen, whom Pharaoh's slave drivers had set over the people, were beaten and asked, "Why haven't you finished making your prescribed number of bricks yesterday or today, as you did before?" |
| 15So the Israelite foremen went and appealed to Pharaoh: “Why are you treating your servants this way? | 15So the Israelite foremen went in and cried for help to Pharaoh: "Why are you treating your servants this way? |
| 16No straw has been given to your servants, yet we are told, ‘Make bricks!’ Look, your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people.” | 16No straw has been given to your servants, yet they say to us, 'Make bricks!' Look, your servants are being beaten, but it is your own people who are at fault." |
| 17“You are slackers!” Pharaoh replied. “Slackers! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’ | 17But he said, "You are slackers. Slackers! That is why you are saying, 'Let us go sacrifice to the LORD.' |
| 18Now get to work. You will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the full quota of bricks.” | 18Now get to work. No straw will be given to you, but you must produce the same quantity of bricks." |
| 19The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, “You must not reduce your daily quota of bricks.” | 19The Israelite foremen saw that they were in trouble when they were told, "You cannot reduce your daily quota of bricks." |
| 20When they left Pharaoh, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who stood waiting to meet them. | 20When they left Pharaoh, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who stood waiting to meet them. |
| 21“May the LORD look upon you and judge you,” the foremen said, “for you have made us a stench before Pharaoh and his officials; you have placed in their hand a sword to kill us!” | 21"May the LORD take note of you and judge," they said to them, "because you have made us reek to Pharaoh and his officials--putting a sword in their hand to kill us!" |
| 22So Moses returned to the LORD and asked, “Lord, why have You brought trouble upon this people? Is this why You sent me? | 22So Moses went back to the LORD and asked, "Lord, why have you caused trouble for this people? And why did you ever send me? |
| 23Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and You have not delivered Your people in any way.” | 23Ever since I went in to Pharaoh to speak in your name he has caused trouble for this people, and you haven't rescued your people at all." |
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