| New International Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Afterward 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 festival to me in the wilderness.'" | 1Later, Moses and Aaron went in and said to Pharaoh, "This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: Let My people go, so that they may hold a festival for Me in the wilderness." |
| 2Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD and I will not let Israel go." | 2But Pharaoh responded, "Who is Yahweh that I should obey Him by letting Israel go? I do not know anything about Yahweh, and besides, I will not let Israel go." |
| 3Then they said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Now let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God, or he may strike us with plagues or with the sword." | 3Then they 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 Yahweh our God, or else He may strike us with plague or sword." |
| 4But the king of Egypt said, "Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their labor? Get back to your work!" | 4The king of Egypt said to them, "Moses and Aaron, why are you causing the people to neglect their work? Get to your work!" |
| 5Then Pharaoh said, "Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you are stopping them from working." | 5Pharaoh also said, "Look, the people of the land are so numerous, and you would stop them from working." |
| 6That same day Pharaoh gave this order to the slave drivers and overseers in charge of the people: | 6That day Pharaoh commanded the overseers of the people as well as their foremen: " |
| 7"You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their own straw. | 7Don't continue to supply the people with straw for making bricks, as before. They must go and gather straw for themselves. |
| 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.' | 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 for the people so that they keep working and pay no attention to lies." | 9Impose heavier work on the men. Then they will be occupied with it and not pay attention to deceptive words." |
| 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. | 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 work will not be reduced at all.'" | 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 Egypt to gather stubble to use for straw. | 12So the people scattered throughout the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. |
| 13The slave drivers kept pressing them, saying, "Complete the work required of you for each day, just as when you had straw." | 13The overseers insisted, "Finish your assigned work each day, just as you did when straw was provided." |
| 14And Pharaoh's slave drivers beat the Israelite overseers they had appointed, demanding, "Why haven't you met your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as 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?" |
| 15Then the Israelite overseers went and appealed to Pharaoh: "Why have you treated your servants this way? | 15So the Israelite foremen went in and cried for help to Pharaoh: "Why are you treating your servants this way? |
| 16Your servants are given no straw, yet we are told, 'Make bricks!' 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." |
| 17Pharaoh said, "Lazy, that's what you are--lazy! 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 not be given any straw, yet you must produce your 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 overseers realized they were in trouble when they were told, "You are not to reduce the number of bricks required of you for each day." | 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 found Moses and Aaron waiting to meet them, | 20When they left Pharaoh, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who stood waiting to meet them." |
| 21and they said, "May the LORD look on you and judge you! You have made us obnoxious to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us." | 21May the LORD take note of you and judge," they said to them, "because you have made us reek in front of Pharaoh and his officials--putting a sword in their hand to kill us!" |
| 22Moses returned to the LORD and said, "Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on 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 rescued your people at all." | 23Ever since I went in to Pharaoh to speak in Your name he has caused trouble for this people, and You haven't delivered Your people at all." |
| New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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