| New King James Version | English Standard Version |
| 1Afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’ ” | 1Afterward Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.’” |
| 2And Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, nor will I let Israel go.” | 2But Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.” |
| 3So they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please, let us go three days’ journey into the desert and sacrifice to the LORD our God, lest He fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.” | 3Then they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God, lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.” |
| 4Then the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people from their work? Get back to your labor.” | 4But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people away from their work? Get back to your burdens.” |
| 5And Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land are many now, and you make them rest from their labor!” | 5And Pharaoh said, “Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens!” |
| 6So the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their officers, saying, | 6The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen, |
| 7“You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves. | 7“You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as in the past; let them go and gather straw for themselves. |
| 8And you shall lay on them the quota of bricks which they made before. You shall not reduce it. For they are idle; therefore they cry out, saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ | 8But the number of bricks that they made in the past you shall impose on them, you shall by no means reduce it, for they are idle. Therefore they cry, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifice to our God.’ |
| 9Let more work be laid on the men, that they may labor in it, and let them not regard false words.” | 9Let heavier work be laid on the men that they may labor at it and pay no regard to lying words.” |
| 10And the taskmasters of the people and their officers went out and spoke to the people, saying, “Thus says Pharaoh: ‘I will not give you straw. | 10So the taskmasters and the foremen of the people went out and said to the people, “Thus says Pharaoh, ‘I will not give you straw. |
| 11Go, get yourselves straw where you can find it; yet none of your work will be reduced.’ ” | 11Go and get your straw yourselves wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced in the least.’” |
| 12So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw. | 12So the people were scattered throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. |
| 13And the taskmasters forced them to hurry, saying, “Fulfill your work, your daily quota, as when there was straw.” | 13The taskmasters were urgent, saying, “Complete your work, your daily task each day, as when there was straw.” |
| 14Also the officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, “Why have you not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and today, as before?” | 14And the foremen of the people of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, “Why have you not done all your task of making bricks today and yesterday, as in the past?” |
| 15Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, “Why are you dealing thus with your servants? | 15Then the foremen of the people of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, “Why do you treat your servants like this? |
| 16There is no straw given to your servants, and they say to us, ‘Make brick!’ And indeed your servants are beaten, but the fault is in your own people.” | 16No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people.” |
| 17But he said, “You are idle! Idle! Therefore you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’ | 17But he said, “You are idle, you are idle; that is why you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’ |
| 18Therefore go now and work; for no straw shall be given you, yet you shall deliver the quota of bricks.” | 18Go now and work. No straw will be given you, but you must still deliver the same number of bricks.” |
| 19And the officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in trouble after it was said, “You shall not reduce any bricks from your daily quota.” | 19The foremen of the people of Israel saw that they were in trouble when they said, “You shall by no means reduce your number of bricks, your daily task each day.” |
| 20Then, as they came out from Pharaoh, they met Moses and Aaron who stood there to meet them. | 20They met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them, as they came out from Pharaoh; |
| 21And they said to them, “Let the LORD look on you and judge, because you have made us abhorrent in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us.” | 21and they said to them, “The LORD look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.” |
| 22So Moses returned to the LORD and said, “Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Why is it You have sent me? | 22Then Moses turned to the LORD and said, “O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? |
| 23For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done evil to this people; neither have You delivered Your people at all.” | 23For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all.” |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. |
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