Exodus 5

1Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “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.’”

2But Pharaoh said, “Who is Yahweh, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know Yahweh, and besides, I will not let Israel go.”

3They said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness to sacrifice to Yahweh our God, or he may strike us with plague or with the sword.”

4But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their work? Get back to your labor!”

5Pharaoh also said, “Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you are making them stop their labor.”

6That same day Pharaoh gave orders to the slave drivers over the people and to their foremen:

7“Do not supply the people with straw for making bricks as you did before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves.

8But require of them the same number of bricks they were making before; do not reduce it. They are lazy; that is why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’

9Make the work heavier for the men so that they keep at it and pay no attention to lies.”

10So the slave drivers of the people and their foremen went out and said to the people, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I will not give you any straw.

11Go and get straw for yourselves wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced at all.’”

12So the people scattered throughout the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.

13The slave drivers kept pressing them, saying, “Finish your work, the required amount for each day, just as when there was straw.”

14The Israelite foremen, whom Pharaoh’s slave drivers had set over them, were beaten and asked, “Why have you not finished your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as before?”

15Then the Israelite foremen went and cried out to Pharaoh, “Why are you treating your servants this way?

16No straw is given to your servants, yet we are told, ‘Make bricks!’ Look, your servants are being beaten, but the fault lies with your own people.”

17But he said, “You are lazy, lazy! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to Yahweh.’

18Now go and work. No straw will be given to you, but you must still deliver the full quota of bricks.”

19The Israelite foremen saw that they were in trouble when they were told, “Do not reduce the number of bricks required of you each day.”

20When they came out from Pharaoh, they met Moses and Aaron, who were standing there waiting for them.

21They said to them, “May Yahweh look on you and judge you! You have made us a stench to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.”

22Then Moses turned back to Yahweh and said, “Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Why did you ever send me?

23Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and you have not rescued your people at all.”