1And afterward Moses and Aaron came and said to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Let My people go that they may celebrate a feast to Me in the wilderness.''
1後來摩西、亞倫去對法老說：耶和華─以色列的神這樣說：容我的百姓去，在曠野向我守節。
2But Pharaoh said, 'Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and besides, I will not let Israel go.'
2法老說：耶和華是誰，使我聽他的話，容以色列人去呢？我不認識耶和華，也不容以色列人去！
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, otherwise He will fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.'
3他們說：希伯來人的神遇見了我們。求你容我們往曠野去，走三天的路程，祭祀耶和華─我們的 神，免得他用瘟疫、刀兵攻擊我們。
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 labors!'
4埃及王對他們說：摩西、亞倫！你們為甚麼叫百姓曠工呢？你們去擔你們的擔子罷！
5Again Pharaoh said, 'Look, the people of the land are now many, and you would have them cease from their labors!'
5又說：看哪，這地的以色列人如今眾多，你們竟叫他們歇下擔子！
6So the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters over the people and their foremen, saying,
6當天，法老吩咐督工的和官長說：
7'You are no longer to give the people straw to make brick as previously; let them go and gather straw for themselves.
7你們不可照常把草給百姓做磚，叫他們自己去撿草。
8'But the quota of bricks which they were making previously, you shall impose on them; you are not to reduce any of it. Because they are lazy, therefore they cry out, 'Let us go and sacrifice to our God.'
8他們素常做磚的數目，你們仍舊向他們要，一點不可減少；因為他們是懶惰的，所以呼求說：容我們去祭祀我們的神。
9'Let the labor be heavier on the men, and let them work at it so that they will pay no attention to false words.'
9你們要把更重的工夫加在這些人身上，叫他們勞碌，不聽虛謊的言語。
10So the taskmasters of the people and their foremen went out and spoke to the people, saying, 'Thus says Pharaoh, 'I am not going to give you [any] straw.
10督工的和官長出來對百姓說：法老這樣說：我不給你們草。
11'You go [and] get straw for yourselves wherever you can find [it], but none of your labor will be reduced.''
11你們自己在那裡能找草，就往那裡去找罷！但你們的工一點不可減少。
12So the people scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.
12於是百姓散在埃及遍地，撿碎秸當作草。
13The taskmasters pressed them, saying, 'Complete your work quota, [your] daily amount, just as when you had straw.'
13督工的催著說：你們一天當完一天的工，與先前有草一樣。
14Moreover, the foremen of the sons of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, 'Why have you not completed your required amount either yesterday or today in making brick as previously?'
14法老督工的，責打他所派以色列人的官長，說：你們昨天今天為甚麼沒有照向來的數目做磚、完你們的工作呢？
15Then the foremen of the sons of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, 'Why do you deal this way with your servants?
15以色列人的官長就來哀求法老說：為甚麼這樣待你的僕人？
16'There is no straw given to your servants, yet they keep saying to us, 'Make bricks!' And behold, your servants are being beaten; but it is the fault of your [own] people.'
16督工的不把草給僕人，並且對我們說：做磚罷！看哪，你僕人挨了打，其實是你百姓的錯。
17But he said, 'You are lazy, [very] lazy; therefore you say, 'Let us go [and] sacrifice to the LORD.'
17但法老說：你們是懶惰的！你們是懶惰的！所以說：容我們去祭祀耶和華。
18'So go now [and] work; for you will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the quota of bricks.'
18現在你們去做工罷！草是不給你們的，磚卻要如數交納。
19The foremen of the sons of Israel saw that they were in trouble because they were told, 'You must not reduce [your] daily amount of bricks.'
19以色列人的官長聽說你們每天做磚的工作一點不可減少，就知道是遭遇禍患了。
20When they left Pharaoh's presence, they met Moses and Aaron as they were waiting for them.
20他們離了法老出來，正遇見摩西、亞倫站在對面，
21They said to them, 'May the LORD look upon you and judge [you], for you have made us odious in Pharaoh's sight and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us.'
21就向他們說：願耶和華鑒察你們，施行判斷；因你們使我們在法老和他臣僕面前有了臭名，把刀遞在他們手中殺我們。
22Then Moses returned to the LORD and said, 'O Lord, why have You brought harm to this people? Why did You ever send me?
22摩西回到耶和華那裡，說：主阿，你為甚麼苦待這百姓呢？為甚麼打發我去呢？
23'Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done harm to this people, and You have not delivered Your people at all.'
23自從我去見法老，奉你的名說話，他就苦待這百姓，你一點也沒有拯救他們。