5:1After these things Moses and Aaron went in, and said to Pharaoh: "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: 'Let my people go so that it may sacrifice to me in the desert.'" 5:2But he answered: "Who is the Lord, that I should hear his voice, and let Israel go? 5:2I do not know the Lord, and I will not let Israel go." 5:3And they said: "The God of the Hebrews has called us, that we may go a journey of three days into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the Lord our God: lest perhaps plague or sword befall us." 5:4The king of Egypt says to them: "Why, Moses and Aaron, are you drawing the people away from their works?
5:4Go to your burdens." 5:5And Pharaoh said: "The people of the land is numerous: you see that the crowd has grown up: how much more if you give them rest from the works?" 5:6So on that day he gave orders to the overseers of the works and the taskmasters of the people, saying: "By no means will you any longer give straw to the people for making bricks, as before: but let them go themselves, and gather stubble. 5:8And the measure of bricks which they were making before, you will lay upon them, nor will you lessen anything: for they are idle, and for that reason they cry out, saying: 'Let us go, and sacrifice to our God.' 5:9Let them be oppressed with works, and let them fulfil them: so that they may not give heed to lying words."
5:10Therefore the overseers of the works and the taskmasters, having gone out to the people, said: "Thus says Pharaoh: 'I do not give you straw: go, and gather it wherever you can find it, nor will anything be lessened from your work.'" 5:12And the people was scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather straw. 5:13The overseers of the works also were pressing them, saying: "Complete your work daily, as you used to do before, when straw was given to you." 5:14And those of the sons of Israel who were in charge of the works were flogged by the taskmasters of Pharaoh, who said: "Why do you not fulfil the measure of bricks as before, neither yesterday nor today?"
5:15And the foremen of the sons of Israel came, and cried out to Pharaoh, saying: "Why do you act thus against your servants? 5:16Straw is not given to us, and bricks are ordered just the same: look, we your servants are beaten with whips, and unjustly is it done against your people." 5:17He said: "You are idle with leisure, and for that reason you say: 'Let us go, and sacrifice to the Lord.' 5:18Go therefore, and work: straw will not be given to you, and you will render the usual number of bricks." 5:19And the foremen of the sons of Israel saw themselves in trouble, because it was said to them: "Nothing will be lessened from the bricks for each single day."
5:20And they met Moses and Aaron, who were standing opposite, as they came out from Pharaoh: and they said to them: "May the Lord see and judge, since you have made our smell stink before Pharaoh and his servants, and you have offered him a sword, so that he might kill us." 5:22And Moses returned to the Lord, and said: "Lord, why have you afflicted this people? 5:22Why have you sent me? 5:23For since the time that I went in to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has afflicted your people: and you have not freed them."