Exodus 5

1 After that, 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 feast to Me in the wilderness.’”

1 后来摩西、亚伦去对法老说：「耶和华—以色列的 神这样说：『容我的百姓去，在旷野向我守节。』」

2 But Pharaoh replied, “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.”

2 法老说：「耶和华是谁，使我听他的话，容以色列人去呢？我不认识耶和华，也不容以色列人去！」

3 “The God of the Hebrews has met with us,” they answered. “Please let us go on a three-day journey into the wilderness to sacrifice to the LORD our God, or He may strike us with plagues or with the sword.”

3 他们说：「希伯来人的 神遇见了我们。求你容我们往旷野去，走三天的路程，祭祀耶和华—我们的 神，免得他用瘟疫、刀兵攻击我们。」

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

4 埃及王对他们说：「摩西、亚伦！你们为什么叫百姓旷工呢？你们去担你们的担子吧！」

5 Pharaoh also said, “Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you would be stopping them from their labor.”

5 又说：「看哪，这地的以色列人如今众多，你们竟叫他们歇下担子！」

6 That same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen:

6 当天，法老吩咐督工的和官长说：

7 “You shall no longer supply the people with straw for making bricks. They must go and gather their own straw.

7 「你们不可照常把草给百姓做砖，叫他们自己去捡草。

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

8 他们素常做砖的数目，你们仍旧向他们要，一点不可减少；因为他们是懒惰的，所以呼求说：『容我们去祭祀我们的 神。』

9 Make the work harder on the men so they will be occupied and pay no attention to these lies.”

9 你们要把更重的工夫加在这些人身上，叫他们劳碌，不听虚谎的言语。」

10 So the taskmasters and foremen of the people went out and said to them, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I am no longer giving you straw.

10 督工的和官长出来对百姓说：「法老这样说：『我不给你们草。

11 Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it; but your workload will in no way be reduced.’”

11 你们自己在哪里能找草，就往那里去找吧！但你们的工一点不可减少。』」

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

12 于是百姓散在埃及遍地，捡碎秸当作草。

13 The taskmasters kept pressing them, saying, “Fulfill your quota each day, just as you did when straw was provided.”

13 督工的催着说：「你们一天当完一天的工，与先前有草一样。」

14 Then the Israelite foremen, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over the people, were beaten and asked, “Why have you not fulfilled your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as you did before?”

14 法老督工的，责打他所派以色列人的官长，说：「你们昨天今天为什么没有照向来的数目做砖、完你们的工作呢？」

15 So the Israelite foremen went and appealed to Pharaoh: “Why are you treating your servants this way?

15 以色列人的官长就来哀求法老说：「为什么这样待你的仆人？

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

16 督工的不把草给仆人，并且对我们说：『做砖吧！』看哪，你仆人挨了打，其实是你百姓的错。」

17 “You are slackers!” Pharaoh replied. “Slackers! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’

17 但法老说：「你们是懒惰的！你们是懒惰的！所以说：『容我们去祭祀耶和华。』

18 Now get to work. You will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the full quota of bricks.”

18 现在你们去做工吧！草是不给你们的，砖却要如数交纳。」

19 The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, “You must not reduce your daily quota of bricks.”

19 以色列人的官长听说「你们每天做砖的工作一点不可减少」，就知道是遭遇祸患了。

20 When they left Pharaoh, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who stood waiting to meet them.

20 他们离了法老出来，正遇见摩西、亚伦站在对面，

21 “May the LORD look upon you and judge you,” the foremen said, “for you have made us a stench before Pharaoh and his officials; you have placed in their hand a sword to kill us!”

21 就向他们说：「愿耶和华鉴察你们，施行判断；因你们使我们在法老和他臣仆面前有了臭名，把刀递在他们手中杀我们。」

22 So Moses returned to the LORD and asked, “Lord, why have You brought trouble upon this people? Is this why You sent me?

22 摩西回到耶和华那里，说：「主啊，你为什么苦待这百姓呢？为什么打发我去呢？

23 Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and You have not delivered Your people in any way.”

23 自从我去见法老，奉你的名说话，他就苦待这百姓，你一点也没有拯救他们。」