Exodus 5

And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.

Then Moses and Aaron, filled with courage, approached Pharaoh. They relayed God's message with conviction, "The Lord, the God of Israel, demands, 'Release my people. Allow them to celebrate a feast in my honor in the wilderness.'"

And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.

Pharaoh scoffed, "Why should I listen to this 'Lord' and free Israel? I don't know any 'Lord', and I won't release Israel."

And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days’ journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the LORD our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.

They pleaded, "We've encountered the God of our ancestors. Please, let us travel for three days into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to our God. We fear His wrath may strike us with disease or war if we don't."

And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens.

The Egyptian king questioned Moses and Aaron, "Why are you distracting the people from their tasks? Return to your own burdens."

And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens.

Pharaoh noticed, "There are so many people in the land now, and you're letting them take a break from their heavy work."

And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,

On that day, Pharaoh ordered the people's overseers and their leaders, saying,

Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.

Stop giving the people straw for making bricks, as you have been doing. Let them go and gather their own straw.

And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.

Continue to place the same demands on them for brick-making as before; don't lessen their workload. They're being lazy, that's why they're asking to go and worship their God.

Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words.

Increase the workload on the men, so they stay busy and productive; don't let them be distracted by meaningless chatter.

And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spake to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.

The people's overseers went forth, their leaders alongside them. They addressed the masses with Pharaoh's harsh decree, "No more straw will be provided."

Go ye, get you straw where ye can find it: yet not ought of your work shall be diminished.

Go, find your own resources, but don't let your productivity decrease.

So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw.

The people were sent all over Egypt, desperately searching for stubble to replace the straw they once had.

And the taskmasters hasted them, saying, Fulfil your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw.

The overseers urged them on, saying, "Complete your work, your daily duties, as you did when you had straw."

And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and to day, as heretofore?

The leaders of the Israelites, appointed by Pharaoh's harsh overseers, were brutally punished. They were questioned, "Why haven't you completed your brick-making duties, both yesterday and today, as you've always done?"

Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?

The leaders of the Israelites approached Pharaoh, their hearts heavy with sorrow. They pleaded, "Why are you treating us, your servants, so harshly?"

There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thine own people.

We're given no resources, yet they demand we build. We're punished, even though the real problem lies within your own people.

But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the LORD.

He responded, "You're just lazing around, that's why you suggest, 'Let's go and offer sacrifices to the Lord.'"

Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks.

Get to work now, even though you won't be given any straw. You still need to produce the same amount of bricks.

And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, after it was said, Ye shall not minish ought from your bricks of your daily task.

The leaders of the Israelites realized they were in a terrible situation when they were told, "You must not reduce the number of bricks you make each day."

And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh:

Moses and Aaron, standing firm, encountered them as they emerged from Pharaoh's presence.

And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.

They told them, "May God see what you have done and judge you, for you've made us despised in Pharaoh's sight and his servants', giving them a reason to kill us."

And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, LORD, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me?

Moses went back to God, asking with a heavy heart, "Lord, why have you brought such trouble on these people? Why did you send me for this task?"

For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all.

Ever since I confronted Pharaoh on your behalf, he's only treated your people worse. You haven't rescued them at all.