1摩西和亞倫首次見法老後來，摩西和亞倫去對法老說：“耶和華以色列的 神這樣說：讓我的人民離開這裡，叫他們可以在曠野向我守節。”
1Afterward Moses and Aaron came, and said to Pharaoh, “This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.’”
2法老回答：“耶和華是誰，我要聽他的話，讓以色列人離開呢？我不認識耶和華，也不讓以色列人離開。”
2Pharaoh said, “Who is Yahweh, that I should listen to his voice to let Israel go? I don’t know Yahweh, and moreover I will not let Israel go.”
3他們說：“希伯來人的 神遇見了我們；求你讓我們走三天的路程到曠野去，獻祭給耶和華我們的 神，免得他用瘟疫或刀劍擊殺我們。”
3They said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to Yahweh, our God, lest he fall on us with pestilence, or with the sword.”
4埃及王對他們說：“摩西、亞倫哪，你們為甚麼使人民懶惰不作工呢？去挑你們的擔子吧。”
4The king of Egypt said to them, “Why do you, Moses and Aaron, take the people from their work? Get back to your burdens!”
5法老又說：“你看，現在這地的民很多，你們竟叫他們歇下擔子？”
5Pharaoh said, “Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens.”
6就在那天，法老吩咐眾民的督工和首領說：
6The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,
7“你們不要像往日一樣再把草給人民做磚，叫他們自己去撿草。
7“You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick, as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves.
8他們往日做磚的數量，你們還是向他們要，一點也不可減少，因為他們是懶惰的，所以他們才呼喊說：‘讓我們去獻祭給我們的 神。’
8The number of the bricks, which they made before, you require from them. You shall not diminish anything of it, for they are idle; therefore they cry, saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’
9你們要把更重的工作加在這些人的身上，好使他們專心作工，不聽謊言。”
9Let heavier work be laid on the men, that they may labor therein; and don’t let them pay any attention to lying words.”
10加重迫害以色列人眾民的督工和首領出來，告訴人民說：“法老這樣說：‘我不再給你們草。
10The taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spoke to the people, saying, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I will not give you straw.
11你們自己能在哪裡找到草，就到哪裡去撿吧，但你們的工作一點也不可減少。’”
11Go yourselves, get straw where you can find it, for nothing of your work shall be diminished.’”
12於是，人民就分散到埃及全地，去拾禾秸作草。
12So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.
13督工們催著說：“你們的工作，每天的本分，要在當天完成，像以前有草的時候一樣。”
13The taskmasters were urgent saying, “Fulfill your work quota daily, as when there was straw!”
14法老的督工責打他們派定的以色列人的首領，說：“你們昨天今天為甚麼沒有做完指定要你們做的磚，像往日一樣呢？”
14The officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, “Why haven’t you fulfilled your quota both yesterday and today, in making brick as before?”
15以色列人的首領就來，向法老呼求說：“你為甚麼這樣待你的僕人呢？
15Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, saying, “Why do you deal this way with your servants?
16沒有草給你的僕人，但他們對我們說：‘你們做磚吧！’看哪，你的僕人受了責打，其實這是你自己人民的錯。”
16No straw is given to your servants, and they tell us, ‘Make brick!’ and behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people.”
17法老說：“你們確實是懶惰的，所以你們才說：‘讓我們去獻祭給耶和華。’
17But he said, “You are idle! You are idle! Therefore you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to Yahweh.’
18現在你們去作工吧；草是不給你們的，磚卻要如數交上。”
18Go therefore now, and work, for no straw shall be given to you, yet you shall deliver the same number of bricks!”
19以色列人的首領因有命令說：“你們每天本分要做的磚數不可減少”，就知道自己有禍了。
19The officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in trouble, when it was said, “You shall not diminish anything from your daily quota of bricks!”
20摩西和亞倫受責他們從法老那裡出來的時候，遇見摩西和亞倫，正在站著等候他們，
20They met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came out from Pharaoh:
21就對他們說：“願耶和華鑒察你們，審判你們，因為你們使我們的香氣在法老眼前和他的臣僕眼前都發臭了，把刀放在他們的手裡來殺我們。”
21and they said to them, “May Yahweh look at you, and judge, because you have made us a stench to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us.”
22摩西回到耶和華那裡，說：“主啊！你為甚麼苦待這人民呢？為甚麼差派我呢？
22Moses returned to Yahweh, and said, “Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Why is it that you have sent me?
23自從我到法老那裡，奉你的名說話以來，他就苦待這人民，你一點也沒有拯救你自己的人民。”
23For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people; neither have you delivered your people at all.”