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.’”
1摩西和亚伦首次见法老
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.”
2法老回答：“耶和华是谁，我要听他的话，让以色列人离开呢？我不认识耶和华，也不让以色列人离开。”
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.”
3他们说：“希伯来人的 神遇见了我们；求你让我们走三天的路程到旷野去，献祭给耶和华我们的 神，免得他用瘟疫或刀剑击杀我们。”
4The king of Egypt said to them, “Why do you, Moses and Aaron, take the people from their work? Get back to your burdens!”
4埃及王对他们说：“摩西、亚伦哪，你们为什么使人民懒惰不作工呢？去挑你们的担子吧。”
5Pharaoh said, “Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens.”
5法老又说：“你看，现在这地的民很多，你们竟叫他们歇下担子？”
6The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,
6就在那天，法老吩咐众民的督工和首领说：
7“You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick, as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves.
7“你们不要像往日一样再把草给人民做砖，叫他们自己去捡草。
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.’
8他们往日做砖的数量，你们还是向他们要，一点也不可减少，因为他们是懒惰的，所以他们才呼喊说：‘让我们去献祭给我们的 神。’
9Let heavier work be laid on the men, that they may labor therein; and don’t let them pay any attention to lying words.”
9你们要把更重的工作加在这些人的身上，好使他们专心作工，不听谎言。”
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.
10加重迫害以色列人众民的督工和首领出来，告诉人民说：“法老这样说：‘我不再给你们草。
11Go yourselves, get straw where you can find it, for nothing of your work shall be diminished.’”
11你们自己能在哪里找到草，就到哪里去捡吧，但你们的工作一点也不可减少。’”
12So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.
12于是，人民就分散到埃及全地，去拾禾秸作草。
13The taskmasters were urgent saying, “Fulfill your work quota daily, as when there was straw!”
13督工们催着说：“你们的工作，每天的本分，要在当天完成，像以前有草的时候一样。”
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?”
14法老的督工责打他们派定的以色列人的首领，说：“你们昨天今天为什么没有做完指定要你们做的砖，像往日一样呢？”
15Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, saying, “Why do you deal this way with your servants?
15以色列人的首领就来，向法老呼求说：“你为什么这样待你的仆人呢？
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.”
16没有草给你的仆人，但他们对我们说：‘你们做砖吧！’看哪，你的仆人受了责打，其实这是你自己人民的错。”
17But he said, “You are idle! You are idle! Therefore you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to Yahweh.’
17法老说：“你们确实是懒惰的，所以你们才说：‘让我们去献祭给耶和华。’
18Go therefore now, and work, for no straw shall be given to you, yet you shall deliver the same number of bricks!”
18现在你们去作工吧；草是不给你们的，砖却要如数交上。”
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!”
19以色列人的首领因有命令说：“你们每天本分要做的砖数不可减少”，就知道自己有祸了。
20They met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came out from Pharaoh:
20摩西和亚伦受责他们从法老那里出来的时候，遇见摩西和亚伦，正在站着等候他们，
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.”
21就对他们说：“愿耶和华鉴察你们，审判你们，因为你们使我们的香气在法老眼前和他的臣仆眼前都发臭了，把刀放在他们的手里来杀我们。”
22Moses returned to Yahweh, and said, “Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Why is it that you have sent me?
22摩西回到耶和华那里，说：“主啊！你为什么苦待这人民呢？为什么差派我呢？
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.”
23自从我到法老那里，奉你的名说话以来，他就苦待这人民，你一点也没有拯救你自己的人民。”