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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。” 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。” 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。” 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。” 法老又說:“你看,現在這地的民很多,你們竟叫他們歇下擔子?” 就在那天,法老吩咐眾民的督工和首領說: “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。 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。’ 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。”

加重迫害以色列人

10 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。 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。’” 12 於是,人民就分散到埃及全地,去拾禾稭作草。 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。” 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?”

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? 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。” 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。’ 18 現在你們去作工吧;草是不給你們的,磚卻要如數交上。” 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。

摩西和亞倫受責

20 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, 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。”

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? 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。”

Israel’s Labor Increased

And afterward Moses and Aaron came and said to Pharaoh, “(A)This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: ‘(B)Let My people go so that they may celebrate a feast to Me in the wilderness.’” But Pharaoh said, “(C)Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and besides, (D)I will not let Israel go.” Then they said, “(E)The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please, let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness so that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God, otherwise He will strike us with plague or with the sword.” But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you let the people neglect their [a]work? Get back to your (F)labors!” Again Pharaoh said, “Look, (G)the people of the land are now many, and you would have them cease from their labors!” So the same day Pharaoh commanded (H)the taskmasters over the people and their (I)foremen, saying, “You are no longer to give the people straw to make bricks as previously; have them go and gather straw for themselves. But you shall impose on them the quota of bricks which they were making before; you are not to reduce any of it. Because they are (J)lazy, for that reason they cry [b]out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ Let the labor be heavier on the men, and have them work at it so that they will pay no attention to false words.”

10 So (K)the taskmasters of the people and their foremen went out and spoke to the people, saying, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I am not going to give you any straw. 11 You go, get straw for yourselves wherever you can find it; but none of your labor will be reduced.’” 12 So the people scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. 13 And the taskmasters pressed them, saying, “Complete your [c]work quota, [d]your daily amount, just as when [e]you had straw.” 14 Moreover, (L)the foremen of the sons of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, (M)were beaten [f]and asked, “Why have you not completed your required task of making bricks either yesterday or today, as before?”

15 Then the foremen of the sons of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, “Why do you deal this way with your servants? 16 There is no straw given to your servants, yet they keep saying to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And behold, your servants are being beaten; but it is the fault of your own people.” 17 But he said, “You are (N)lazy, very lazy; for that reason you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’ 18 So go now and work; for you will be given no straw, but you must deliver the quota of bricks.” 19 The foremen of the sons of Israel saw that they were in trouble, [g]since they were told, “You must not reduce [h]your daily amount of bricks.” 20 When they left Pharaoh’s presence, they met Moses and Aaron as they were [i]waiting for them. 21 And (O)they said to them, “(P)May the Lord look upon you and judge you, because you have (Q)made [j]us repulsive in Pharaoh’s sight and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us!”

22 Then Moses returned to the Lord and said, “(R)Lord, why have You brought harm to this people? Why did You ever send me? 23 Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done harm to this people, (S)and You have not rescued Your people at all.”

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 5:4 Lit works
  2. Exodus 5:8 Lit out, saying,
  3. Exodus 5:13 Lit works
  4. Exodus 5:13 Lit the matter of a day in its day
  5. Exodus 5:13 Lit there was
  6. Exodus 5:14 Lit saying
  7. Exodus 5:19 Lit saying
  8. Exodus 5:19 Lit from your bricks the matter of a day in its day
  9. Exodus 5:20 Lit standing to meet
  10. Exodus 5:21 Lit our odor stink

First Encounter with Pharaoh

Afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘Let My people go, that they may [a]hold (A)a feast to Me in the wilderness.’ ”

And Pharaoh said, (B)“Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, (C)nor will I let Israel go.”

So they said, (D)“The God of the Hebrews has (E)met with us. Please, let us go three days’ journey into the desert and sacrifice to the Lord our God, lest He fall upon us with (F)pestilence or with the sword.”

Then the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people from their work? Get back to your (G)labor.” And Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land are (H)many now, and you make them rest from their labor!”

So the same day Pharaoh commanded the (I)taskmasters of the people and their officers, saying, “You shall no longer give the people straw to make (J)brick as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves. And you shall lay on them the quota of bricks which they made before. You shall not reduce it. For they are idle; therefore they cry out, saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ Let more work be laid on the men, that they may labor in it, and let them not regard false words.”

10 And the taskmasters of the people and their officers went out and spoke to the people, saying, “Thus says Pharaoh: ‘I will not give you straw. 11 Go, get yourselves straw where you can find it; yet none of your work will be reduced.’ ” 12 So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw. 13 And the taskmasters forced them to hurry, saying, “Fulfill your work, your daily quota, as when there was straw.” 14 Also the (K)officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were (L)beaten and were asked, “Why have you not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and today, as before?”

15 Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, “Why are you dealing thus with your servants? 16 There is no straw given to your servants, and they say to us, ‘Make brick!’ And indeed your servants are beaten, but the fault is in your own people.”

17 But he said, “You are idle! Idle! Therefore you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’ 18 Therefore go now and work; for no straw shall be given you, yet you shall deliver the quota of bricks.” 19 And the officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in trouble after it was said, “You shall not reduce any bricks from your daily quota.”

20 Then, as they came out from Pharaoh, they met Moses and Aaron who stood there to meet them. 21 (M)And they said to them, “Let the Lord look on you and judge, because you have made [b]us abhorrent in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us.”

Israel’s Deliverance Assured(N)

22 So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Why is it You have sent me? 23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done evil to this people; neither have You delivered Your people at all.”

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 5:1 keep a pilgrim-feast
  2. Exodus 5:21 Lit. our scent to stink before

Moses Confronts Pharaoh

Later, Moses and Aaron went in and said to Pharaoh, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival for me in the wilderness.”(A)

But Pharaoh responded, “Who is the Lord that I should obey him by letting Israel go?(B) I don’t know[a] the Lord, and besides, I will not let Israel go.”(C)

They answered, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go on a three-day trip into the wilderness so that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God, or else he may strike us with plague or sword.”

The king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why are you causing the people to neglect their work? Get to your labor!” Pharaoh also said, “Look, the people of the land are so numerous, and you would stop them from their labor.”(D)

Further Oppression of Israel

That day Pharaoh commanded the overseers(E) of the people as well as their foremen, “Don’t continue to supply the people with straw for making bricks, as before. They must go and gather straw for themselves. But require the same quota of bricks from them as they were making before; do not reduce it. For they are slackers—that is why they are crying out,(F) ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ Impose heavier work on the men. Then they will be occupied with it and not pay attention to deceptive words.”

10 So the overseers and foremen of the people went out and said to them, “This is what Pharaoh says:(G) ‘I am not giving you straw. 11 Go get straw yourselves wherever you can find it, but there will be no reduction at all in your workload.’” 12 So the people scattered throughout the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. 13 The overseers insisted, “Finish your assigned work each day, just as you did when straw was provided.” 14 Then the Israelite foremen, whom Pharaoh’s slave drivers had set over the people, were beaten(H) and asked, “Why haven’t you finished making your prescribed number of bricks yesterday or today, as you did before?”

15 So the Israelite foremen went in and cried for help to Pharaoh: “Why are you treating your servants this way? 16 No straw has been given to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks!’ Look, your servants are being beaten, but it is your own people who are at fault.”

17 But he said, “You are slackers. Slackers! That is why you are saying, ‘Let us go sacrifice to the Lord.’ 18 Now get to work. No straw will be given to you, but you must produce the same quantity of bricks.”

19 The Israelite foremen saw that they were in trouble when they were told, “You cannot reduce your daily quota of bricks.” 20 When they left Pharaoh, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who stood waiting to meet them.

21 “May the Lord take note of you and judge,” they said to them, “because you have made us reek to Pharaoh and his officials—putting a sword in their hand to kill us!” (I)

22 So Moses went back to the Lord and asked, “Lord, why have you caused trouble for this people? And why did you ever send me?(J) 23 Ever since I went in to Pharaoh to speak in your name he has caused trouble for this people, and you haven’t rescued your people at all.”

Footnotes

  1. 5:2 Or recognize

Bricks Without Straw

Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let my people go,(A) so that they may hold a festival(B) to me in the wilderness.’”

Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord,(C) that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go.”(D)

Then they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Now let us take a three-day journey(E) into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God, or he may strike us with plagues(F) or with the sword.”

But the king of Egypt said, “Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their labor?(G) Get back to your work!” Then Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land are now numerous,(H) and you are stopping them from working.”

That same day Pharaoh gave this order to the slave drivers(I) and overseers in charge of the people: “You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks;(J) let them go and gather their own straw. But require them to make the same number of bricks as before; don’t reduce the quota.(K) They are lazy;(L) that is why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’(M) Make the work harder for the people so that they keep working and pay no attention to lies.”

10 Then the slave drivers(N) and the overseers went out and said to the people, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I will not give you any more straw. 11 Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced(O) at all.’” 12 So the people scattered all over Egypt to gather stubble to use for straw. 13 The slave drivers kept pressing them, saying, “Complete the work required of you for each day, just as when you had straw.” 14 And Pharaoh’s slave drivers beat the Israelite overseers they had appointed,(P) demanding, “Why haven’t you met your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as before?”

15 Then the Israelite overseers went and appealed to Pharaoh: “Why have you treated your servants this way? 16 Your servants are given no straw, yet we are told, ‘Make bricks!’ Your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people.”

17 Pharaoh said, “Lazy, that’s what you are—lazy!(Q) That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’ 18 Now get to work.(R) You will not be given any straw, yet you must produce your full quota of bricks.”

19 The Israelite overseers realized they were in trouble when they were told, “You are not to reduce the number of bricks required of you for each day.” 20 When they left Pharaoh, they found Moses and Aaron waiting to meet them, 21 and they said, “May the Lord look on you and judge(S) you! You have made us obnoxious(T) to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword(U) in their hand to kill us.”(V)

God Promises Deliverance

22 Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people?(W) Is this why you sent me? 23 Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and you have not rescued(X) your people at all.”