出埃及 5
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
摩西和亚伦见法老
5 之后，摩西和亚伦去见法老，对他说：“以色列的上帝耶和华说，‘放我的子民走，让他们到旷野去为我守节期。’” 2 法老说：“耶和华是谁？我凭什么要听从祂，放走以色列人？我不认识祂，也不会让以色列人离开！” 3 摩西和亚伦说：“希伯来人的上帝向我们显现了。求你容我们走三天的路程，到旷野去向我们的上帝耶和华献祭，请你让我们去吧，免得祂用刀剑、瘟疫来攻击我们。” 4 埃及王说：“摩西、亚伦，你们竟敢煽动百姓旷工！快回去工作！” 5 法老又说：“这地方的以色列人如此众多，你竟叫他们停止工作！” 6 当天，法老就对埃及监工和以色列人的工头下令： 7 “从今天开始，不许再供应草给他们制砖，叫他们自己去捡， 8 但上交的砖的数量要和往常一样，一块也不可少。因为他们懒惰，所以才嚷着要去给他们的上帝献祭。 9 你们要加重他们的工作，他们就无暇再听那些蛊惑人心的话了！”
10 于是，那些监工和工头就出来向百姓宣布：“法老下令不再供应草给你们制砖。 11 你们要自己设法去找，但上交的砖一块也不能少。” 12 百姓只好在埃及全国收集碎禾秸当草用。 13 监工催逼他们说：“你们要完成每天规定的数目，像从前有草时一样。” 14 他们又鞭打以色列人的工头，说：“你们这两天为什么没有像从前一样完成规定的砖数？”
15 以色列人的工头来见法老，向他哀求说：“你为什么要这样对待仆人们？ 16 监工不给仆人们草，却命令我们做砖，还打我们，其实是你百姓的错。” 17 法老说：“你们是懒惰的人，懒惰的人！所以才嚷着要去给耶和华献祭。 18 回去继续工作！我不再供应草给你们，但砖要如数交齐。” 19 以色列人的工头听见每天做的砖数不可减少，就知道情况不妙。 20 他们从法老那里出来的时候，遇见摩西和亚伦站在外面等候， 21 便埋怨二人说：“愿耶和华鉴察、惩罚你们！你们使我们在法老和他的臣仆面前有了臭名，使他们有借口来杀我们。”
22 摩西回到耶和华那里说：“主啊！你为什么这样苦待你的子民呢？为什么要派我去呢？ 23 自从我去法老那里奉你的名发言后，他更加虐待你的子民，你并没有拯救他们。”
Exodus 5
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 5[a]
First Audience of Moses with Pharaoh. 1 Afterward, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and proclaimed to him, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Let my people go so that they might celebrate a feast in the desert.’ ” 2 Pharaoh answered, “Who is the Lord that I should listen to his voice and let Israel leave? I do not know the Lord, and I will not let Israel leave.” 3 They said, “The God of the Hebrews has appeared to us. Let us leave for a journey of three days into the desert to celebrate a sacrifice to the Lord, our God, lest he punish us with plague or the sword.”
4 The king of Egypt said to them, “Why, Moses and Aaron, do you take the people away from their work? Return to your work.” 5 Pharaoh added, “Behold how numerous the people of the land are. Would you have them rest from their labors?”
6 On that day, Pharaoh gave this order to the taskmasters of the people and to his overseers:[b] 7 “Do not give any more straw[c] for making bricks to the people as you previously have. Let them get their own straw. 8 But you must demand that they make the same number of bricks as before, without any reduction. They are lazy. That is why they are protesting, ‘We wish to leave, we must sacrifice to our God.’ 9 Let more work be laid upon them so that they keep busy and not pay attention to lies.”
10 The taskmasters of the people and the overseers went out and spoke to the people: “Pharaoh has ordered, ‘I will not give you straw. 11 You can go and gather it for yourselves wherever you can find it, but your work must not decline.’ ”
12 The people scattered all throughout Egypt to gather stubble for straw. 13 But the taskmasters urged them on saying, “Finish your work, your daily quota, just as when you were given straw.”
14 Complaint of the Overseers. The overseers of the children of Israel, whom the taskmasters of Pharaoh had placed over them, beat them saying, “Why have you not finished your number of bricks today and yesterday like you did before?”
15 The overseers of the children of Israel came to Pharaoh and appealed to him saying, “Why do you treat your servants like this? 16 You have not given straw to your servants, but you tell them to make bricks. Your servants are beaten and it is the fault of your own people.” 17 He answered, “You are lazy, lazy! This is why you say, ‘We want to leave; we must sacrifice to the Lord.’ 18 Now go, work! You will not be given straw, but you will produce the same number of bricks.”
19 The overseers of the children of Israel saw that they were in trouble when they were told, “Do not lower the daily number of bricks.” 20 Upon leaving Pharaoh, they met Moses and Aaron who were waiting for them. 21 They said, “The Lord look upon you and judge, for you have made us hateful to Pharaoh and his ministers. You placed the sword in their hands to kill us.”
22 Renewal of God’s Promise. Moses turned again to the Lord and said, “My Lord, why have you treated this people so badly? Why did you send me? 23 From the time that I went to Pharaoh to speak to him in your name, he has treated this people harshly and you have not done anything to free your people.”
Footnotes
- Exodus 5:1 The first meeting with Pharaoh results in a worsening of conditions for the enslaved Israelites. This result might seem to be a failure of the divine plan, but several interventions will be needed to advance the plan.
- Exodus 5:6 Taskmasters . . . overseers: the former were Egyptians with authority over the Israelites; the latter were most likely appointed by the Israelites themselves.
- Exodus 5:7 Straw was mixed with clay to give greater cohesiveness to the unbaked bricks.
Exodus 5
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised
Bricks without Straw
5 Afterwards Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, “Let my people go, so that they may celebrate a festival to me in the wilderness.”’ 2 But Pharaoh said, ‘Who is the Lord, that I should heed him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and I will not let Israel go.’ 3 Then they said, ‘The God of the Hebrews has revealed himself to us; let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness to sacrifice to the Lord our God, or he will fall upon us with pestilence or sword.’ 4 But the king of Egypt said to them, ‘Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their work? Get to your labours!’ 5 Pharaoh continued, ‘Now they are more numerous than the people of the land[a] and yet you want them to stop working!’ 6 That same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people, as well as their supervisors, 7 ‘You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as before; let them go and gather straw for themselves. 8 But you shall require of them the same quantity of bricks as they have made previously; do not diminish it, for they are lazy; that is why they cry, “Let us go and offer sacrifice to our God.” 9 Let heavier work be laid on them; then they will labour at it and pay no attention to deceptive words.’
10 So the taskmasters and the supervisors of the people went out and said to the people, ‘Thus says Pharaoh, “I will not give you straw. 11 Go and get straw yourselves, wherever you can find it; but your work will not be lessened in the least.”’ 12 So the people scattered throughout the land of Egypt, to gather stubble for straw. 13 The taskmasters were urgent, saying, ‘Complete your work, the same daily assignment as when you were given straw.’ 14 And the supervisors of the Israelites, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and were asked, ‘Why did you not finish the required quantity of bricks yesterday and today, as you did before?’
15 Then the Israelite supervisors came to Pharaoh and cried, ‘Why do you treat your servants like this? 16 No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, “Make bricks!” Look how your servants are beaten! You are unjust to your own people.’[b] 17 He said, ‘You are lazy, lazy; that is why you say, “Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.” 18 Go now, and work; for no straw shall be given you, but you shall still deliver the same number of bricks.’ 19 The Israelite supervisors saw that they were in trouble when they were told, ‘You shall not lessen your daily number of bricks.’ 20 As they left Pharaoh, they came upon Moses and Aaron who were waiting to meet them. 21 They said to them, ‘The Lord look upon you and judge! You have brought us into bad odour with Pharaoh and his officials, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.’
22 Then Moses turned again to the Lord and said, ‘O Lord, why have you mistreated this people? Why did you ever send me? 23 Since I first came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has mistreated this people, and you have done nothing at all to deliver your people.’
Footnotes
- Exodus 5:5 Sam: Heb The people of the land are now many
- Exodus 5:16 Gk Compare Syr Vg: Heb beaten, and the sin of your people
Chinese Contemporary Bible Copyright © 1979, 2005, 2007, 2011 by Biblica® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.