Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible RHE
New Revised Standard NRS
1 After these things, Moses and Aaron went in, and said to Pharao: Thus saith the Lord God of Israel: Let my people go, that they may sacrifice to me in the desert.
1
Afterward 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 he answered: Who is the Lord, that I should hear his voice, and let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.
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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 And they said: The God of the Hebrews hath called us, to go three days’ journey into the wilderness, and to sacrifice to the Lord our God; lest a pestilence or the sword fall upon us.
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 The king of Egypt said to them: Why do you Moses and Aaron draw off the people from their works? Get you gone to your burdens.
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But the king of Egypt said to them, "Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their work? Get to your labors!"
5 And Pharao said: The people of the land are numerous; you see that the multitude is increased; how much more if you give them rest from their works?
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Pharaoh continued, "Now they are more numerous than the people of the land and yet you want them to stop working!"
6 Therefore he commanded the same day the overseers of the works, and the task-masters of the people, saying:
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That same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people, as well as their supervisors,
7 You shall give straw no more to the people to make brick, as before; but let them go and gather straw.
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"You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as before; let them go and gather straw for themselves.
8 And you shall lay upon them the task of bricks, which they did before; neither shall you diminish any thing thereof, for they are idle, and therefore they cry. saying: Let us go and sacrifice to our God.
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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 them be oppressed with works, and let them fulfil them; that they may not regard lying words.
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Let heavier work be laid on them; then they will labor at it and pay no attention to deceptive words."
10 And the overseers of the works, and the taskmasters, went out and said to the people: Thus saith Pharao: I allow you no straw;
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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 gather it where you can find it; neither shall any thing of your work be diminished.
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Go and get straw yourselves, wherever you can find it; but your work will not be lessened in the least.' "
12 And the people was scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather straw.
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So the people scattered throughout the land of Egypt, to gather stubble for straw.
13 And the overseers of the works pressed them, saying: Fulfil your work every day, as before ye were wont to do, when straw was given you.
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The taskmasters were urgent, saying, "Complete your work, the same daily assignment as when you were given straw."
14 And they that were over the works of the children of Israel, were scourged by Pharao’s taskmasters, saying: Why have you not made up the task of bricks, both yesterday and to day, as before?
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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 And the officers of the children of Israel came, and cried out to Pharao, saying: Why dealest thou so with thy servants?
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Then the Israelite supervisors came to Pharaoh and cried, "Why do you treat your servants like this?
16 Straw is not given us, and bricks are required of us as before; behold we, thy servants, are beaten with whips, and thy people is unjustly dealt withal.
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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."
17 And he said: You are idle, and therefore you say: Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.
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He said, "You are lazy, lazy; that is why you say, "Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.'
18 Go therefore and work: straw shall not be given you, and you shall deliver the accustomed number of bricks.
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Go now, and work; for no straw shall be given you, but you shall still deliver the same number of bricks."
19 And the officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in evil case, because it was said to them: There shall not a whit be diminished of the bricks for every day.
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The Israelite supervisors saw that they were in trouble when they were told, "You shall not lessen your daily number of bricks."
20 And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood over against them as they came out from Pharao:
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As they left Pharaoh, they came upon Moses and Aaron who were waiting to meet them.
21 And they said to them: The Lord see and judge, because you have, made our savour to stink before Pharao and his servants, and you have given him a sword, to kill us.
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They said to them, "The Lord look upon you and judge! You have brought us into bad odor with Pharaoh and his officials, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us."
22 And Moses returned to the Lord, and said: Lord, why hast thou afflicted this people? wherefore hast thou sent me?
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Then Moses turned again to the Lord and said, "O Lord, why have you mistreated this people? Why did you ever send me?
23 For since the time that I went in to Pharao to speak in thy name, he hath afflicted thy people: and thou hast not delivered them.
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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."
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New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, 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.