Pharao refuseth to let the people go. They are more oppressed.
5:1. 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.
5:2. 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.
5:3. 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.
5:4. 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.
5:5. 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?
5:6. Therefore he commanded the same day the overseers of the works,
and the task-masters of the people, saying:
5:7. You shall give straw no more to the people to make brick, as
before; but let them go and gather straw.
5:8. 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.
5:9. Let them be oppressed with works, and let them fulfil them; that
they may not regard lying words.
5:10. And the overseers of the works, and the taskmasters, went out and
said to the people: Thus saith Pharao: I allow you no straw;
5:11. Go, and gather it where you can find it; neither shall any thing
of your work be diminished.
5:12. And the people was scattered through all the land of Egypt to
gather straw.
5:13. 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.
5:14. 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?
5:15. And the officers of the children of Israel came, and cried out to
Pharao, saying: Why dealest thou so with thy servants?
5:16. 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.
5:17. And he said: You are idle, and therefore you say: Let us go and
sacrifice to the Lord.
5:18. Go therefore and work: straw shall not be given you, and you
shall deliver the accustomed number of bricks.
5:19. 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.
5:20. And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood over against them as they
came out from Pharao:
5:21. 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.
5:22. And Moses returned to the Lord, and said: Lord, why hast thou
afflicted this people? wherefore hast thou sent me?
5:23. 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.