1 And afterward Moses and Aaron had entered, and they said to Pharaoh, “Thus said YHWH, God of Israel: Send My people away, and they keep a celebration for Me in the wilderness.” 2 and Pharaoh said, “Who is YHWH, that I listen to His voice to send Israel away? I do not known YHWH, and I also will not send Israel away.” 3 And they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go on a journey of three days into the wilderness, and we will sacrifice to our God YHWH, lest He meet us with pestilence or with sword.” 4 And the king of Egypt said to them, “Why, Moses and Aaron, do you free the people from its works? Go to your burdens.” 5 Pharaoh also said, “Look, the people of the land are numerous now, and you have caused them to cease from their burdens!” 6 And on that day Pharaoh commanded the exactors among the people and its authorities, saying, 7 “You do not add to give straw to the people for the making of the bricks as before—they go and will gather straw for themselves. 8 And you put on them the proper quantity of the bricks which they were making before, you do not diminish from it, for they are remiss, therefore they are crying, saying, Let us go, let us sacrifice to our God. 9 Let the service be heavy on the men, and let them work at it, and not be dazzled by lying words.” 10 And the exactors of the people, and its authorities, went out, and spoke to the people, saying, “Thus said Pharaoh: I will not give you straw, 11 you—go, take straw for yourselves where you can find it, for there is nothing diminished of your service.” 12 And the people were scattered over all the land of Egypt, to gather stubble for straw, 13 and the exactors were making haste, saying, “Complete your works, the matter of a day in its day, as when there is straw.” 14 And the authorities of the sons of Israel, whom the exactors of Pharaoh had placed over them, were beaten, saying, “Why have you not completed your portion in making brick as before, both yesterday and today?” 15 And the authorities of the sons of Israel came in and cried to Pharaoh, saying, “Why do you do thus to your servants? 16 Straw is not given to your servants, and they are saying to us, Make bricks, and look, your servants are struck—and your people have sinned.” 17 And he said, “Remiss—you are remiss, therefore you are saying, Let us go, let us sacrifice to YHWH. 18 And now, go, serve. And straw will not be given to you, and you will give the required measure of bricks.” 19 And the authorities of the sons of Israel saw them in affliction, saying, “You do not diminish from your bricks. The matter of a day in its day.” 20 And they met Moses and Aaron standing to meet them in their coming out from Pharaoh, 21 and said to them, “YHWH looks on you, and judges, because you have caused our fragrance to stink in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants—to give a sword into their hand to kill us.” 22 And Moses turned back to YHWH and said, “Lord, why have You done evil to this people? Why is this that You have sent me? 23 And since I have come to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done evil to this people, and You have not delivered Your people at all.”