Self-interpreting Bible

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Exodus 5

1Pharaoh chideth Moses and Aaron for their message: 6he increaseth the task of the Israelites. 10The people have no straw allowed them. 15Pharaoh checketh their complaints. 20They cry out upon Moses and Aaron. 22Moses complaineth to God.

1 AND afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and atold Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a bfeast unto me in the wilderness.

2 And Pharaoh said, cWho is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.

3 And they said, dThe God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the LORD our God; lest he efall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.

4 And the king of Egypt said unto them, fWherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your gburdens.

5 And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens.

    6 And Pharaoh commanded the same day the htaskmasters of the people, and their iofficers, saying,

    7 Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as *heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.

    • *: heretofore-before, previously.

    8 And the *tale of the bricks, which they did make *heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.

    • *: tale-number. , heretofore-before, previously.

    9 1Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard jvain words.

    10 ¶And kthe taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spake to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.

    11 Go ye, get you straw where ye can find it: yet not ought of your work shall be diminished.

      12 So the people were scattered *abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw.

      • *: abroad-over a wide area.

      13 And the taskmasters hasted them, saying, Fulfil your works, 2your daily tasks, as when there was straw.

      • 2: Heb. a matter of a day in his day.

      14 And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and to day, as *heretofore?

      • *: heretofore-before, previously.

      15 ¶Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, lWherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?

      16 There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thine own people.

        17 But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the LORD.

          18 Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the *tale of bricks.

          • *: tale-number.

          19 And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in mevil case, after it was said, Ye shall not minish ought from your bricks of your daily task.

          20 ¶And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh:

            21 And they said unto them, The LORD nlook upon you, and judge; because ye have made our *savour 3to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.

            22 And Moses oreturned unto the LORD, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil *entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me?

            23 For psince I came to Pharaoh to speak qin thy name, he hath done evil to this people; rneither 4hast thou delivered thy people at all.