Liber Exodus, 5

1. Post haec ingressi sunt Moyses et Aaron et dixerunt pharaoni: “Haec dicit Dominus, Deus Israel: Dimitte populum meum, ut sacrificet mihi in deserto”.

1. Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, `Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.'"

2. At ille responclit: “Quis est Dominus, ut audiam vocem eius et dimittam Israel? Nescio Dominum et Israel non dimittam”.

2. But Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD, that I should heed his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover I will not let Israel go."

3. Dixeruntque: “Deus Hebraeorum occurrit nobis; eamus, quaeso, viam trium dierum in solitudinem et sacrificemus Domino Deo nostro, ne forte accidat nobis pestis aut gladius”.

3. Then they said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us; let us go, we pray, a three days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the LORD our God, lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword."

4. Ait ad eos rex Aegypti: “Quare, Moyses et Aaron, sollicitatis populum ab operibus suis? Ite ad onera vestra”.

4. But the king of Egypt said to them, "Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people away from their work? Get to your burdens."

5. Dixitque pharao: “Multus nimis iam est populus terrae; videtis quod turba succreverit; quanto magis si dederitis eis requiem ab operibus?”.

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

6. Praecepit ergo in die illo exactoribus populi et praefectis eius dicens:

6. The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen,

7. “Nequaquam ultra dabitis paleas populo ad conficiendos lateres sicut prius, sed ipsi vadant et colligant stipulas.

7. "You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as heretofore; let them go and gather straw for themselves.

8. Et mensuram laterum, quam prius faciebant, imponetis super eos; nec minuetis quidquam. Vacant enim et idcirco vociferantur dicentes: "Eamus et sacrificemus Deo nostro".

8. But the number of bricks which they made heretofore you shall lay upon them, you shall by no means lessen it; for they are idle; therefore they cry, `Let us go and offer sacrifice to our God.'

9. Opprimantur operibus et expleant ea, ut non acquiescant verbis mendacibus”.

9. Let heavier work be laid upon the men that they may labor at it and pay no regard to lying words."

10. Igitur egressi exactores populi et praefecti eius dixerunt ad populum: “Sic dicit pharao: "Non do vobis paleas.

10. So the taskmasters and the foremen of the people went out and said to the people, "Thus says Pharaoh, `I will not give you straw.

11. Ite et colligite, sicubi invenire poteritis, nec minuetur quid quam de opere vestro"”.

11. Go yourselves, get your straw wherever you can find it; but your work will not be lessened in the least.'"

12. Dispersusque est populus per omnem terram Aegypti ad colligendas paleas.

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

13. Exactores quoque instabant dicentes: “Complete opus vestrum cotidie, ut prius facere solebatis, quando dabantur vobis paleae”.

13. The taskmasters were urgent, saying, "Complete your work, your daily task, as when there was straw."

14. Flagellatique sunt praefecti filiorum Israel, quos constituerant super eos exactores pharaonis dicentes: “Quare non implestis mensuram laterum sicut prius, nec heri nec hodie?”.

14. And the foremen of the people of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and were asked, "Why have you not done all your task of making bricks today, as hitherto?"

15. Veneruntque praefecti filiorum Israel et vociferati sunt ad pharaonem dicentes: “Cur ita agis contra servos tuos?

15. Then the foremen of the people of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, "Why do you deal thus with your servants?

16. Paleae non dantur nobis, et lateres similiter imperantur; en famuli tui flagellis caedimur, et populus tuus est in culpa”.

16. No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, `Make bricks!' And behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people."

17. Qui ait: “Vacatis otio et idcirco dicitis: "Eamus et sacrificemus Domino".

17. But he said, "You are idle, you are idle; therefore you say, `Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.'

18. Ite ergo et operamini; paleae non dabuntur vobis, et reddetis consuetum numerum laterum”.

18. Go now, and work; for no straw shall be given you, yet you shall deliver the same number of bricks."

19. Videbantque se praefecti filiorum Israel in malo, eo quod diceretur eis: “Non minuetur quidquam de lateribus per singulos dies”;

19. The foremen of the people of Israel saw that they were in evil plight, when they said, "You shall by no means lessen your daily number of bricks."

20. occurreruntque Moysi et Aaron, qui stabant ex adverso egredientibus a pharaone,

20. They met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them, as they came forth from Pharaoh;

21. et dixerunt ad eos: “Videat Dominus et iudicet, quoniam foetere fecistis odorem nostrum coram pharaone et servis eius; et praebuistis ei gladium, ut occideret nos”.

21. and they said to them, "The LORD look upon you and judge, because you have made us offensive in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us."

22. Reversusque est Moyses ad Dominum et ait: “Domine, cur afflixisti populum istum? Quare misisti me?

22. Then Moses turned again to the LORD and said, "O LORD, why hast thou done evil to this people? Why didst thou ever send me?

23. Ex eo enim quo ingressus sum ad pharaonem, ut loquerer in nomine tuo, afflixit populum tuum; et non liberasti eos”.

23. For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he has done evil to this people, and thou hast not delivered thy people at all."