Exodus

Chapter 5

Phonetic (Hebrew): ve'acha֗r bּa֚'u moshshe֣h ve'aharo֔n vayּo'mer֖u 'el-pּare'o֑h kּoֽh-'ama֤r yehvah֙ 'elohe֣y yishsera'e֔l shshalּach֙ 'et-'amּi֔y veyacho֥gּu li֖y bּamּidebּaֽr׃

Edified Edition (EDE)After their meeting with the elders, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, "[1] (This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says): 'Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival for me in the desert.'"

וְאַחַ֗ר בָּ֚אוּ מֹשֶׁ֣ה וְאַהֲרֹ֔ן וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֑ה כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל שַׁלַּח֙ אֶת־עַמִּ֔י וְיָחֹ֥גּוּ לִ֖י בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo֣'mer pּare'o֔h mi֤y yehvah֙ 'ashshe֣r 'eshshema֣ bּeqol֔o leshshalּa֖ch 'et-yishsera'e֑l lo֤ yada֨'etּiy֙ 'et-yehva֔h vega֥m 'et-yishsera'e֖l lo֥ 'ashshalּeֽcha׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Pharaoh replied, "[2] (Who is the LORD) that I should obey him and let Israel go? [3] (I do not know the LORD), and I will not let the Israelites leave!"

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר פַּרְעֹ֔ה מִ֤י יְהוָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶשְׁמַ֣ע בְּקֹל֔וֹ לְשַׁלַּ֖ח אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לֹ֤א יָדַ֨עְתִּי֙ אֶת־יְהוָ֔ה וְגַ֥ם אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֹ֥א אֲשַׁלֵּֽחַ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo֣'mer֔u 'elohe֥y ha'iberi֖ym niqera֣ 'ale֑ynu ne֣lakah nּa֡ dּereke֩ shshelo֨shshet yami֜ym bּamּidebּa֗r venizebּechah֙ laֽyhva֣h 'elohe֔ynu pּe֨n-yipegּa'e֔nu bּadּe֖ber '֥o bechaֽreb׃

Edified Edition (EDE)They answered, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us travel three days into the desert to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God. If we don't, He may strike us with a deadly disease or with war."

וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ אֱלֹהֵ֥י הָעִבְרִ֖ים נִקְרָ֣א עָלֵ֑ינוּ נֵ֣לֲכָה נָּ֡א דֶּרֶךְ֩ שְׁלֹ֨שֶׁת יָמִ֜ים בַּמִּדְבָּ֗ר וְנִזְבְּחָה֙ לַֽיהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ פֶּ֨ן־יִפְגָּעֵ֔נוּ בַּדֶּ֖בֶר א֥וֹ בֶחָֽרֶב׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo֤'mer 'alehem֙ me֣leke mitzera֔yim la֚mּah moshshe֣h ve'aharo֔n tּaperi֥y'u 'et-ha'a֖m mimּaֽ'ashsa֑yv lek֖u lesibeloteykeֽm׃

Edified Edition (EDE)But the king of Egypt said to them, "Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their work? Get back to your own duties!"

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵהֶם֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ מִצְרַ֔יִם לָ֚מָּה מֹשֶׁ֣ה וְאַהֲרֹ֔ן תַּפְרִ֥יעוּ אֶת־הָעָ֖ם מִמַּֽעֲשָׂ֑יו לְכ֖וּ לְסִבְלֹתֵיכֶֽם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo֣'mer pּare'o֔h hen-rabּi֥ym 'atּa֖h 'a֣m ha'a֑retz vehishshebּatּe֥m 'ota֖m misּibelotaֽm׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Pharaoh added, "Look, the people of the land are already very numerous, and now you are making them stop their hard labour!"

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר פַּרְעֹ֔ה הֵן־רַבִּ֥ים עַתָּ֖ה עַ֣ם הָאָ֑רֶץ וְהִשְׁבַּתֶּ֥ם אֹתָ֖ם מִסִּבְלֹתָֽם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayetza֥v pּare'o֖h bּayּ֣om hah֑u 'et-hanּogeshsi֣ym bּa'a֔m ve'et-shshotera֖yv le'moֽr׃

Edified Edition (EDE)That same day, Pharaoh gave this order to the slave drivers and the overseers:

וַיְצַ֥ו פַּרְעֹ֖ה בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא אֶת־הַנֹּגְשִׂ֣ים בָּעָ֔ם וְאֶת־שֹׁטְרָ֖יו לֵאמֹֽר׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): lo֣ to'sip֞un late֨t tּe֧ben la'a֛m lilebּo֥n halּebeni֖ym kּitem֣ol shshileshsho֑m he֚m yeֽlek֔u veqoshsheshsh֥u lahe֖m tּeֽben׃

Edified Edition (EDE)"Stop providing the people with straw to make bricks like you did before. Let them go and find their own straw!"

לֹ֣א תֹאסִפ֞וּן לָתֵ֨ת תֶּ֧בֶן לָעָ֛ם לִלְבֹּ֥ן הַלְּבֵנִ֖ים כִּתְמ֣וֹל שִׁלְשֹׁ֑ם הֵ֚ם יֵֽלְכ֔וּ וְקֹשְׁשׁ֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם תֶּֽבֶן׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): ve'et-matekּo֨net halּebeni֜ym 'ashshe֣r hem֩ 'oshsi֨ym tּem֤ol shshileshshom֙ tּashsi֣ymu 'aleyhe֔m lo֥ tigere'֖u mimּe֑nּu kּiֽy-nirepּi֣ym he֔m 'al-kּe֗n he֤m tzoֽ'aqiym֙ le'mo֔r neleka֖h nizebּecha֥h le'loheֽynu׃

Edified Edition (EDE)"But you must demand the same number of bricks from them as they made before. Do not reduce the quota even slightly! They are being lazy, and that is why they are crying out, 'Let us go and offer sacrifices to our God.'"

וְאֶת־מַתְכֹּ֨נֶת הַלְּבֵנִ֜ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֵם֩ עֹשִׂ֨ים תְּמ֤וֹל שִׁלְשֹׁם֙ תָּשִׂ֣ימוּ עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם לֹ֥א תִגְרְע֖וּ מִמֶּ֑נּוּ כִּֽי־נִרְפִּ֣ים הֵ֔ם עַל־כֵּ֗ן הֵ֤ם צֹֽעֲקִים֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר נֵלְכָ֖ה נִזְבְּחָ֥ה לֵאלֹהֵֽינוּ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): tּikebּa֧d ha'aboda֛h 'al-ha'anashshi֖ym veya'ashsu-ba֑hּ ve'al-yishshe'֖u bּediberey-shshaֽqer׃

Edified Edition (EDE)"Give these men even harder work so they stay busy with their labour and stop listening to these lies."

תִּכְבַּ֧ד הָעֲבֹדָ֛ה עַל־הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים וְיַעֲשׂוּ־בָ֑הּ וְאַל־יִשְׁע֖וּ בְּדִבְרֵי־שָֽׁקֶר׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּe֨tze'֜u nogeshse֤y ha'am֙ veshsho֣tera֔yv vayּo'mer֥u 'el-ha'a֖m le'mo֑r kּo֚h 'ama֣r pּare'o֔h 'eyne֛nּiy note֥n lake֖m tּeֽben׃

Edified Edition (EDE)The slave drivers and overseers went out and told the people, "This is what Pharaoh says: 'I will no longer give you straw.'"

וַיֵּ֨צְא֜וּ נֹגְשֵׂ֤י הָעָם֙ וְשֹׁ֣טְרָ֔יו וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ אֶל־הָעָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר פַּרְעֹ֔ה אֵינֶ֛נִּי נֹתֵ֥ן לָכֶ֖ם תֶּֽבֶן׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): atּe֗m lek֨u qech֤u lakem֙ tּe֔ben me'ashshe֖r tּimetza֑'u kּi֣y 'e֥yn nigera֛ me'abodateke֖m dּabaֽr׃

Edified Edition (EDE) "Go and find your own straw wherever you can, but your brick quota will not be reduced at all."

אַתֶּ֗ם לְכ֨וּ קְח֤וּ לָכֶם֙ תֶּ֔בֶן מֵאֲשֶׁ֖ר תִּמְצָ֑אוּ כִּ֣י אֵ֥ין נִגְרָ֛ע מֵעֲבֹדַתְכֶ֖ם דָּבָֽר׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּa֥petz ha'a֖m bּekal-'e֣retz mitzera֑yim leqoshshe֥shsh qa֖shsh latּeֽben׃

Edified Edition (EDE)So the Israelites scattered all over the land of Egypt to gather stubble to use instead of straw.

וַיָּ֥פֶץ הָעָ֖ם בְּכָל־אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם לְקֹשֵׁ֥שׁ קַ֖שׁ לַתֶּֽבֶן׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vehanּogeshsi֖ym 'atzi֣ym le'mo֑r kּalּ֤u ma'ashseykem֙ dּebar-y֣om bּeyom֔o kּa'ashshe֖r bּihey֥ot hatּeֽben׃

Edified Edition (EDE)The slave drivers kept pushing them, saying, "Finish your daily quota of bricks, just like you did when you were given straw!"

וְהַנֹּגְשִׂ֖ים אָצִ֣ים לֵאמֹ֑ר כַּלּ֤וּ מַעֲשֵׂיכֶם֙ דְּבַר־י֣וֹם בְּיוֹמ֔וֹ כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר בִּהְי֥וֹת הַתֶּֽבֶן׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּukּ֗u shshoֽterey֙ bּene֣y yishsera'e֔l 'ashsher-shsa֣mu 'alehe֔m nogeshse֥y pare'o֖h le'mo֑r madּ֡u'a lo'֩ kilּiyte֨m chaqeke֤m lilebּon֙ kּitem֣ol shshileshsho֔m gּam-tּem֖ol gּam-hayּֽom׃

Edified Edition (EDE)The Hebrew overseers, whom Pharaoh’s slave drivers had put in charge, were beaten and asked, "Why haven't you met your brick quotas yesterday or today, as you did before?"

וַיֻּכּ֗וּ שֹֽׁטְרֵי֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁר־שָׂ֣מוּ עֲלֵהֶ֔ם נֹגְשֵׂ֥י פַרְעֹ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר מַדּ֡וּעַ לֹא֩ כִלִּיתֶ֨ם חָקְכֶ֤ם לִלְבֹּן֙ כִּתְמ֣וֹל שִׁלְשֹׁ֔ם גַּם־תְּמ֖וֹל גַּם־הַיּֽוֹם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּabo֗'u shshoֽterey֙ bּene֣y yishsera'e֔l vayּitze'aq֥u 'el-pּare'o֖h le'mo֑r la֧mּah ta'ashse֦h ko֖h la'abadeֽyka׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Then the Hebrew overseers went to Pharaoh and cried out, "Why are you treating your servants this way?"

וַיָּבֹ֗אוּ שֹֽׁטְרֵי֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיִּצְעֲק֥וּ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר לָ֧מָּה תַעֲשֶׂ֦ה כֹ֖ה לַעֲבָדֶֽיךָ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): tּe֗ben 'e֤yn nitּan֙ la'abade֔yka ulebeni֛ym 'omeri֥ym la֖nu 'ashs֑u vehinּe֧h 'abade֛yka mukּi֖ym vechata֥'t 'amּeֽka׃

Edified Edition (EDE)"We are given no straw, yet we are told, 'Make bricks!' Your servants are being beaten, but it is your own people who are at fault."

תֶּ֗בֶן אֵ֤ין נִתָּן֙ לַעֲבָדֶ֔יךָ וּלְבֵנִ֛ים אֹמְרִ֥ים לָ֖נוּ עֲשׂ֑וּ וְהִנֵּ֧ה עֲבָדֶ֛יךָ מֻכִּ֖ים וְחָטָ֥את עַמֶּֽךָ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo֛'mer nirepּi֥ym 'atּe֖m nirepּi֑ym 'al-kּen֙ 'atּe֣m 'oֽmeri֔ym neleka֖h nizebּecha֥h laֽyhvaֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)But Pharaoh replied, "You are lazy! Simply lazy! That is why you keep saying, 'Let us go and offer sacrifices to the LORD.'"

וַיֹּ֛אמֶר נִרְפִּ֥ים אַתֶּ֖ם נִרְפִּ֑ים עַל־כֵּן֙ אַתֶּ֣ם אֹֽמְרִ֔ים נֵלְכָ֖ה נִזְבְּחָ֥ה לַֽיהוָֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): ve'atּah֙ lek֣u 'ibed֔u vete֖ben lo'-yinּate֣n lake֑m veto֥ken lebeni֖ym tּitּeֽnּu׃

Edified Edition (EDE)"Now get back to work! You will not be given any straw, but you must still deliver the full number of bricks."

וְעַתָּה֙ לְכ֣וּ עִבְד֔וּ וְתֶ֖בֶן לֹא־יִנָּתֵ֣ן לָכֶ֑ם וְתֹ֥כֶן לְבֵנִ֖ים תִּתֵּֽנּוּ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּire'֞u shshoֽtere֧y beneֽy-yishsera'e֛l 'ota֖m bּera֣ le'mo֑r lo'-tigere'֥u milּibeneyke֖m dּebar-y֥om bּeyomֽo׃

Edified Edition (EDE)The Hebrew overseers realised they were in a terrible situation when they were told they had to produce the same number of bricks every day.

וַיִּרְא֞וּ שֹֽׁטְרֵ֧י בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל אֹתָ֖ם בְּרָ֣ע לֵאמֹ֑ר לֹא־תִגְרְע֥וּ מִלִּבְנֵיכֶ֖ם דְּבַר־י֥וֹם בְּיוֹמֽוֹ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vaֽyּipegּe'u֙ 'et-moshshe֣h ve'eֽt-'aharo֔n nitzּabi֖ym liqera'ta֑m bּetze'ta֖m me'e֥t pּare'oֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)As they were leaving Pharaoh's presence, they met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them.

וַֽיִּפְגְּעוּ֙ אֶת־מֹשֶׁ֣ה וְאֶֽת־אַהֲרֹ֔ן נִצָּבִ֖ים לִקְרָאתָ֑ם בְּצֵאתָ֖ם מֵאֵ֥ת פַּרְעֹֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo'mer֣u 'alehe֔m ye֧re yehva֛h 'aleyke֖m veyishshepּo֑t 'ashshe֧r hibe'ashshetּe֣m 'et-reyche֗nu bּe'eyne֤y pare'oh֙ ube'eyne֣y 'abada֔yv laֽtet-che֥reb bּeyada֖m leharegeֽnu׃

Edified Edition (EDE)They said to Moses and Aaron, "May [4] (the LORD look at what you have done and judge you)! You have made Pharaoh and his officials hate us. You have put a sword in their hand to kill us!"

וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֲלֵהֶ֔ם יֵ֧רֶא יְהוָ֛ה עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם וְיִשְׁפֹּ֑ט אֲשֶׁ֧ר הִבְאַשְׁתֶּ֣ם אֶת־רֵיחֵ֗נוּ בְּעֵינֵ֤י פַרְעֹה֙ וּבְעֵינֵ֣י עֲבָדָ֔יו לָֽתֶת־חֶ֥רֶב בְּיָדָ֖ם לְהָרְגֵֽנוּ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּa֧shshab moshshe֛h 'el-yehva֖h vayּo'ma֑r 'adona֗y lama֤h hare'o֨tah֙ la'a֣m hazּe֔h la֥mּah zּe֖h shshelachetּaֽniy׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Moses returned to the LORD and prayed, "Lord, why have you brought such trouble on this people? Why did you ever send me here?"

וַיָּ֧שָׁב מֹשֶׁ֛ה אֶל־יְהוָ֖ה וַיֹּאמַ֑ר אֲדֹנָ֗י לָמָ֤ה הֲרֵעֹ֨תָה֙ לָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה לָ֥מָּה זֶּ֖ה שְׁלַחְתָּֽנִי׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): ume'a֞z bּa֤'tiy 'el-pּare'oh֙ ledabּe֣r bּishsheme֔ka hera֖ la'a֣m hazּe֑h vehatzּe֥l lo'-hitzּa֖letּa 'et-'amּeֽka׃

Edified Edition (EDE)"Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your [5] (name), he has brought nothing but evil to these people, and you have not rescued your people at all!"

וּמֵאָ֞ז בָּ֤אתִי אֶל־פַּרְעֹה֙ לְדַבֵּ֣ר בִּשְׁמֶ֔ךָ הֵרַ֖ע לָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֑ה וְהַצֵּ֥ל לֹא־הִצַּ֖לְתָּ אֶת־עַמֶּֽךָ׃