出谷紀:Chapter 5

出谷紀:Chapter 5

出谷紀	Exodus
¹此後，梅瑟同亞郎去見法郎說：「以色列的天主雅威這樣說：你應放我的百姓走，好叫他們在曠野裏過節敬拜我。」	¹After that, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Let my people go, that they may celebrate a feast to me in the desert."
²法郎問說：「誰是雅威，我該聽他的命，放以色列走？我不認識雅威，也不放以色列走。」	²Pharaoh answered, "Who is the LORD, that I should heed his plea to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD; even if I did, I would not let Israel go."
³他們回答說：「希伯來人的天主遇見了我們。請讓我們走三天的路到曠野裏，向上主我們的天主獻祭，免得他用瘟疫刀兵擊殺我們。」	³They replied, "The God of the Hebrews has sent us word. Let us go a three days' journey in the desert, that we may offer sacrifice to the LORD, our God; otherwise he will punish us with pestilence or the sword."
⁴埃及王回答他們說：「梅瑟、亞郎啊！你們為什麼妨礙百姓工作呢？去服你們的勞役罷！」	⁴The king of Egypt answered them, "What do you mean, Moses and Aaron, by taking the people away from their work? Off to your labor!
⁵法郎又說：「現在他們比本地的人民還多，你們竟然叫他們歇工？」	⁵Look how numerous the people of the land are already," continued Pharaoh, "and yet you would give them rest from their labor!"
⁶那一天法郎命令那些百姓中的監工和工頭說：	⁶ That very day Pharaoh gave the taskmasters and foremen of the people this order:
⁷「你們以後不要再像往日一樣，給百姓做磚用的草稭，叫他們自己去拾草。	⁷ "You shall no longer supply the people with straw for their brickmaking as you have previously done. Let them go and gather straw themselves!
⁸但你們仍向他們要往日所做的同樣磚數，一點也不可減少，因為他們懶惰，所以才吶喊說：我們要去向我們的天主獻祭。	⁸Yet you shall levy upon them the same quota of bricks as they have previously made. Do not reduce it. They are lazy; that is why they are crying, 'Let us go to offer sacrifice to our God.'
⁹應給這些人加重工作，使他們只工作，而不聽謊言。」	⁹Increase the work for the men, so that they keep their mind on it and pay no attention to lying words."
¹⁰百姓中的監工頭遂出去向百姓說：「法郎這樣吩咐：我再不給你們草稭。	¹⁰So the taskmasters and foremen of the people went out and told them, "Thus says Pharaoh: I will not provide you with straw.
¹¹你們看那裏能找到草稭，就到那裏去拾罷！但應有的工作一點也不可減少。」	¹¹Go and gather the straw yourselves, wherever you can find it. Yet there must not be the slightest reduction in your work."
¹²百姓就分散到埃及全境，拾取麥莖充當草稭。	¹²The people, then, scattered throughout the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw,
¹³監工催迫說：「你們每天應該完成當天的工作，像從前有草稭時一樣。」	¹³while the taskmasters kept driving them on, saying, "Finish your work, the same daily amount as when your straw was supplied."
¹⁴法郎的監工責打他們所派出的以色列子民的工頭說：「你們昨天今天為什麼沒有完成像前天所做的磚數呢？」	¹⁴The foremen of the Israelites, whom the taskmasters of Pharaoh had placed over them, were beaten, and were asked, "Why have you not completed your prescribed amount of bricks yesterday and today, as before?"
¹⁵以色列子民的工頭遂去向法郎訴苦說：「你為什麼這樣對待你的僕人們呢？	¹⁵Then the Israelite foremen came and made this appeal to Pharaoh: "Why do you treat your servants in this manner?
¹⁶不給你僕人們草稭，只對我們說：做磚罷！原是你人民的錯，你卻來打你的僕人們。」	¹⁶No straw is supplied to your servants, and still we are told to make bricks. Look how your servants are beaten! It is you who are at fault."
¹⁷法郎回答說：「你們太懶惰了！所以說：讓我們去祭獻上主！	¹⁷Pharaoh answered, "It is just because you are lazy that you keep saying, 'Let us go and offer sacrifice to the LORD.'
¹⁸現在都快去作工！決不供給你們草稭，但是磚卻該如數交上。」	¹⁸Off to work, then! Straw shall not be provided for you, but you must still deliver your quota of bricks."
¹⁹以色列子民的工頭因所出的命令說：「你們每天應做的磚數，不得減少。」，便知自己更陷於困難中。	¹⁹The Israelite foremen knew they were in a sorry plight, having been told not to reduce the daily amount of bricks.
²⁰工頭們由法郎那裏出來，遇見梅瑟和亞郎正等候他們，	²⁰When, therefore, they left Pharaoh and came upon Moses and Aaron, who were waiting to meet them,
²¹就對他們說：「願上主鑒察懲罰你們！你們使我們在法郎和他臣僕眼中成了可恨的，就好像把刀交在他們手中，宰殺我們。」	²¹they said to them, "The LORD look upon you and judge! You have brought us into bad odor with Pharaoh and his servants and have put a sword in their hands to slay us."
²²梅瑟回到上主那裏說：「吾主，你為什麼折磨這百姓？為什麼偏偏打發我呢？	²²Moses again had recourse to the LORD and said, "Lord, why do you treat this people so badly? And why did you send me on such a mission?
²³自從我到法郎那裏，奉你的名講話以來，他更加折磨這百姓，而你也沒有拯救你的百姓。」	²³Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has maltreated this people of yours, and you have done nothing to rescue them."