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，好叫他們在曠野裡過節敬拜我。」 1After these things Moses and Aaron went in, and said to Pharao: Thus saith the Lord God of Israel: Let my people go that they may sacrifice 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。」 2But he answered: Who is the Lord, that I should hear his voice, and let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I 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裡，向上主我們的天主獻祭，免得他用瘟疫刀兵擊殺我們。」 3And they said: The God of the Hebrews hath called us, to go three days' journey into the wilderness and to sacrifice to the Lord our God: lest a pestilence or the sword fall upon us.
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 said to them: Why do you Moses and Aaron draw off the people from their works? Get you gone to your burdens.
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？」 5And Pharao said: The people of the land is numerous: you see that the multitude is increased: how much more if you give them rest from their works?
6那一天法郎命令那些百姓中的監工和工頭說： 6Therefore he commanded the same day the overseers of the works, and the taskmasters of the people, saying:
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。 7You shall give straw no more to the people to make brick, as before: but let them go and gather straw.
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。 8And you shall lay upon them the task of bricks, which they did before, neither shall you diminish any thing thereof: for they are idle, and therefore they cry, saying: Let us go and 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。」 9Let them be oppressed, with works, and let them fulfill them: that they may not regard 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。 10And the overseers of the works and the taskmasters went out and said to the people: Thus saith Pharao, I allow you no straw:
11你們看那裡能找到草稭，就到那裡去拾罷！但應有的工作一點也不可減少。」 11Go, and gather it where you can find it: neither shall any thing of your work be diminished.
12百姓就分散到埃及全境，拾取麥莖充當草稭。 12And the people was scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather 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。」 13And the overseers of the works pressed them, saying: Fulfill your work every day as before you were wont to do when straw was given you.
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？」 14And they that were over the works of the children of Israel were scourged by Pharao's taskmasters, saying: Why have you not made up the task of bricks both 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？ 15And the officers of the children of Israel came, and cried out to Pharao, saying: Why dealest thou so with thy servants?
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。」 16Straw is not given us, and bricks are required of us as before: behold we thy servants are beaten with whips, and thy people is unjustly dealt withal.
17法郎回答說：「你們太懶惰了！所以說：讓我們去祭獻上主！ 17And he said: You are idle, and therefore you say: Let us go and 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。」 18Go therefore, and work: straw shall not be given you, and you shall deliver the accustomed number 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。 19And the officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in evil case, because it was said to them: There shall not a whit be diminished of the bricks for every day.
20工頭們由法郎那裡出來，遇見梅瑟和亞郎正等候他們， 20And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood over against them as they came out from Pharao:
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。」 21And they said to them: The Lord see and judge, because you have made our savour to stink before Pharao and his servants, and you have given him a sword to kill us.
22梅瑟回到上主那裡說：「吾主，你為什麼折磨這百姓？為什麼偏偏打發我呢？ 22And Moses returned to the Lord, and said: Lord, why hast thou afflicted this people? wherefore hast thou sent me?
23自從我到法郎那裡，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。」 23For since the time that I went in to Pharao to speak in thy name, he hath afflicted thy people: and thou hast not delivered them.
5:1-5
梅瑟和亚郎所进见的法郎，可能是辣默色斯的儿子默乃弗大（公元前一二叁四 一二一四）。5节按撒玛黎雅古卷译出。由上下文可以推知法郎将梅瑟和亚郎看作两个工头。（4,5节）。
5:16
16节亦可译作「看你的仆人们（以色列人）时常被殴打，这是你的人民（埃及人）的不对」。
5:21
「成了可恨的」，西乃抄卷和拉丁本作：「使我们留下臭名」。
5:22-23
梅瑟开始遭受到「基督所受的耻辱」（希11:26）。「回到上主那里」，即言去祈求上主，不要因自己的措施而加重百姓的痛苦。梅瑟如同亚巴郎一样，屡次在天主前为百姓尽了「中人」的责任（迦3:19）。