« | Exodus 5 | » |
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 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 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 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 And Pharaoh said, "Behold, the people of the land are now many and you make them rest from their burdens!"
6 The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen,
7 "You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as heretofore; let them go and gather straw for themselves.
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 Let heavier work be laid upon the men that they may labor at it and pay no regard to lying words."
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 Go yourselves, get your straw wherever you can find it; but your work will not be lessened in the least.'"
12 So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt, to gather stubble for straw.
13 The taskmasters were urgent, saying, "Complete your work, your daily task, as when there was straw."
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 Then the foremen of the people of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, "Why do you deal thus with your servants?
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 But he said, "You are idle, you are idle; therefore you say, `Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.'
18 Go now, and work; for no straw shall be given you, yet you shall deliver the same number of bricks."
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 They met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them, as they came forth from Pharaoh;
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 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 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."
The Revised Standard Version (RSV)
The Revised Standard Version (RSV) is a widely respected English translation of the Bible that was first published in 1952 by the National Council of Churches. It was developed as a revision of the American Standard Version (ASV) of 1901, with the primary aim of providing a more accurate and readable text while retaining the literary qualities of its predecessor. The RSV sought to modernize the language of the ASV without sacrificing its faithfulness to the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts, making it a significant milestone in the history of English Bible translations.
One of the key features of the RSV is its commitment to formal equivalence, or a word-for-word translation approach. This method ensures that the translation closely mirrors the structure and wording of the original texts, allowing readers to engage more directly with the biblical languages. The translators of the RSV were guided by the latest biblical scholarship of their time, and they endeavored to produce a text that was both accurate and elegant. This combination of precision and literary quality has made the RSV a popular choice for both academic study and liturgical use.
The RSV also stands out for its ecumenical appeal. It was one of the first translations to be accepted across a wide range of Christian denominations, including Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox traditions. This broad acceptance was partly due to the inclusive approach of the translation committee, which included scholars from various religious backgrounds. The RSV’s ecumenical nature helped it gain widespread usage in churches, seminaries, and universities, fostering a greater sense of unity among different Christian communities.
Despite its many strengths, the RSV has faced some criticism over the years. Some conservative scholars and readers have expressed concerns about certain translation choices, arguing that they reflect modernist theological perspectives. Additionally, the RSV’s use of archaic language in certain passages has been a point of contention for those seeking a more contemporary rendering of the Bible. Nonetheless, the Revised Standard Version remains a highly respected and influential translation, valued for its accuracy, literary excellence, and broad ecumenical acceptance. It continues to serve as a foundation for later revisions and translations, such as the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) and the English Standard Version (ESV).