Exodus 5:17
◄  Exodus 5:17  ►
New International Version (©2011)
Pharaoh said, "Lazy, that's what you are--lazy! That is why you keep saying, 'Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.'

New Living Translation (©2007)
But Pharaoh shouted, "You're just lazy! Lazy! That's why you're saying, 'Let us go and offer sacrifices to the LORD.'

English Standard Version (©2001)
But he said, “You are idle, you are idle; that is why you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
But he said, "You are lazy, very lazy; therefore you say, 'Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.'

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the LORD.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
But he said, "You are slackers. Slackers! That is why you are saying, 'Let us go sacrifice to the LORD.'

International Standard Version (©2012)
Then Pharaoh said, "You are lazy, lazy! That's why you're saying, 'Let's go offer sacrifices to the LORD.'

NET Bible (©2006)
But Pharaoh replied, "You are slackers! Slackers! That is why you are saying, 'Let us go sacrifice to the LORD.'

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
"You're lazy! [Just plain] lazy!" Pharaoh answered. "That's why you keep saying, 'Let us go offer sacrifices to the LORD.'

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
But he said, you are idle, you are idle: therefore you say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the LORD.

American King James Version
But he said, You are idle, you are idle: therefore you say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the LORD.

American Standard Version
But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and sacrifice to Jehovah.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he said: You are idle, and therefore you say: Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.

Darby Bible Translation
And he said, Ye are idle, idle! therefore ye say, Let us go and sacrifice to Jehovah.

English Revised Version
But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.

Webster's Bible Translation
But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go, and do sacrifice to the LORD.

World English Bible
But he said, "You are idle! You are idle! Therefore you say, 'Let us go and sacrifice to Yahweh.'

Young's Literal Translation
And he saith, 'Remiss -- ye are remiss, therefore ye are saying, Let us go, let us sacrifice to Jehovah;

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

5:10-23 The Egyptian task-masters were very severe. See what need we have to pray that we may be delivered from wicked men. The head-workmen justly complained to Pharaoh: but he taunted them. The malice of Satan has often represented the service and worship of God, as fit employment only for those who have nothing else to do, and the business only of the idle; whereas, it is the duty of those who are most busy in the world. Those who are diligent in doing sacrifice to the Lord, will, before God, escape the doom of the slothful servant, though with men they do not. The Israelites should have humbled themselves before God, and have taken to themselves the shame of their sin; but instead of that, they quarrel with those who were to be their deliverers. Moses returned to the Lord. He knew that what he had said and done, was by God's direction; and therefore appeals to him. When we find ourselves at any time perplexed in the way of our duty, we ought to go to God, and lay open our case before him by fervent prayer. Disappointments in our work must not drive us from our God, but still we must ponder why they are sent.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 17. - Ye are idle, etc. Compare ver. 8. Pharaoh is evidently pleased with his "happy thought." It seems to him clever, witty, humorous, to tax overworked people with idleness; and equally clever to say to religious people - "Your religion is a mere pretence. You do not want to worship. You want a holiday." We may remark further that idleness and hypocrisy were two sins of the deepest dye, according to Egyptian notions.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

But he said, ye are idle, ye are idle,.... Instead of expressing indignation at the taskmasters, and relieving the officers and the people, he insults them in a flouting sarcastic way, charging them with sloth and idleness; and which, for the certainty of it, or, however, to show how strongly persuaded and fully assured he was of the truth of it, repeats it, and gives the following as a proof of it:

therefore ye say, let us go and do sacrifice to the Lord; suggesting that it was not so much the service and honour of God they regarded, as that they might have a leisure day from work and labour.

Exodus 5:17 Parallel Commentaries

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The Israelites' Cry
15Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, saying, Why deal you thus with your servants? 16There is no straw given to your servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people. 17But he said, You are idle, you are idle: therefore you say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the LORD. …

Exodus 5:8 But require them to make the same number of bricks as before; don't reduce the quota. They are lazy; that is why they are crying out, 'Let us go and sacrifice to our God.'
Exodus 5:16 Your servants are given no straw, yet we are told, 'Make bricks!' Your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people."
Exodus 5:18 Now get to work. You will not be given any straw, yet you must produce your full quota of bricks."