^5:13The slave masters were pressuring³⁴ them, saying, “Complete³⁵ your work for each day, just like when there was straw!” ^5:14The Israelite foremen whom Pharaoh’s slave masters had set over them were beaten and were asked,³⁶ “Why did you not complete your requirement for brickmaking as in the past—both yesterday and today?”³⁷

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Footnotes

34 Or “pressed.”
35 כַּלּוּ (kallu) is the Piel imperative; the verb means “to finish, complete” in the sense of filling up the quota.
36 The quotation is introduced with the common word לֵאמֹר (le’mor, “saying”) and no mention of who said the question.
37 The idioms for time here are found also in 3:10 and 5:7–8. This question no doubt represents many accusations shouted at Israelites during the period when it was becoming obvious that, despite all their efforts, they were unable to meet their quotas as before.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

The taskmasters were urgent, saying, “Complete your work, your daily task each day, as when there was straw.” 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 and yesterday, as in the past?”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

The slave drivers kept pressing them, saying, “Complete the work required of you for each day, just as when you had straw.” And Pharaoh’s slave drivers beat the Israelite overseers they had appointed, demanding, “Why haven’t you met your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as before?”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

The overseers insisted, “Finish your assigned work each day, just as you did when straw was provided.” Then the Israelite foremen, whom Pharaoh’s slave drivers had set over the people, were beaten and asked, “Why haven’t you finished making your prescribed number of bricks yesterday or today, as you did before?”

NLTNew Living Translation

Meanwhile, the Egyptian slave drivers continued to push hard. “Meet your daily quota of bricks, just as you did when we provided you with straw!” they demanded. Then they whipped the Israelite foremen they had put in charge of the work crews. “Why haven’t you met your quotas either yesterday or today?” they demanded.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

And the slave drivers were insisting, saying, “Finish your work for each day on its day, as when there was straw.” And the foremen of the Israelites, whom Pharaoh’s slave drivers had appointed over them, were beaten by men who were saying, “Why have you not completed your portion of brickmaking as before, both yesterday and today?”

KJV 1900King James Version

And the taskmasters hasted them, saying, Fulfil your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw. And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and to day, as heretofore?

Public Domain