1. After these things, Moses and Aaron entered, and they said to Pharaoh: "Thus says the Lord God of Israel: Release my people, so that they may sacrifice to me in the desert."
2. But he responded: "Who is the Lord, that I should listen to his voice and release Israel? I do not know the Lord, and I will not release Israel."
3. And they said: "The God of the Hebrews has called us, so that we may go three days' journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God. Otherwise, a pestilence or the sword may befall us."
4. The king of Egypt said to them: "Why do you, Moses and Aaron, distract the people from their works? Go back to your burdens."
5. And Pharaoh said: "The people of the land are many. You see that the turmoil has increased: how much more if you give them rest from the works?"