Exodus 5:15

¹ The Israelite foremen went and cried out to Pharaoh, “Why are you treating ²  your servants this way?

Then the Israelite foremen went and appealed to Pharaoh: "Why have you treated your servants this way?

Then the foremen of the sons of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, "Why do you deal this way with your servants?

So the Israelite foremen went to Pharaoh and pleaded with him. "Please don’t treat us like this," they begged.

The Israelite foremen came to Pharaoh and cried out for relief: "Why are you treating your servants like this?

Then the responsible men of the children of Israel came to Pharaoh, protesting and saying, Why are you acting in this way to your servants?

Then the Israelite supervisors came to Pharaoh and cried, "Why do you treat your servants like this?

Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, "Why are you dealing thus with your servants?

¹ The Israelite foremen went and cried out to Pharaoh, “Why are you treating ²  your servants this way?

¹ sn The last section of this event tells the effect of the oppression on Israel, first on the people (15-19) and then on Moses and Aaron (20-21). The immediate reaction of Israel was to cry to Pharaoh – something they would learn should be directed to God. When Pharaoh rebuffed them harshly, they turned bitterly against their leaders.

² tn The imperfect tense should be classified here with the progressive imperfect nuance, because the harsh treatment was a present reality.