Exodus 5:4-17

⁴But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you let the people neglect their work? Get back to your labors!” ⁵Again Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land are now many, and you would have them cease from their labors!” ⁶So the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters over the people and their foremen, saying, ⁷“You are no longer to give the people straw to make bricks as previously; have them go and gather straw for themselves. ⁸But you shall impose on them the quota of bricks which they were making before; you are not to reduce any of it. Because they are lazy, for that reason they cry out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ ⁹Let the labor be heavier on the men, and have them work at it so that they will pay no attention to false words.”

¹⁰So the taskmasters of the people and their foremen went out and spoke to the people, saying, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I am not going to give you any straw. ¹¹You go, get straw for yourselves wherever you can find it; but none of your labor will be reduced.’ ” ¹²So the people scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. ¹³And the taskmasters pressed them, saying, “Complete your work quota, your daily amount, just as when you had straw.” ¹⁴Moreover, the foremen of the sons of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and asked, “Why have you not completed your required task of making bricks either yesterday or today, as before?”

¹⁵Then the foremen of the sons of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, “Why do you deal this way with your servants? ¹⁶There is no straw given to your servants, yet they keep saying to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And behold, your servants are being beaten; but it is the fault of your own people.” ¹⁷But he said, “You are lazy, very lazy; for that reason you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’