And afterward Moses and Aaron came and said to Pharaoh, “^aThis is what the LORD, the God of Israel says: ‘^bLet My people go so that they may celebrate a feast to Me in the wilderness.’” 2 But Pharaoh said, “^aWho is the LORD that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and besides, ^bI will not let Israel go.” 3 Then they said, “^aThe God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please, let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness so that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God, otherwise He will strike us with plague or with the sword.” 4 But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you let the people neglect their ¹work? Get back to your ^alabors!” 5 Again Pharaoh said, “Look, ^athe people of the land are now many, and you would have them cease from their labors!” 6 So the same day Pharaoh commanded ^athe taskmasters over the people and their ^bforemen, saying, 7 “You are no longer to give the people straw to make bricks as previously; have them go and gather straw for themselves. 8 But 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 ^alazy, for that reason they cry ¹out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ 9 Let the labor be heavier on the men, and have them work at it so that they will pay no attention to false words.”

10 So ^athe 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. 11 You go, get straw for yourselves wherever you can find it; but none of your labor will be reduced.’” 12 So the people scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. 13 And the taskmasters pressed them, saying, “Complete your ¹work quota, ²your daily amount, just as when ³you had straw.” 14 Moreover, ^athe foremen of the sons of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, ^bwere beaten ¹and asked, “Why have you not completed your required task of making bricks either yesterday or today, as before?”

15 Then the foremen of the sons of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, “Why do you deal this way with your servants? 16 There 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.” 17 But he said, “You are ^alazy, very lazy; for that reason you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’ 18 So go now and work; for you will be given no straw, but you must deliver the quota of bricks.” 19 The foremen of the sons of Israel saw that they were in trouble, ¹since they were told, “You must not reduce ²your daily amount of bricks.” 20 When they left Pharaoh’s presence, they met Moses and Aaron as they were ¹waiting for them. 21 And ^athey said to them, “^bMay the LORD look upon you and judge you, because you have ^cmade ¹us repulsive in Pharaoh’s sight and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us!”

22 Then Moses returned to the LORD and said, “^aLord, why have You brought harm to this people? Why did You ever send me? 23 Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done harm to this people, ^aand You have not rescued Your people at all.”