14. 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? ”
15. So the Israelite foremen went in and cried for help to Pharaoh: “Why are you treating your servants this way?
16. No straw has been given to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks! ’ Look, your servants are being beaten, but it is your own people who are at fault.”
17. But he said, “You are slackers. Slackers! That is why you are saying, ‘Let us go sacrifice to the Lord.’
18. Now get to work. No straw will be given to you, but you must produce the same quantity of bricks.”
19. The Israelite foremen saw that they were in trouble when they were told, “You cannot reduce your daily quota of bricks.”
20. When they left Pharaoh, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who stood waiting to meet them.
21. “May the Lord take note of you and judge,” they said to them, “because you have made us reek in front of Pharaoh and his officials — putting a sword in their hand to kill us! ”
22. So Moses went back to the Lord and asked, “Lord, why have You caused trouble for this people? And why did You ever send me?
23. Ever since I went in to Pharaoh to speak in Your name he has caused trouble for this people, and You haven’t delivered Your people at all.”