14. The Egyptian slave masters had chosen the Hebrew foremen and had made them responsible for the work the people did. The Egyptian slave masters beat these foremen and said to them, “Why aren’t you making as many bricks as you made in the past? If you could do it then, you can do it now!”
15. Then the Hebrew foremen went to Pharaoh. They complained and said, “We are your servants. Why are you treating us like this?
16. You give us no straw, but you tell us to make as many bricks as before. And now our masters are beating us. Your people are wrong for doing this.”
17. Pharaoh answered, “You are lazy, and you don’t want to work! That is why you ask me to let you go. And that is why you want to leave here and make sacrifices to the Lord.
18. Now, go back to work! We will not give you any straw. And you must still make as many bricks as you did before.”
19. The Hebrew foremen knew they were in trouble, because the Pharaoh had told them, “You must still make as many bricks as you made before.”
20. When they were leaving the meeting with Pharaoh, they passed Moses and Aaron. Moses and Aaron were waiting for them.
21. So they said to Moses and Aaron, “May the Lord judge and punish you for what you did! You made Pharaoh and his rulers hate us. You have given them an excuse to kill us.”
22. Then Moses prayed to the Lord and said, “Lord, why have you done this terrible thing to your people? Why did you send me here?
23. I went to Pharaoh and said what you told me to say. But since that time he has made the people suffer, and you have done nothing to help them!”