4. Then the king of Egypt said unto them, Why do ye, Moses and Aaron, keep the people from their works? Go unto your burdens.
5. Pharaoh also said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them cease from their burdens.
6. And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people and their officers, saying,
7. Ye shall no longer give the people firewood to make brick as until now; let them go and gather firewood for themselves.
8. And the tally of the bricks which they made before, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish any of it; for they are idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.
9. Let more work be laid upon them that they may occupy themselves with it; and let them not regard words of deception.
10. And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spoke to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you firewood.
11. Go ye, gather firewood where ye can find it; yet none of your work shall be diminished.
12. So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather brush for firewood.
13. And the taskmasters hasted them, saying, Fulfil your works, your daily quotas, as when there was firewood.