15. And the foremen of the Israelites came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, “Why do you treat your servants like this?
16. Straw is not being given to your servants, but they are saying to us, ‘Make bricks!’ and, look, your servants are being beaten, but it is the fault of your people.”
17. And he said, “You are lazy, lazy! Therefore you are saying, ‘Let us go; let us sacrifice to Yahweh.’
18. And now go, work, but straw will not be given to you, and you must give the full quota of bricks.”
19. And the foremen of the Israelites saw they were in trouble with the saying, “You will not reduce from your bricks for each day on its day.”