11. Go and get your own straw from wherever you can find it. But there will not be the slightest reduction in your work.’”
12. The people, then, scattered throughout the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw,
13. while the taskmasters kept driving them on, saying, “Finish your work, the same daily amount as when the straw was supplied to you.”
14. The Israelite foremen, whom the taskmasters of Pharaoh had placed over them, were beaten, and were asked, “Why have you not completed your prescribed amount of bricks yesterday and today, as before?”
15. Then the Israelite foremen came and cried out to Pharaoh: “Why do you treat your servants in this manner?
16. No straw is supplied to your servants, and still we are told, ‘Make bricks!’ Look how your servants are beaten! It is you who are at fault.”
17. He answered, “Lazy! You are lazy! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifice to the Lord.’
18. Now off to work! No straw will be supplied to you, but you must supply your quota of bricks.”
19. The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble, having been told, “Do not reduce your daily amount of bricks!”
20. So when they left Pharaoh they assailed Moses and Aaron, who were waiting to meet them,
21. and said to them, “The Lord look upon you and judge! You have made us offensive to Pharaoh and his servants, putting a sword into their hands to kill us.”