17. The king answered, “You are lazy! You don’t want to work! That is why you ask to leave here and make sacrifices to the Lord.
18. Now, go back to work! We will not give you any straw, but you must make just as many bricks as you did before.”
19. The Israelite foremen knew they were in trouble, because the king had told them, “You must make just as many bricks each day as you did before.”
20. As they were leaving the meeting with the king, they met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them.