12. So the people spread out through all the land of Egypt to collect stubble for straw.
13. The slave masters were pressuring them, saying, “Complete your work for each day, just like when there was straw!”
14. The Israelite foremen whom Pharaoh’s slave masters had set over them were beaten and were asked, “Why did you not complete your requirement for brickmaking as in the past – both yesterday and today?”
15. The Israelite foremen went and cried out to Pharaoh, “Why are you treating your servants this way?
16. No straw is given to your servants, but we are told, ‘Make bricks!’ Your servants are even being beaten, but the fault is with your people.”
17. But Pharaoh replied, “You are slackers! Slackers! That is why you are saying, ‘Let us go sacrifice to the Lord.’
18. So now, get back to work! You will not be given straw, but you must still produce your quota of bricks!”
19. The Israelite foremen saw that they were in trouble when they were told, “You must not reduce the daily quota of your bricks.”
20. When they went out from Pharaoh, they encountered Moses and Aaron standing there to meet them,
21. and they said to them, “May the Lord look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the opinion of Pharaoh and his servants, so that you have given them an excuse to kill us!”
22. Moses returned to the Lord, and said, “Lord, why have you caused trouble for this people? Why did you ever send me?
23. From the time I went to speak to Pharaoh in your name, he has caused trouble for this people, and you have certainly not rescued them!”