2. And Pharaoh said, Who is Hashem, that I should obey His voice to let Yisroel go? I know not Hashem, neither will I let Yisroel go.
3. And they said, Elohei HaIvrim hath met with us; let us go, now, derech shloshet yamim into the midbar, and sacrifice unto Hashem Eloheinu; lest He fall upon us with dever (cattle disease), or with the cherev.
4. And Melech Mitzrayim said unto them, Why do ye, Moshe and Aharon, disturb the people from their works? Get you back unto your own sivlot (burdens).
5. And Pharaoh said, Hinei, the Am HaAretz now are many, and ye make them rest from their sivlot.
6. And Pharaoh commanded the same day the nogesim of the people, and their foremen, saying,
7. Ye shall no more give HaAm straw to make brick, as heretofore; let them go and gather straw for themselves.
8. And the matkonet (quota) of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof; for they are idle; therefore they cry out, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to Eloheinu.
9. Let there more avodah be laid upon the anashim, that they may labor therein; and let them not regard divrei sheker.
10. And the nogesim of HaAm went out, and their foremen; they spoke to HaAm, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.
11. Go ye, get you straw where ye can find it; yet not ought of your avodah shall be diminished.
12. So HaAm were scattered abroad throughout kol Eretz Mitzrayim to gather stubble instead of straw.
13. And the nogesim pressed them, saying, Fulfil your ma'asim, your daily tasks, as when there was straw.
14. And the foremen of the Bnei Yisroel, which Pharaoh's nogesim had set over them, were beaten, and were asked, Why have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and today, as heretofore?
15. Then the foremen of the Bnei Yisroel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Why dealest thou thus with thy avadim?
16. There is no straw given unto thy avadim, and they say to us, Make brick. And, hinei, thy avadim are beaten; but the fault is in thine own people.