4. And the king of Egypt said to them, Why do ye, Moses and Aaron, hinder the people from their works; go you to your burdens.
5. And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens.
6. And Pharaoh commanded the same day the task-masters of the people, and their officers, saying,
7. Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore; let them go and gather straw for themselves.
8. And the number of the bricks which they made heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish aught thereof; for they are idle: therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.
9. Let more work be laid upon the men, that they may labor therein: and let them not regard vain words.
10. And the task-masters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spoke to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.
11. Go ye, get you straw where ye can find it: yet not aught of your work shall be diminished.
12. So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt, to gather stubble instead of straw.
13. And the task-masters hastened them, saying, Fulfill your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw.
14. And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh's task-masters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, Why have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick, both yesterday and to-day, as heretofore?
15. Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, saying, Why dealest thou thus with thy servants?
16. There is no straw given to thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thy own people.
17. But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go, and do sacrifice to the LORD.
18. Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the number of bricks.
19. And the officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in evil case, after it was said, Ye shall not diminish aught from your bricks of your daily task.
20. And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh: