Exodus 5:4-9

Holman Christian Standard Bible

⁴ The king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why are you causing the people to neglect their work? Get to your work!” ⁵ Pharaoh also said, “Look, the people of the land are so numerous, and you would stop them from working.”^(A)

Further Oppression of Israel

⁶ That day Pharaoh commanded the overseers^(B) of the people as well as their foremen: ⁷ “Don’t continue to supply the people with straw for making bricks, as before. They must go and gather straw for themselves. ⁸ But require the same quota of bricks from them as they were making before; do not reduce it. For they are slackers—that is why they are crying out,^(C) ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ ⁹ Impose heavier work on the men. Then they will be occupied with it and not pay attention to deceptive words.”