Exodus 5:7-9

New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition

⁷ ‘You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as before; let them go and gather straw for themselves. ⁸ But you shall require of them the same quantity of bricks as they have made previously; do not diminish it, for they are lazy; that is why they cry, “Let us go and offer sacrifice to our God.” ⁹ Let heavier work be laid on them; then they will labour at it and pay no attention to deceptive words.’