¹⁵ Then the Israelite overseers went and appealed to Pharaoh: “Why have you treated your servants this way? ¹⁶ Your servants are given no straw, yet we are told, ‘Make bricks!’ Your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people.”

¹⁷ Pharaoh said, “Lazy, that’s what you are—lazy!^(A) That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’ ¹⁸ Now get to work.^(B) You will not be given any straw, yet you must produce your full quota of bricks.”

¹⁹ The Israelite overseers realized they were in trouble when they were told, “You are not to reduce the number of bricks required of you for each day.” ²⁰ When they left Pharaoh, they found Moses and Aaron waiting to meet them, ²¹ and they said, “May the Lord look on you and judge^(C) you! You have made us obnoxious^(D) to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword^(E) in their hand to kill us.”^(F)

²⁹ Moses and Aaron brought together all the elders^(A) of the Israelites, ³⁰ and Aaron told them everything the Lord had said to Moses. He also performed the signs^(B) before the people, ³¹ and they believed.^(C) And when they heard that the Lord was concerned^(D) about them and had seen their misery,^(E) they bowed down and worshiped.^(F)