Exodus 5:3-5

New Catholic Bible

³ They said, “The God of the Hebrews has appeared to us. Let us leave for a journey of three days into the desert to celebrate a sacrifice to the Lord, our God, lest he punish us with plague or the sword.”

⁴ The king of Egypt said to them, “Why, Moses and Aaron, do you take the people away from their work? Return to your work.” ⁵ Pharaoh added, “Behold how numerous the people of the land are. Would you have them rest from their labors?”