Exodus 5:6-21

Revised Standard Version

⁶ The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen, ⁷ “You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as heretofore; let them go and gather straw for themselves. ⁸ But the number of bricks which they made heretofore you shall lay upon them, you shall by no means lessen it; for they are idle; therefore they cry, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifice to our God.’ ⁹ Let heavier work be laid upon the men that they may labor at it and pay no regard to lying words.”

¹⁰ So the taskmasters and the foremen of the people went out and said to the people, “Thus says Pharaoh, ‘I will not give you straw. ¹¹ Go yourselves, get your straw wherever you can find it; but your work will not be lessened in the least.’” ¹² So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt, to gather stubble for straw. ¹³ The taskmasters were urgent, saying, “Complete your work, your daily task, as when there was straw.” ¹⁴ And the foremen of the people of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and were asked, “Why have you not done all your task of making bricks today, as hitherto?”

¹⁵ Then the foremen of the people of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, “Why do you deal thus with your servants? ¹⁶ No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people.” ¹⁷ But he said, “You are idle, you are idle; therefore you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’ ¹⁸ Go now, and work; for no straw shall be given you, yet you shall deliver the same number of bricks.” ¹⁹ The foremen of the people of Israel saw that they were in evil plight, when they said, “You shall by no means lessen your daily number of bricks.” ²⁰ They met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them, as they came forth from Pharaoh; ²¹ and they said to them, “The Lord look upon you and judge, because you have made us offensive in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.”