⁶ On the very same day Pharaoh commanded the people’s slave masters and supervisors, ⁷ “Don’t supply the people with the straw they need to make bricks like you did before. Let them go out and gather the straw for themselves. ⁸ But still make sure that they produce the same number of bricks as they made before. Don’t reduce the number! They are weak and lazy, and that’s why they cry, ‘Let’s go and offer sacrifices to our God.’ ⁹ Make the men’s work so hard that it’s all they can do, and they can’t focus on these empty lies.”

¹⁰ So the people’s slave masters and supervisors came out and spoke to the people, “This is what Pharaoh says, ‘I’m not giving you straw anymore. ¹¹ Go and get the straw on your own, wherever you can find it. But your work won’t be reduced at all.’” ¹² So the people spread out all through the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. ¹³ The slave masters drove them hard and said, “Make sure you make the same daily quota as when you had the straw.” ¹⁴ The Israelite supervisors, whom Pharaoh’s slave masters had set over them, were also beaten and asked, “Why didn’t you produce the same number of bricks yesterday and today as you did before?”

¹⁵ Then the Israelite supervisors came and pleaded to Pharaoh, “Why do you treat your servants like this? ¹⁶ No straw is supplied to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks!’ Look at how your servants are being beaten! Your own people are to blame!”

¹⁷ Pharaoh replied, “You are lazy bums, nothing but lazy bums. That’s why you say, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifices to the Lord.’ ¹⁸ Go and get back to work! No straw will be given to you, but you still need to make the same number of bricks.”

¹⁹ The Israelite supervisors saw how impossible their situation was when they were commanded, “Don’t reduce your daily quota of bricks.” ²⁰ When they left Pharaoh, they met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them.

The Twelve sent out

9 Jesus called the Twelve together and he gave them power and authority over all demons and to heal sicknesses. ² He sent them out to proclaim God’s kingdom and to heal the sick. ³ He told them, “Take nothing for the journey—no walking stick, no bag, no bread, no money, not even an extra shirt. ⁴ Whatever house you enter, remain there until you leave that place. ⁵ Wherever they don’t welcome you, as you leave that city, shake the dust off your feet as a witness against them.” ⁶ They departed and went through the villages proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.

¹⁹ My God will meet your every need out of his riches in the glory that is found in Christ Jesus.