13
The slave drivers kept pressing them, saying, “Complete the work required of you for each day, just as when you had straw.”
14
And Pharaoh’s slave drivers beat the Israelite overseers they had appointed, demanding, “Why haven’t you met your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as before?”
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! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’
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Now get to work. 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 you! You have made us obnoxious to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.”
22
Moses returned to the LORD and said, “Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is this why you sent me?
23
Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and you have not rescued your people at all.”