2
And Pharaoh said, Who is Jehovah, to whose voice I am to hearken to let Israel go? I do not know Jehovah, neither will I let Israel go.
3
And they said, The God of the Hebrews has met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to Jehovah our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with sword.
4
And the king of Egypt said to them, Why do ye, Moses and Aaron, wish to have the people go off from their works? Away, to your burdens!
5
And Pharaoh said, Behold the people of the land are now many, and ye wish to make them rest from their burdens.
6
And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,
7
Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.
8
And the number of the bricks they have made heretofore shall ye lay upon them: ye shall not diminish any of it, for they are idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go [and] sacrifice to our God.
9
Let them put heavier labour on the men, that they may be taken up with it, and not regard vain words.
10
And the taskmasters of the people and their officers went out and spoke to the people, saying, Thus says Pharaoh: I will not give you straw:
11
go ye, get yourselves straw where ye may find it; but none of your work shall be diminished.
12
And the people were scattered abroad throughout the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.