2
And Pharao said, Who is he that I should hearken to his voice, so that I should send away the children of Israel? I do not know the Lord, and I will not let Israel go.
3
And they say to him, The God of the Hebrews has called us to him: we will go therefore a three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God, lest at any time death or slaughter happen to us.
4
And the king of Egypt said to them, Why do ye, Moses and Aaron, turn the people from their works? depart each of you to your works.
5
And Pharao said, Behold now, the people is very numerous; let us not then give them rest from their work.
6
And Pharao gave orders to the task-masters of the people and the accountants, saying,
7
Ye shall no longer give straw to the people for brick-making as yesterday and the third day; but let them go themselves, and collect straw for themselves.
8
And thou shalt impose on them daily the rate of brick-making which they perform: thou shalt not abate anything, for they are idle; therefore have they cried, saying, Let us arise and do sacrifice to our God.
9
Let the works of these men be made grievous, and let them care for these things, and not care for vain words.
10
And the taskmasters and the accountants hastened them, and they spoke to the people, saying, thus says Pharao, I give you straw no longer.
11
Go ye, yourselves, get for yourselves straw whencesoever ye can find it, for nothing is diminished from your rate.
12
So the people were dispersed in all the land of Egypt, to gather stubble for straw.