5
Pharaoh continued, "Now they are more numerous than the people of the land and yet you want them to stop working!"
6
That same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people, as well as their supervisors,
7
"You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as before; let them go and gather straw for themselves.
8
But you shall require of them the same quantity of bricks as they have made previously; do not diminish it, for they are lazy; that is why they cry, "Let us go and offer sacrifice to our God.'
9
Let heavier work be laid on them; then they will labor at it and pay no attention to deceptive words."
10
So the taskmasters and the supervisors of the people went out and said to the people, "Thus says Pharaoh, "I will not give you straw.
11
Go and get straw yourselves, wherever you can find it; but your work will not be lessened in the least.' "
12
So the people scattered throughout the land of Egypt, to gather stubble for straw.
13
The taskmasters were urgent, saying, "Complete your work, the same daily assignment as when you were given straw."
14
And the supervisors of the Israelites, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and were asked, "Why did you not finish the required quantity of bricks yesterday and today, as you did before?"
15
Then the Israelite supervisors came to Pharaoh and cried, "Why do you treat your servants like this?