13
The taskmasters were urgent, saying, "Complete your work, your daily task, as when there was straw."
14
And the foremen of the people of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and were asked, "Why have you not done all your task of making bricks today, as hitherto?"
15
Then the foremen of the people of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, "Why do you deal thus with your servants?
16
No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, 'Make bricks!' And behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people."
17
But he said, "You are idle, you are idle; therefore you say, 'Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.'
18
Go now, and work; for no straw shall be given you, yet you shall deliver the same number of bricks."
19
The foremen of the people of Israel saw that they were in evil plight, when they said, "You shall by no means lessen your daily number of bricks."
20
They met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them, as they came forth from Pharaoh;
21
and they said to them, "The LORD look upon you and judge, because you have made us offensive in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us."
22
Then Moses turned again to the LORD and said, "O LORD, why hast thou done evil to this people? Why didst thou ever send me?
23
For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he has done evil to this people, and thou hast not delivered thy people at all."