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 tally of bricks which they made heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish any thereof. For they are idle; therefore they cry, saying, `Let us go and sacrifice to our God.'
9
Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labor therein, and let them not regard vain words."
10
And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spoke to the people, saying, "Thus saith Pharaoh: `I will not give you straw.
11
Go ye, get you straw where ye can find it; yet not any of your work shall be diminished.'"
12
So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw.
13
And the taskmasters hastened them, saying, "Fulfill your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw."
14
And the officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were demanded, "Why have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and today, as heretofore?"
15
Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, "Why dealest thou thus with thy servants?
16
There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, `Make brick!' And behold, thy servants are beaten, but the fault is in thine own people."