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 which they made heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish [aught] thereof; for they are idle: therefore they cry, saying, Let us go [and] sacrifice to our God.
9
Let more work be laid upon the men, that they may labor therein: and let them not regard vain words.
10
And the task-masters 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 aught 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 task-masters hastened [them], saying, Fulfill your works, [your] daily tasks, as when there was straw.
14
And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh's task-masters had set over them, were beaten, [and] demanded, Why have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick, both yesterday and to-day, as heretofore?
15
Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, saying, Why dealest thou thus with thy servants?
16
There is no straw given to thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and behold, thy servants [are] beaten; but the fault [is] in thy own people.
17
But he said, Ye [are] idle, [ye are] idle: therefore ye say, Let us go, [and] do sacrifice to the LORD.