¹Afterward Moses and Aaron came , and said to Pharaoh , “This is what the LORD , the God of Israel , says , ‘Let my people go , that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness .’”

²Pharaoh said , “Who is the LORD , that I should listen to his voice to let Israel go ? I don’t know the LORD , and moreover I will not let Israel go .”

³They said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us . Please let us go three days ’ journey into the wilderness , and sacrifice to the LORD , our God , lest he fall on us with pestilence , or with the sword .”

⁴The king of Egypt said to them, “Why do you , Moses and Aaron, take the people from their work ? Get back to your burdens !”

⁵Pharaoh said, “Behold , the people of the land are now many , and you make them rest from their burdens .”

⁶The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their officers , saying,

⁷“You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick , as before . Let them go and gather straw for themselves .

⁸You shall require from them the number of the bricks which they made before . You shall not diminish anything of it , for they are idle . Therefore they cry , saying, ‘Let ’s go and sacrifice to our God .’

⁹Let heavier work be laid on the men , that they may labour in it . Don’t let them pay any attention to lying words .”

¹⁰The taskmasters of the people went out with their officers , and they spoke to the people , saying, “This is what Pharaoh says : ‘I will not give you straw .

¹¹Go yourselves, get straw where you can find it , for nothing of your work shall be diminished .’”

¹²So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw .

¹³The taskmasters were urgent saying , “Fulfil your work quota daily , as when there was straw !”

¹⁴The officers of the children of Israel , whom Pharaoh ’s taskmasters had set over them , were beaten , and were asked, “Why haven’t you fulfilled your quota both yesterday and today , in making brick as before ?”

¹⁵Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh , saying, “Why do you deal this way with your servants ?

¹⁶No straw is given to your servants , and they tell us , ‘Make brick !’ and behold , your servants are beaten ; but the fault is in your own people .”

¹⁷But Pharaoh said , “You are idle ! You are idle ! Therefore you say, ‘Let ’s go and sacrifice to the LORD .’

¹⁸Go therefore now , and work ; for no straw shall be given to you ; yet you shall deliver the same number of bricks !”

¹⁹The officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in trouble when it was said , “You shall not diminish anything from your daily quota of bricks !”

²⁰They met Moses and Aaron, who stood along the way , as they came out from Pharaoh .

²¹They said to them , “May the LORD look at you and judge , because you have made us a stench to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh , and in the eyes of his servants , to put a sword in their hand to kill us !”

²²Moses returned to the LORD , and said, “Lord , why have you brought trouble on this people ? Why is it that you have sent me ?

²³For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name , he has brought trouble on this people . You have not rescued your people at all !”