Exodus 5:6-18

6That sameH1931 dayH3117 PharaohH6547 commandedH6680 the taskmastersH5065 of the peopleH5971 and their foremenH7860H559: 7“You shall noH3808 longerH3254 supplyH5414 the peopleH5971 with strawH8401 for makingH3835 bricksH3843. TheyH1992 must goH1980 and gatherH7197 their own strawH8401. 8But requireH7760 of themH5921 the same quotaH4971 of bricksH3843 asH1992 beforeH8543H8032; do notH3808 reduce itH1639H4480. ForH3588 theyH1992 are lazyH7503; that is whyH5921H3651 theyH1992 are crying outH6817H559, ‘Let us goH1980 and sacrificeH2076 to our GodH430.’ 9Make the work harderH3513H5656 onH5921 the menH582 so they will be occupiedH6213 and pay no attentionH408H8159 to these liesH8267H1697.”

10So the taskmastersH5065 and foremenH7860 of the peopleH5971 went outH3318 and saidH559 toH413 themH5971, “This is whatH3541H559 PharaohH6547 saysH559: ‘I am no longerH369 givingH5414 you strawH8401. 11GoH1980 and getH3947 your own strawH8401 whereverH834 you can find itH4672; butH3588 your workloadH5656 will in no wayH369 be reducedH1639.’”

12So the peopleH5971 scatteredH6327 all overH3605 the landH776 of EgyptH4714 to gatherH7197 stubbleH7179 for strawH8401. 13The taskmastersH5065 kept pressing themH213, sayingH559, “FulfillH3615 your quotaH1697H4639 each dayH3117, just as you did whenH834 strawH8401 was providedH1961.”

14Then the IsraeliteH1121H3478 foremenH7860, whomH834 Pharaoh’sH6547 taskmastersH5065 had setH7760 over the peopleH5921, were beatenH5221 and askedH559, “WhyH4069 have you notH3808 fulfilledH3615 your quotaH2706 of bricksH3835 yesterdayH8543 or todayH1571H3117, as you did beforeH8543H1571H8032?”

15So the IsraeliteH1121H3478 foremenH7860 wentH935 and appealedH6817 toH413 PharaohH6547H559: “WhyH4100 are you treatingH6213 your servantsH5650 this wayH3541? 16NoH369 strawH8401 has been givenH5414 to your servantsH5650, yet we are toldH559, ‘MakeH6213 bricksH3843!’ LookH2009, your servantsH5650 are being beatenH5221, but the faultH2398 is with your own peopleH5971.”

17“YouH859 are slackersH7503!” Pharaoh repliedH559. “SlackersH7503! That is whyH5921H3651 youH859 keep sayingH559, ‘Let us goH1980 and sacrificeH2076 to the LORDH3068.’ 18NowH6258 get toH1980 workH5647. You will be givenH5414 noH3808 strawH8401, yet you must deliverH5414 the full quotaH8506 of bricksH3843.”