Exodus 5:1-10

1And afterwards Moses and Aaron went in, and said to Pharaoh, Thus saith Jehovah, the 1God of Israel, Let my people go that they may celebrate a feast to me in the wilderness.

2And Pharaoh said, Who is Jehovah, to whose voice I am to hearken to let Israel go? I do not know Jehovah, neither will I let Israel go.

3And they said, The 2God of the Hebrews has met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to Jehovah our 3God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with sword.

4And the king of Egypt said to them, Why do ye, Moses and Aaron, wish to have the people go off from their works? Away, to your burdens!

5And Pharaoh said, Behold the people of the land are now many, and ye wish to make them rest from their burdens.

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

7Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.

8And the number of the bricks they have made heretofore shall ye lay upon them: ye shall not diminish any of it, for they are idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go [and] sacrifice to our 4God.

9Let them put heavier labour on the men, that they may be taken up with it, and not regard vain words.

10And the taskmasters of the people and their officers went out and spoke to the people, saying, Thus says Pharaoh: I will not give you straw: