Exodus 5:10-19

10So 1the taskmasters of the people and their foremen went out and spoke to the people, saying, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I am not going to give you any straw. 11You go, get straw for yourselves wherever you can find it; but none of your labor will be reduced.’” 12So the people scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. 13And the taskmasters pressed them, saying, “Complete your 2work quota, 3your daily amount, just as when 4you had straw.” 14Moreover, 5the foremen of the sons of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, 6were beaten 7and asked, “Why have you not completed your required task of making bricks either yesterday or today, as before?”

15Then the foremen of the sons of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, “Why do you deal this way with your servants? 16There is no straw given to your servants, yet they keep saying to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And behold, your servants are being beaten; but it is the fault of your own people.” 17But he said, “You are 8lazy, very lazy; for that reason you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’ 18So go now and work; for you will be given no straw, but you must deliver the quota of bricks.” 19The foremen of the sons of Israel saw that they were in trouble, 9since they were told, “You must not reduce 10your daily amount of bricks.”