Exodus 5:6-18

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 before: let them go and gather straw for themselves. 8And the number of the bricks, which they made before, ye shall 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 God. 9Let more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour in it; and let them not regard vain words.1

10And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spoke to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw. 11Go ye, get for yourselves straw where ye can find it: yet not any of your work shall be diminished. 12So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw. 13And the taskmasters hastened them, saying, Fulfil your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw.2 14And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, Why have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and to day, as before?

15Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, saying, Why dealest thou thus with thy servants? 16There 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. 17But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD. 18Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the number of bricks.