Exodus 5:7-14

7“You are not to give the people any more straw to make bricks, as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves.

8But impose on them the quota of bricks that they made previously; don’t reduce it. For they are lazy—that’s why they cry out saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’

9Let even heavier work be laid upon the men, so that they must labor, paying no attention to deceptive words.”

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

11Go and get straw for yourselves wherever you can find it, for there will be no reduction of your work.”

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

13But the slave masters pressured, saying, “Fulfill your work, your daily amount, just as when there was straw.”

14Moreover the foremen of Bnei-Yisrael, whom Pharaoh’s slave masters had set over them, were beaten and asked, “Why haven’t you met your quota of bricks, both yesterday and today like before?”