26 Heb “let the work be heavy.”
27 The text has וְיַעֲשׂוּ־בָהּ (véya’asu-vah, “and let them work in it”) or the like. The jussive forms part of the king’s decree that the men not only be required to work harder but be doing it: “Let them be occupied in it.” For a discussion of this whole section, see K. A. Kitchen, “From the Brickfields of Egypt,” 27 (1976): .
28 The words of Moses are here called “lying words” (דִבְרֵי־שָׁקֶר, divre-shaqer). Here is the main reason, then, for Pharaoh’s new policy. He wanted to discredit Moses. So the words that Moses spoke Pharaoh calls false and lying words. The world was saying that God’s words were vain and deceptive because they were calling people to a higher order. In a short time God would reveal that they were true words.

In other versions

Let heavier work be laid on the men that they may labor at it and pay no regard to lying words.”

Make the work harder for the people so that they keep working and pay no attention to lies.”

Impose heavier work on the men. Then they will be occupied with it and not pay attention to deceptive words.”

Load them down with more work. Make them sweat! That will teach them to listen to lies!”

Let the work be heavier on the men so that they will do it and not pay attention to words of deception.”

Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words.

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