Exodus 5:6–14

⁶That same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people, as well as their supervisors,^{* 7}“You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as before; let them go and gather straw for themselves. ⁸But you shall require of them the same quantity of bricks as they have made previously; do not diminish it, for they are lazy; that is why they cry, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’^{* 9}Let heavier work be laid on them; then they will pay attention to^h it and not to deceptive words.”

¹⁰So the taskmasters and the supervisors of the people went out and said to the people, “Thus says Pharaoh: I will not give you straw.^{* 11}Go and get straw yourselves, wherever you can find it, but your work will not be lessened in the least.” ¹²So the people scattered throughout the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. ¹³The taskmasters urged them on, saying, “Complete your work, the same daily assignment as when you were given straw.”^{i 14}And the Israelite supervisors whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them were beaten and were asked, “Why did you not finish the required quantity of bricks yesterday and today, as you did before?”^*