1Afterward, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let my people go so they can hold a festival for me in the wilderness.’ ”
2Pharaoh replied, “Who is Yahweh that I should obey him and let Israel go? I don’t know Yahweh, and I will not let Israel go.”
3Moses and Aaron said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us travel three days into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to Yahweh our God. Otherwise, he might strike us with disease or the sword.”
4The king of Egypt asked them, "Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their work? Get back to your tasks!"
5Pharaoh said, "Look, the people of this land are now many, and you are making them rest from their work."
6The same day, Pharaoh gave orders to the slave drivers and foremen, saying,
7"Don't give the people straw to make bricks anymore, as you did before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves.
8Pharaoh said, "You must still demand the same number of bricks from them as before; do not reduce the amount. They are lazy, which is why they are crying out, 'Let us go and offer sacrifices to our God.'
9Give these men harder work so they have to labor at it, and they won't pay attention to these deceptive words."
10So the slave drivers and their foremen went out and spoke to the people, saying, "Pharaoh says, 'I will not give you any more straw.'
11Go and get straw for yourselves wherever you can find it, but your work quota will not be reduced.'"
12So the people spread out through all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.
13The slave drivers pushed them, saying, "You must complete your daily work quota, just as you did when you had straw!"
14The Israelite foremen, whom Pharaoh's slave drivers had put in charge, were beaten and asked, "Why haven't you completed your required number of bricks yesterday and today, just like before?"
15Then the Israelite foremen went and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, "Why are you treating your servants this way?
16Your servants are not given straw, but we are told, 'Make bricks!' And look, your servants are being beaten, but the fault lies with your own people."
17But he said, "You are lazy! You are lazy! That's why you say, 'Let us go and offer sacrifices to Yahweh.'
18Now go and work! No straw will be given to you, but you must still deliver the same number of bricks!"
19The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, "You must not reduce your daily quota of bricks!"
20As they left Pharaoh, they met Moses and Aaron, who were standing there to meet them,
21and they said to them, "May Yahweh look at you and judge you! You have made us disgusting and hated in the eyes of Pharaoh and his officials, putting a sword in their hand to kill us."
22Moses returned to Yahweh and said, "Lord, why have you brought trouble on these people? Is this why you sent me?
23Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on these people, and you have not rescued your people at all."