Exodus 5:15-21

CLV(i) 15 Then the superintendents of the sons of Israel entered and cried to Pharaoh, saying: Why are you doing thus to your servants? 16 Crushed straw is not being given to your servants. And of bricks, they are saying to us, Make them. And behold, your servants are being smitten, and your people are at fault. 17 Yet he said: You are slackers--slackers! Therefore you are saying, Let us go; let us sacrifice to Yahweh. 18 Yet now go, serve! But crushed straw shall not be given to you, though the regular number of bricks shall you provide. 19 Hence the superintendents of the sons of Israel saw themselves in an evil plight, having to say: You shall not subtract from your bricks a day's tally in its day. 20 So they came upon Moses and Aaron, stationed to meet them when they came forth from Pharaoh. 21 They said to them: May Yahweh see you, and may He judge since you have caused our scent to stink in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of his servants, giving a sword into their hands to kill us.