NHEB(i)
7 "You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick, as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves.
8 The number of the bricks, which they made before, you require from them. You shall not diminish anything of it, for they are idle; therefore they cry, saying, 'Let us go and sacrifice to our God.'
9 Let heavier work be laid on the men, so they may labor at it and pay no attention to lying words."
10 The taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spoke to the people, saying, "This is what Pharaoh says: 'I will not give you straw.
11 Go yourselves, get straw where you can find it, for nothing of your work shall be diminished.'"
12 So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather dry stalks for straw.
13 The taskmasters kept pressing them, saying, "Fulfill your work quota, your daily amount, as when there was straw."
14 The officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, "Why haven't you fulfilled your quota both yesterday and today, in making brick as before?"
15 Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, saying, "Why do you deal this way with your servants?
16 No straw is given to your servants, and they tell us, 'Make brick.' and look, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people."
17 But he said, "You are idle. You are idle. Therefore you say, 'Let us go and sacrifice to God.'
18 Go therefore now, and work, for no straw shall be given to you, yet you shall deliver the same number of bricks."