Verse 1 Afterward Moses and Aaron came, and said to Pharaoh, "This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says, 'Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.'" Verse 2 Pharaoh said, "Who is the Lord, that I should listen to his voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover I will not let Israel go." Verse 3 They said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go three days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the Lord, our God, lest he fall on us with pestilence, or with the sword." Verse 4 The king of Egypt said to them, "Why do you, Moses and Aaron, separate the people from their work? Get back to your burdens!" Verse 5 Pharaoh said, "Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens." Verse 6 The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying, Verse 7 "You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick, as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves. Verse 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.' Verse 9 Let heavier work be laid on the men, that they may regard it; and do not let them regard lying words." Verse 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. Verse 11 Go yourselves, get straw where you can find it, for nothing of your work shall be diminished." Verse 12 So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. Verse 13 The taskmasters were urgent saying, "Fulfill your work quota daily, as when there was straw given to you!" Verse 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?" Verse 15 Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, saying, "Why do you deal this way with your servants? Verse 16 No straw is given to your servants, and they tell us, 'Make brick!' and behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people." Verse 17 But he said, "You are idle! You are idle! Therefore you say, 'Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.' Verse 18 Go therefore now, and work, for no straw shall be given to you, yet you shall deliver the same number of bricks!" Verse 19 The officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in trouble, when it was said, "You shall not diminish anything from your daily quota of bricks!" Verse 20 They met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh: Verse 21 and they said to them, "May the Lord look at you, and judge, because you have made us a stench to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us." Verse 22 Moses returned to the Lord, and said, "Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Why is it that you have sent me? Verse 23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people; neither have you delivered your people at all."