15. Then the foremen of the people of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, “Why do you treat your servants like this?
16. No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people.”
17. But he said, “You are idle, you are idle; that is why you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’
18. Go now and work. No straw will be given you, but you must still deliver the same number of bricks.”
19. The foremen of the people of Israel saw that they were in trouble when they said, “You shall by no means reduce your number of bricks, your daily task each day.”
20. They met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them, as they came out from Pharaoh;