5. You people have become more numerous than the Egyptians. And now you want to stop working!”
6. That same day the king commanded the Egyptian slave-drivers and the Israelite foremen:
7. “Stop giving the people straw for making bricks. Make them go and find it for themselves.
8. But still require them to make the same number of bricks as before, not one brick less. They haven't enough work to do, and that is why they keep asking me to let them go and offer sacrifices to their God!
9. Make these people work harder and keep them busy, so that they won't have time to listen to a pack of lies.”