4. But the king said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their work? Go back to your hard work!
5. There are very many Hebrews. And now you want them to quit their hard work!”
6. That same day the king gave a command to the slave masters and foremen.
7. He said, “Don’t give the people straw to make bricks as you used to do. Let them gather their own straw.
8. But they must still make the same number of bricks as they did before. Do not accept fewer. They have become lazy. That is why they are asking me, ‘Let us go to offer sacrifices to our God.’
9. Make these people work harder. Keep them busy. Then they will not have time to listen to the lies of Moses.”
10. So the slave masters and foremen went to the Israelites and said, “This is what the king says: I will no longer give you straw.
11. Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it. But you must make as many bricks as you made before.”
12. So the people went everywhere in Egypt looking for dry stalks to use for straw.