14. The officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, and demanded, “Why have you not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and today, as previously?”
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. There is no straw being given to your servants, and they say to us, ‘Make brick.’ And indeed, your servants are beaten, but the fault is in your own people.”
17. But he said, “You are slackers! Slackers! Therefore you say, ‘Let us go and do sacrifice to the Lord.’
18. Go therefore now and work, for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall you deliver the quota of bricks.”
19. The officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in trouble, after it was said, “You shall not diminish anything from your bricks of your daily task.”
20. Then they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh.
21. And they said to them, “May the Lord look on you and judge, because you have made our scent stink in the estimation of Pharaoh and in the estimation of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.”
22. Moses returned to the Lord, and said, “Lord, why have You caused trouble for this people? Why is it that You have sent me?
23. For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done evil to this people; neither have You delivered Your people atall.”