1. And afterward Moshe and Aharon went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith Hashem Elohei Yisroel, Let My people go, that they may hold a chag (feast) unto Me in the midbar.
2. And Pharaoh said, Who is Hashem, that I should obey His voice to let Yisroel go? I know not Hashem, neither will I let Yisroel go.
3. And they said, Elohei HaIvrim hath met with us; let us go, now, derech shloshet yamim into the midbar, and sacrifice unto Hashem Eloheinu; lest He fall upon us with dever (cattle disease), or with the cherev.
4. And Melech Mitzrayim said unto them, Why do ye, Moshe and Aharon, disturb the people from their works? Get you back unto your own sivlot (burdens).
5. And Pharaoh said, Hinei, the Am HaAretz now are many, and ye make them rest from their sivlot.
6. And Pharaoh commanded the same day the nogesim of the people, and their foremen, saying,
7. Ye shall no more give HaAm straw to make brick, as heretofore; let them go and gather straw for themselves.
8. And the matkonet (quota) of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof; for they are idle; therefore they cry out, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to Eloheinu.
9. Let there more avodah be laid upon the anashim, that they may labor therein; and let them not regard divrei sheker.
10. And the nogesim of HaAm went out, and their foremen; they spoke to HaAm, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.
11. Go ye, get you straw where ye can find it; yet not ought of your avodah shall be diminished.
12. So HaAm were scattered abroad throughout kol Eretz Mitzrayim to gather stubble instead of straw.