5. Then Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land are now so numerous, yet you would have them rest from their labors?”
6. Then on the same day Pharaoh commanded the slave masters of the people and their foremen saying,
7. “You are not to give the people any more straw to make bricks, as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves.
8. But impose on them the quota of bricks that they made previously; don’t reduce it. For they are lazy—that’s why they cry out saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’
9. Let even heavier work be laid upon the men, so that they must labor, paying no attention to deceptive words.”
10. Then the slave masters of the people went out, along with their officers, and they spoke to the people saying: “This is what Pharaoh says: I will not give you straw.