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. No straw is given to your servants, and they tell us, ‘Make brick!’ and behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people.”
17. But Pharaoh said, “You are idle! You are idle! Therefore you say, ‘Let’s go and sacrifice to the Lord.’
18. Go therefore now, and work; for no straw shall be given to you, yet you shall deliver the same number of bricks!”
19. The officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in trouble, when it was said, “You shall not diminish anything from your daily quota of bricks!”
20. They met Moses and Aaron, who stood along the way, as they came out from Pharaoh.
21. They said to them, “May the Lord look at you and judge, because you have made us a stench to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us!”
22. Moses returned to the Lord, and said, “Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Why is it that you have sent me?
23. For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people; and you have not rescued your people at all.”