¹³ The Egyptians compelled the sons of Israel ^(A)to labor rigorously; ¹⁴ and they made ^(B)their lives bitter with hard labor in mortar and bricks and at all kinds of labor in the field, all their labors which they rigorously ^[a]imposed on them.

⁵ Again Pharaoh said, “Look, ^(A)the people of the land are now many, and you would have them cease from their labors!” ⁶ So the same day Pharaoh commanded ^(B)the taskmasters over the people and their ^(C)foremen, saying, ⁷ “You are no longer to give the people straw to make brick as previously; let them go and gather straw for themselves. ⁸ But the quota of bricks which they were making previously, you shall impose on them; you are not to reduce any of it. Because they are ^(D)lazy, therefore they cry out, ‘^[a]Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ ⁹ Let the labor be heavier on the men, and let them work at it so that they will pay no attention to false words.”

¹⁶ There is no straw given to your servants, yet they keep saying to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And behold, your servants are being beaten; but it is the fault of your own people.” ¹⁷ But he said, “You are ^(A)lazy, very lazy; therefore you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’ ¹⁸ So go now and work; for you will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the quota of bricks.”