4. Pharaoh replied, “Moses and Aaron, why are you distracting the people from their tasks? Get back to work!
5. Look, there are many of your people in the land, and you are stopping them from their work.”
6. That same day Pharaoh sent this order to the Egyptian slave drivers and the Israelite foremen:
7. “Do not supply any more straw for making bricks. Make the people get it themselves!
8. But still require them to make the same number of bricks as before. Don’t reduce the quota. They are lazy. That’s why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifices to our God.’
9. Load them down with more work. Make them sweat! That will teach them to listen to lies!”