Exodus 5:5-9 Pharaoh also said, “Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you would be stopping them from their labor.”

BSB⁽ⁱ⁾ ⁵ Pharaoh also said, “Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you would be stopping them from their labor.” ⁶ That same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen: ⁷ “You shall no longer supply the people with straw for making bricks. They must go and gather their own straw. ⁸ But require of them the same quota of bricks as before; do not reduce it. For they are lazy; that is why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ ⁹ Make the work harder on the men so they will be occupied and pay no attention to these lies.”