Thomson(i)
7 You shall no more give the people straw to make bricks as heretofore; but let them go and gather straw for themselves;
8 yet the daily task of brick making which they now perform, you shall lay upon them. Thou shalt make no abatement; for they are idle. Therefore they have cried saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.
9 Let the work of these men be made heavy and let them employ their thoughts about that, and not trouble themselves with vain discourses.
10 Upon this the task masters and clerks hurried them and spoke to the people saying, Thus saith Pharao, I will no more give you straw;
11 go and collect straw for yourselves where you can find it; for no abatement shall be made of your task.
12 So the people were dispersed through all the land of Egypt to collect stubble instead of straw.
13 And the task masters urged them saying, Compleat the customary daily task as when straw was furnished you.
14 And when they beat the clerks of the nation of the Israelites who were set over them by the officers of Pharao and said, Why have you not as heretofore compleated your tasks of brick making to day?
15 the clerks of the children of Israel went and cried to Pharao saying, Why dost thou deal thus with thy servants?
16 There is no straw given to thy servants, yet they say to us, Make bricks. And lo! thy servants are beaten. Wilt thou then deal unjustly with thy people?
17 But he said to them, You are idle: You are idlers. Therefore you say, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.
18 Go therefore now and work; for there shall be no straw given you, yet you shall deliver the task of bricks.
19 So the clerks of the children of Israel saw themselves in a miserable situation, when they said, You shall be allowed no abatement from the customary daily task of brick making.