Exodus 5:4-9

New International Version

⁴ But the king of Egypt said, “Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their labor?^(A) Get back to your work!” ⁵ Then Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land are now numerous,^(B) and you are stopping them from working.”

⁶ That same day Pharaoh gave this order to the slave drivers^(C) and overseers in charge of the people: ⁷ “You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks;^(D) let them go and gather their own straw. ⁸ But require them to make the same number of bricks as before; don’t reduce the quota.^(E) They are lazy;^(F) that is why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’^{(G) 9} Make the work harder for the people so that they keep working and pay no attention to lies.”