¹³ and worked them ruthlessly.^{(A) 14} They made their lives bitter with harsh labor^(B) in brick^(C) and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their harsh labor the Egyptians worked them ruthlessly.^(D)

⁶ That same day Pharaoh gave this order to the slave drivers^(A) and overseers in charge of the people: ⁷ “You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks;^(B) 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.^(C) They are lazy;^(D) that is why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’^{(E) 9} Make the work harder for the people so that they keep working and pay no attention to lies.”

¹⁰ The young men who had grown up with him replied, “The people have said to you, ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter.’ Now tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. ¹¹ My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.’”