3 And they said: The God of the Hebrews hath called us, to go three days' journey into the wilderness and to sacrifice to the Lord our God: lest a pestilence or the sword fall upon us.
4 The king of Egypt said to them: Why do you Moses and Aaron draw off the people from their works? Get you gone to your burdens.
5 And Pharao said: The people of the land is numerous: you see that the multitude is increased: how much more if you give them rest from their works?
6 Therefore he commanded the same day the overseers of the works, and the taskmasters of the people, saying:
7 You shall give straw no more to the people to make brick, as before: but let them go and gather straw.
8 And you shall lay upon them the task of bricks, which they did before, neither shall you diminish any thing thereof: for they are idle, and therefore they cry, saying: Let us go and sacrifice to our God.
9 Let them be oppressed, with works, and let them fulfill them: that they may not regard lying words.