Moses and Aaron ask Pharaoh to let Israel go to worship. Pharaoh refuses and makes the Hebrews' work harder, so the people turn on Moses. Moses cries to God.
1 And afterward Moses and Aaron went in , and told Pharaoh , Thus saith the LORD God of Israel , Let my people go , that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness .
2 And Pharaoh said , Who is the LORD , that I should obey his voice to let Israel go ? I know not the LORD , neither will I let Israel go .
3 And they said , The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go , we pray thee, three days ' journey into the desert , and sacrifice unto the LORD our God ; lest he fall upon us with pestilence , or with the sword .
4 And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron , let the people from their works ? get you unto your burdens .
5 And Pharaoh said , Behold, the people of the land now are many , and ye make them rest from their burdens .
6 And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people , and their officers , saying ,
7 Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick , as heretofore : let them go and gather straw for themselves.
8 And the tale of the bricks , which they did make heretofore , ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle ; therefore they cry , saying , Let us go and sacrifice to our God .
9 Let there more work be laid upon the men , that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words .
10 And the taskmasters of the people went out , and their officers , and they spake to the people , saying , Thus saith Pharaoh , I will not give you straw .
11 Go ye, get you straw where ye can find it: yet not ought of your work shall be diminished .
12 So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw .
13 And the taskmasters hasted them, saying , Fulfil your works , your daily tasks , as when there was straw .
14 And the officers of the children of Israel , which Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten , and demanded , Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and to day , as heretofore ?
15 Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh , saying , Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants ?
16 There is no straw given unto thy servants , and they say to us, Make brick : and, behold, thy servants are beaten ; but the fault is in thine own people .
17 But he said , Ye are idle , ye are idle : therefore ye say , Let us go and do sacrifice to the LORD .
18 Go therefore now, and work ; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks .
19 And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, after it was said , Ye shall not minish ought from your bricks of your daily task .
20 And they met Moses and Aaron , who stood in the way , as they came forth from Pharaoh :
21 And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge ; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh , and in the eyes of his servants , to put a sword in their hand to slay us.
22 And Moses returned unto the LORD , and said , Lord , wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people ? why is it that thou hast sent me?
23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name , he hath done evil to this people ; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all .