3They said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go three days` journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to Yahweh, our God, lest he fall on us with pestilence, or with the sword."
4The king of Egypt said to them, "Why do you, Moses and Aaron, take the people from their work? Get back to your burdens!"
5Pharaoh said, "Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens."
6The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,
7"You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick, as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves.
8The number of the bricks, which they made before, you require from them. You shall not diminish anything of it, for they are idle; therefore they cry, saying, `Let us go and sacrifice to our God.`
9Let heavier work be laid on the men, that they may labor therein; and don`t let them pay any attention to lying words."
