16We're given no straw, and yet we're told to make bricks. We're being beaten, but your men are at fault." 17"You're lazy! [Just plain] lazy!" Pharaoh answered. "That's why you keep saying, 'Let us go offer sacrifices to the LORD.' 18Now get back to work! You won't be given any straw, but you must still make the same number of bricks." 19The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, "Don't make fewer bricks each day than you're supposed to." 20As they left Pharaoh, they found Moses and Aaron waiting for them. 21So they said, "May the LORD see what you have done and judge you! You have made Pharaoh and his officials hate us. You have given them an excuse to kill us." 22Moses went back to the LORD and asked, "Why have you brought this trouble on your people? Why did you send me? 23Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak for you, he has treated your people cruelly, and you have done nothing at all to rescue your people."
| 
