Then the Israelite foremen came and cried out to Pharaoh: “Why do you treat your servants in this manner?"

"No straw is supplied to your servants, and still we are told, ‘Make bricks!’ Look how your servants are beaten! It is you who are at fault.”

He answered, “Lazy! You are lazy! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifice to the Lord.’"

"Now off to work! No straw will be supplied to you, but you must supply your quota of bricks."

The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble, having been told, “Do not reduce your daily amount of bricks!”

So when they left Pharaoh they assailed Moses and Aaron, who were waiting to meet them, and said to them, “The Lord look upon you and judge! You have made us offensive to Pharaoh and his servants, putting a sword into their hands to kill us.”

Then Moses again had recourse to the Lord and said, “Lord, why have you treated this people badly? And why did you send me?"

"From the time I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has treated this people badly, and you have done nothing to rescue your people.”