¶ Then Moses and Aaron went and told Pharao, thus sayeth the LORD God of Israel. Let my people go, that they may keep holy day unto me in the wilderness.
And Pharao answered: what fellow is the LORD, that I should hear his voice for to let Israel go?
¶ I know not the LORD, neither will let Israel go. And they said: the God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go (we pray thee) three days' journey into the desert, that we may sacrifice unto the LORD our God: lest he smite us either with pestilence or with sword.
Then said the king of Egypt unto them: wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their work, get you unto your labour.
And Pharao said furthermore: behold, there is much people in the land, and ye make them play and let their work stond.
And Pharao commanded the same day unto the taskmasters over the people and unto the officers saying:
see that ye give the people no more straw to make brick withal, as ye did in time past: let them go and gather them straw them selves,
and the number of bricks which they were wont to make in time past, lay unto their charge also, and minish nothing thereof. For they be idle and therefore cry saying: let us go and do sacrifice unto our God.
They must have more work laid upon them, that they may labour therein, and then will they not turn them selves to false words.
¶ Then went the taskmasters of the people and the officers out and told the people saying: Thus sayeth Pharao: I will give you no more straw,
but go your selves and gather you straw where ye can find it, yet shall none of your labour be minished.
Then the people scattered abroad thorowout all the land of Egypt for to gather them stubble to be instead of straw.
And the taskmasters hasted them forward saying: fulfil your work day by day, even as when straw was given you.
And the officers of the children of Israel which Pharao's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten. And it was said unto them: wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick, both yesterday and today, as well as in times past?
¶ Then went the officers of the children of Israel and complained unto Pharao saying: wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?
there is no straw given unto thy servants, and yet they say unto us: make brick. And lo, thy servants are beaten, and thy people is foul entreated.
And he answered: idle are ye idle, and therefore ye say: let us go and do sacrifice unto the LORD.
Go therefore and work, for there shall no straw be given you, and yet see that ye deliver the hole tale of brick.
When the officers of the children of Israel saw themself in shrewd case (in that he said ye shall minish nothing of your daily making of brick)
then they met Moses and Aaron stonding in their way as they came out from Pharao,
and said unto them: The LORD look unto you and judge, for ye have made the savour of us stink in the sight of Pharao and of his servants, and have put a sword into their hands to slay us.
Moses returned unto the LORD and said: Lord wherefore dealest thou cruelly with this people: and wherefore hast thou sent me?
For since I came to Pharao to speak in thy name, he hath fared foul with this folk, and yet thou hast not delivered thy people at all;
Praise the Everlasting Lord for His Faithful Word.