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
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