Exodus 5:4-8

⁴ The king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why are you making the people slack off from their work? Do the hard work yourselves!” ⁵ Pharaoh continued, “The land’s people are now numerous. Yet you want them to stop their hard work?”

⁶ On the very same day Pharaoh commanded the people’s slave masters and supervisors, ⁷ “Don’t supply the people with the straw they need to make bricks like you did before. Let them go out and gather the straw for themselves. ⁸ But still make sure that they produce the same number of bricks as they made before. Don’t reduce the number! They are weak and lazy, and that’s why they cry, ‘Let’s go and offer sacrifices to our God.’