So they put foremen over the Israelites to oppress them with hard labor. As a result they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh.

"You must no longer give straw to the people for making bricks as before. Let them go and collect straw for themselves.

So the slave masters of the people and their foremen went to the Israelites and said, "Thus says Pharaoh: 'I am not giving you straw.

You go get straw for yourselves wherever you can find it, because there will be no reduction at all in your workload.'"

So the people spread out through all the land of Egypt to collect stubble for straw.

The slave masters were pressuring them, saying, "Complete your work for each day, just like when there was straw!"

No straw is given to your servants, but we are told, 'Make bricks!' Your servants are even being beaten, but the fault is with your people."

So now, get back to work! You will not be given straw, but you must still produce your quota of bricks!"