Exodus 5

¹Then afterwarde Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may celebrate a feast vnto me in the wildernesse.

²And Pharaoh saide, Who is the Lord, that I should heare his voyce, and let Israel go? I knowe not the Lord, neither will I let Israel goe.

³And they saide, We worship the God of the Ebrewes: we pray thee, let vs goe three daies iourney in the desert, and sacrifice vnto the Lord our God, least he bring vpon vs the pestilence or sword.

⁴Then saide the King of Egypt vnto them, Moses and Aaron, why cause ye the people to cease from their workes? get you to your burdens.

⁵Pharaoh saide furthermore, Behold, much people is nowe in the lande, and ye make them leaue their burdens.

⁶Therefore Pharaoh gaue commandement the same day vnto the taskemasters of the people, and to their officers, saying,

⁷Ye shall giue the people no more strawe, to make bricke (as in time past) but let them goe and gather them strawe them selues:

⁸Notwithstanding lay vpon them the nober of bricke, which they made in time past, diminish nothing thereof: for they be idle, therefore they crie, saying, Let vs go to offer sacrifice vnto our God.

⁹Lay more worke vpon the men, and cause them to do it, and let the not regard vaine words.

¹⁰Then went the taskemasters of the people and their officers out, and tolde the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will giue you no more strawe.

¹¹Goe your selues, get you strawe where yee can finde it, yet shall nothing of your labour bee diminished.