So now, get back to work! ¹  You will not be given straw, but you must still produce ²  your quota ³  of bricks!”

The slave masters were pressuring ¹  them, saying, “Complete ²  your work for each day, just like when there was straw!”

Each one also brought to the assigned location his quota of barley and straw for the various horses. ¹ 

But you must require ¹  of them the same quota of bricks that they were making before. ²  Do not reduce it, for they are slackers. ³  That is why they are crying, ‘Let us go sacrifice to our God.’

The Israelite foremen saw ¹  that they ²  were in trouble when they were told, ³  “You must not reduce the daily quota of your bricks.”

The Israelite foremen whom Pharaoh’s slave masters had set over them were beaten and were asked, ¹  “Why did you not complete your requirement for brickmaking as in the past – both yesterday and today?” ² 

For they were under royal orders ¹  which determined their activity day by day. ² 

You ¹  go get straw for yourselves wherever you can ²  find it, because there will be no reduction at all in your workload.’”

Then the Lord said to Moses, “I am going to rain ¹  bread from heaven for you, and the people will go out ²  and gather the amount for each day, so that I may test them. ³  Will they will walk in my law ⁴  or not?

He assembled the priests and Levites and ordered them, “Go out to the cities of Judah and collect the annual quota of silver from all Israel for repairs on the temple of your God. Be quick about it!” But the Levites delayed.