NET Bible
"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.”"
— Exodus 5:16, NET Bible
“There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thine own people.”
“There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thine own people. ”
“No straw is given to your servants, and they tell us, 'Make brick!' and behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people."”
“Straw is not given us, and bricks are required of us as before; behold we, thy servants, are beaten with whips, and thy people is unjustly dealt withal.”
“They give us no dry stems and they say to us, Make bricks: and they give your servants blows; but it is your people who are in the wrong.”
“There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thine own people.”
The slave masters were pressuring them, saying,“Complete your work for each day, just like when there was straw!”
The Israelite foremen whom Pharaoh’s slave masters had set over them were beaten and were asked,“Why did you not complete your requirement for brickmaking as in the past– both yesterday and today?”
The Israelite foremen went and cried out to Pharaoh,“Why are you treating your servants this way?
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.”
But Pharaoh replied,“You are slackers! Slackers! That is why you are saying,‘Let us go sacrifice to the LORD.’”
So now, get back to work! You will not be given straw, but you must still produce your quota of bricks!”
The Israelite foremen saw that they were in trouble when they were told,“You must not reduce the daily quota of your bricks.”