Exodus 5:5 CPDV

³  And they said: 'The God of the Hebrews has called us, so that we may go three days' journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God. Otherwise, a pestilence or the sword may befall us.'

⁴  The king of Egypt said to them: 'Why do you, Moses and Aaron, distract the people from their works? Go back to your burdens.'

⁵  And Pharaoh said: 'The people of the land are many. You see that the turmoil has increased: how much more if you give them rest from the works?'

⁶  Therefore, on the same day, he instructed the overseers of the works, and the taskmasters of the people, saying:

⁷  'You shall no longer give chaff to the people to form bricks, as before. But they may go and gather straw.