³ They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks^(A) and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone,^(B) and tar^(C) for mortar.

⁷ “You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks;^(A) let them go and gather their own straw.

⁸ But require them to make the same number of bricks as before; don’t reduce the quota.^(A) They are lazy;^(B) that is why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’^(C)

¹⁸ Now get to work.^(A) You will not be given any straw, yet you must produce your full quota of bricks.”