¹¹ Now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I [will chastise you] with scorpions.

¹³ The Egyptians ruthlessly made the children of Israel serve,

¹⁴ and they made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field, all their service, in which they ruthlessly made them serve.

⁵ They were given power not to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion, when it strikes a person.

³ Then out of the smoke came forth locusts on the earth, and power was given to them, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

¹⁹ Behold, I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will in any way hurt you.

²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls.

¹³ Go, and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus says Yahweh: You have broken the bars of wood; but you have made in their place bars of iron.

¹⁴ For thus says Yahweh of Hosts, the God of Israel: I have put a yoke of iron on the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him: and I have given him the animals of the field also.

⁶ Isn't this the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?

⁶ I was angry with my people, I profaned my inheritance, and gave them into your hand: you did show them no mercy; on the aged have you very heavily laid your yoke.

¹⁸ You shall cry out in that day because of your king whom you shall have chosen you; and Yahweh will not answer you in that day.

¹⁸ Go therefore now, and work, for no straw shall be given to you, yet shall you deliver the same number of bricks!"

⁵ Pharaoh said, "Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens."

⁶ The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,

⁷ "You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick, as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves.

⁸ The number of the bricks, which they made before, you require from them. You shall not diminish anything of it, for they are idle; therefore they cry, saying, 'Let us go and sacrifice to our God.'

⁹ Let heavier work be laid on the men, that they may labor therein; and don't let them pay any attention to lying words."

¹⁰ They have tails like those of scorpions, and stings. In their tails they have power to harm men for five months.