⁷ He doth laugh at the multitude of a city, The cries of an exactor he heareth not.

¹⁸ Together prisoners have been at ease, They have not heard the voice of an exactor,

¹³ and the exactors are making haste, saying, `Complete your works, the matter of a day in its day, as when there is straw.'

¹⁴ And the authorities of the sons of Israel, whom the exactors of Pharaoh have placed over them, are beaten, saying, `Wherefore have ye not completed your portion in making brick as heretofore, both yesterday and to-day?'

¹⁵ And the authorities of the sons of Israel come in and cry unto Pharaoh, saying, `Why dost thou thus to thy servants?

¹⁶ Straw is not given to thy servants, and they are saying to us, Make bricks, and lo, thy servants are smitten -- and thy people hath sinned.'

¹⁸ and now, go, serve; and straw is not given to you, and the measure of bricks ye do give.'

¹⁸ At the time on high she lifteth herself up, She laugheth at the horse and at his rider.

⁴ For thus said Jehovah unto me: `As growl doth the lion and the young lion over his prey, Called against whom is a multitude of shepherds, From their voice he is not affrighted, And from their noise he is not humbled; So come down doth Jehovah of Hosts To war on mount Zion, and on her height.

³ `Why have we fasted, and Thou hast not seen? We have afflicted our soul, and Thou knowest not.' Lo, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, And all your labours ye exact.