19 Then the foremen of the Israelites saw that they were in serious trouble because of the order: “You must not reduce your daily quota of bricks at all.”

21 At once they said to them: “May Jehovah look upon you and judge, since you have made Pharʹaoh and his servants despise us* and you have put a sword in their hand to kill us.”+

2 All the Israelites began to murmur against Moses and Aaron,+ and the whole assembly spoke against them, saying: “If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness! 3 Why is Jehovah bringing us to this land to fall by the sword?+ Our wives and children will become plunder.+ Is it not better for us to return to Egypt?”+

3 The people were quarreling with Moses,+ saying: “If only we had died when our brothers died before Jehovah!