Parashas Shemos · Passuk 1:11
וַיָּשִׂ֤ימוּ עָלָיו֙ שָׂרֵ֣י מִסִּ֔ים לְמַ֥עַן עַנֹּת֖וֹ בְּסִבְלֹתָ֑ם וַיִּ֜בֶן עָרֵ֤י מִסְכְּנוֹת֙ לְפַרְעֹ֔ה אֶת־פִּתֹ֖ם וְאֶת־רַעַמְסֵֽס׃
They placed upon him taskmasters in order to afflict him with their burdens; and he built store-cities for Pharaoh — Pisom and Raamses.
Torah Temimah points to Sotah 11a (verified).
ויבן ערי מסכנות — פליגי בה רב ושמואל, חד אמר שמסכנות את בעליהן, וחד אמר שממסכנות את בעליהן, דאמר מר כל העוסק בבנין מתמסכן.
English: “And they built store-cities (arei miskenos)” — Rav and Shmuel disagree. One said they endanger their owners; the other said they impoverish their owners, for a Master said: Whoever engages in building becomes impoverished.
Custom — dual reading of miskenos.
The very cities built to secure Egypt already contained the seeds of danger or impoverishment for their builders.