Amplified Bible (AMP)

The Birth of Moses

1 Now aman of the house of Levi [the priestly tribe] went and took as his wife a daughter of Levi.

2 The woman conceived and gave birth to a son; and when she saw that he was [especially] beautifulandhealthy, she hid him for three months [to protect him from the Egyptians].

3 When she could no longer hide him, she got him a basket (chest) made of papyrus reeds and covered it with tar and pitch [making it waterproof]. Then she put the child in it and set it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile.

4 And his sister [Miriam] stood some distance away to find out what would happen to him.

5 Now thedaughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the Nile, and [she, together with] her maidens walked along the river’s bank; she saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid [to get it], and she brought itto her.

6 When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby was crying. And she took pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.”

7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call awet-nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?”

8 And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Goahead.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother.

9 Then Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him.

10 And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. And she named himMoses, and said, “Because I drew him out of the water.”

11 One day, after Moses had grown [into adulthood], it happened that he went to his countrymen and looked [with compassion] at their hard labors; and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his countrymen.

12 He turned to look around, and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.

13 He went out the next day and saw two Hebrew men fighting with each other; and he said to the aggressor, “Why are you striking your friend?”

14 But the man said, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and said, “Certainly this incident is known.”

Moses Escapes to Midian

15 WhenPharaoh heard about this matter, he tried to kill Moses. Then Moses fled from Pharaoh’s presence and took refuge in the land ofMidian, where he sat down by a well.

16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters; and they came and drew water [from the well where Moses was resting] and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock.

17 Then shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and helped them and watered their flock.

18 When they came toReuel (Jethro) their father, he said, “How is it that you have come back so soon today?”

19 They said, “An Egyptian saved us from the shepherds. He even drew water [from the well] for us and watered the flock.”

20 Then he said to his daughters, “Where is he? Why have you left the man behind? Invite him to have something to eat.”

21 Moses was willing to remain with the man, and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah [to be his wife].

22 She gave birth to a son, and he named him Gershom (stranger); for he said, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land.”

23 Now it happened after a long time [about forty years] that the king of Egypt died. And the children of Israel (Jacob) groanedandsighed because of the bondage, and they cried out. And their cry for help because of their bondageascended to God.

24 So God heard their groaning and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel).

25 God saw the sons of Israel, and God took notice [of them]andwas concerned about them [knowing all, understanding all, remembering all].

The Burning Bush

1 Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro (Reuel) his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb (Sinai), the mountain of God.

2 TheAngel of the Lordappeared to him in a blazing flame of fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was on fire, yet it was not consumed.

3 So Moses said, “I must turn away [from the flock] and see this great sight–why the bush is not burned up.”

4 When the Lordsaw that he turned away [from the flock] to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”

5 Then God said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet [out of respect], because the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”

6 Then He said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.

7 The Lordsaid, “I have in fact seen the affliction (suffering, desolation) of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters (oppressors); for I know their painandsuffering.

8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand (power) of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a land [that is] good and spacious, to a landflowing with milk and honey [a land of plenty]–to the place of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite.

9 Now, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me; and I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them.

The Mission of Moses

10 Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, and then bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”

11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”

12 And God said, “Certainly I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serveandworship God at this mountain.”

13 Then Moses said to God, “Behold, when I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers (ancestors) has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?”

14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “You shall say this to the Israelites, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

15 Then God also said to Moses, “This is what you shall say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob (Israel), has sent me to you.’ This is MyName forever, and this is My memorial [name] to all generations.

16 Go, gather the elders (tribal leaders) of Israel together, and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared to me, saying, “I am indeed concerned about you and what has been done to you in Egypt.

17 So I said I will bring you up out of the sufferingandoppression of Egypt to the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, to a landflowing with milk and honey.”’

18 The elders [of the tribes] will listenandpay attention to what you say; and you, with the elders of Israel, shall go to the king of Egypt and you shall say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; so now, please, [we ask and plead with you,] let us go on a three days’ journey into the wilderness, so that we may sacrifice to the Lordour God.’

19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless [he is forced] by a strong hand.

20 So I will reach out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders which I shall do in the midst of it; and after that he will let you go.

21 And I will grant this people favorandrespect in the sight of the Egyptians; therefore, it shall be that when you go, you will not go empty-handed.

22 But every woman shall [insistently] ask her neighbor and any woman wholives in her house, for articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; and you shall put them on your sons and daughters. In this way you are to plunder the Egyptians [leaving bondage with great possessions that are rightfully yours].”

Moses Given Powers

1 Then Moses answered [the Lord] and said, “What if they will not believe me or take seriously what I say? For they may say, ‘The Lordhas not appeared to you.’”

2 And the Lordsaid to him, “What is that in your hand?” And he said, “A staff.”

3 Then He said, “Throw it on the ground.” So Moses threw it on the ground, and it became a [living] serpent [like the royal symbol on the crown of Pharaoh]; and Moses ran from it.

4 But the Lordsaid to Moses, “Reach out your hand and grasp it by the tail.” So he reached out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand–

5 [“You shall do this,” said the Lord,] “so that the elders may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has [most certainly] appeared to you.”

6 The Lordalso said to him, “Put your hand into your robe [where it covers your chest].” So he put his hand into his robe, and when he took it out, his hand wasleprous, as white as snow.

7 Then God said, “Put your hand into your robe again.” So he put his hand back into his robe, and when he took it out, it was restored [and was] like the rest of his body.

8 “If they will not believe you or pay attention to the evidence of the first sign, they may believe the evidence of the second sign.

9 But if they will not believe these two signs or pay attention to what you say, you are to take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground; and the water which you take out of the river will turn into blood on the dry ground.”

10 Then Moses said to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I am not a man of words (eloquent, fluent), neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I amslow of speech and tongue.”

11 The Lordsaid to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute or the deaf, or the seeing or the blind? Is it not I, the Lord?

12 Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and will teach you what you shall say.”

13 But he said, “Please my Lord, sendthe message[of rescue to Israel] by [someone else,] whomever else You will [choose].”

Aaron to Speak for Moses

14 Then the anger of the Lordwas kindledandburned against Moses; He said, “Is there not your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. Also, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be overjoyed.

15 You must speak to him and put the words in his mouth; I, even I, will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you what you are to do.

16 Moreover, he shall speak for you to the people; he will act as a mouthpiece for you, and you will be as God to him [telling him what I say to you].

17 You shall take in your hand this staff, with which you shall perform the signs [the miracles which prove I sent you].”

18 Then Moses went away and returned to Jethro his father-in-law, and said to him, “Please, let me go back so that I may return to myrelatives in Egypt, and see if they are still alive.” And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.”

19 Then the Lordsaid to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life [for killing the Egyptian] are dead.”

20 So Moses took his wife [Zipporah] and his sons [Gershom and Eliezer] and seated them on donkeys, and returned to the land of Egypt. Moses also took the staff of God in his hand.

21 The Lordsaid to Moses, “When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders (miracles) which I have put in your hand, but I will harden his heartandmake him stubborn so that he will not let the people go.

22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Israel is My son, My firstborn.

23 So I say to you, ‘Let My son go so that he may serve Me’; and if you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your son, your firstborn.”’”

24 Now it happened at the lodging place, that the Lordmet Moses and sought to kill him [making him deathly ill because he had not circumcised one of his sons].

25 Then Zipporah took a flint knife and cut off the foreskin of her son and threw it at Moses’ feet, and said, “Indeed you are a husband of blood to me!”

26 So He let Moses alone [to recover]. At that time Zipporah said, “You area husband of blood”–because of the circumcision.

27 The Lordsaid to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So he went and met him at the mountain of God (Sinai) and kissed him.

28 Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lordwith which He had sent him, and all the signs that He had commanded him to do.

29 Then Moses and Aaron went [into Egypt] and assembled all the elders of the Israelites;

30 and Aaron said all the words which the Lordhad spoken to Moses. Then Moses performed the signs [given to him by God] before the people.

31 So the people believed; and when they heard that the Lordwas concerned about the Israelites and that He had looked [with compassion] on their suffering, then they bowed their heads and worshiped [the Lord].

Israel’s Labor Increased

1 Afterward Moses and Aaron came and said to Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Let My people go, so that they may celebrate a feast to Me in the wilderness.’”

2 But Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lordthat I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go.”

3 Then they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please, let us go on a three days’ journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lordour God, so that He does not discipline us with pestilence or with the sword.”

4 But the king of Egypt said to Moses and Aaron, “Why do you take the people away from their work? Get back to your burdens!”

5 Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land are now many, and you would have them stop their work!”

6 The very same day Pharaoh gave orders to the [Egyptian] taskmasters in charge of the people and their [Hebrew] foremen, saying,

7 “You will no longer give the peoplestraw to make brick as before; let them go and gather straw for themselves.

8 But the number of bricks which they were making before, you shall [still] require of them; you are not to reduce it in the least. For they are idleandlazy; that is why they cry, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’

9 Let labor be heavier on the men, and let them work [hard] at it so that they will pay no attention to [their God’s] lying words.”

10 Then the [Egyptian] taskmasters [in charge] of the people and their [Hebrew] foremen went out and said to the people, “Thus says Pharaoh, ‘I will not give you any straw.

11 ~‘Go, get straw for yourselves wherever you can find it, but your work [quota] will not be reduced in the least.’”

12 So the people were scattered throughout the land of Egypt to gather stubble to use for straw.

13 And the taskmasters pressured them, saying, “Finish your work, [fulfill] your daily quotas, just as when there was straw [given to you].”

14 And the Hebrew foremen, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, “Why have you not fulfilled your required quota of making bricks yesterday and today, as before?”

15 Then the Hebrew foremen came to Pharaoh and cried, “Why do you deal like this with your servants?

16 No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And look, your servants are being beaten, but it is the fault of your own people.”

17 But Pharaoh said, “You are lazy, very lazyandidle! That is why you say, ‘Let us goandsacrifice to the Lord.’

18 Get out now and get to work; for no straw will be given to you, yet you are to deliver the same quota of bricks.”

19 The Hebrew foremen saw that they were in a bad situation because they were told, “You must not reduce [in the least] your daily quota of bricks.”

20 When they left Pharaoh’s presence, the foremen met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them.

21 And the foremen said to them, “May the Lordlook upon you and judge you, because you have made us odious (something hated) in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and you have put a sword in their hand to kill us.”

22 Then Moses turned again to the Lordand said, “O Lord, why have You brought harmandoppression to this people? Why did You ever send me? [I cannot understand Your purpose!]

23 Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has harmedandoppressed this people, and You have done nothing at all to rescue Your people.”

God Promises Action

1 Then the Lordsaid to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; forunder compulsion he will [not only] let them go, but under compulsion he will drive them out of his land.”

2 Then God spoke further to Moses and said to him, “I am the Lord.

3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob (Israel) as God Almighty [El Shaddai], but by Myname,Lord, I did not make Myself known to them [in acts and great miracles].

4 I also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they lived as strangers (temporary residents, foreigners).

5 And I have also heard the groaning of the sons of Israel, whom the Egyptians have enslaved, and I have [faithfully] remembered My covenant [with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob].

6 Therefore, say to the children of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will free you from their bondage. I will redeemandrescue you with an outstretched (vigorous, powerful) arm and with great acts of judgment [against Egypt].

7 ~‘Then I will take you for My people, and I will be your God; and you shall know that I am the Lordyour God, who redeemed youandbrought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

8 ~‘I will bring you to the land which Iswore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel); and I will give it to you as a possession. I am the Lord[you have the promise of My changeless omnipotence and faithfulness].’”

9 Moses told this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of theirimpatienceanddespondency, and because of their forced labor.

10 The Lordspoke to Moses, saying,

11 “Go, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the children of Israel go out of his land.”

12 But Moses said to the Lord, “Look, [my own people] the Israelites have not listened to me; so how then will Pharaoh listen to me, for I amunskilledandinept in speech?”

13 Then the Lordspoke to Moses and Aaron, and gave them a command concerning the Israelites and Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the Israelites out of the land of Egypt.

The Heads of Israel

14 These are the heads of their fathers’ households. The sons of Reuben, Israel’s (Jacob’s) firstborn: Hanoch and Pallu, Hezron and Carmi; these are the families of Reuben.

15 The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman; these are the families of Simeon.

16 These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their births: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari; and Levi lived a hundred and thirty-seven years.

17 The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, by their families.

18 The sons of Kohath: Amram (Moses’ father), Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel; and Kohath lived a hundred and thirty-three years.

19 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of Levi according to their generations.

20 Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed, and she gave birth to Aaron and Moses; and Amram lived a hundred and thirty-seven years.

21 The sons of Izhar: Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri.

22 The sons of Uzziel: Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri.

23 Aaron married Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab and the sister of Nahshon, and she gave birth to Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

24 The sons of Korah: Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph. These are the [extended] families of the Korahites.

25 Eleazar, Aaron’s son, married one of the daughters of Putiel, and she gave birth to Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers’ households of the Levites by their families.

26 These are [the same] Aaron and Moses to whom the Lordsaid, “Bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by theirarmies.”

27 They were the ones who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt about bringing the Israelites out of Egypt; these are [the same] Moses and Aaron.

28 Now it happened on the day when the Lordspoke to Moses in the land of Egypt,

29 that He said, “I am the Lord; tell Pharaoh king of Egypt everything that I say to you.”

30 But Moses said before the Lord, “Look, I amunskilledandinept in speech; how then will Pharaoh listen to meandpay attention to what I say?”

“I Will Stretch Out My Hand”

1 Then the Lordsaid to Moses, “Now hear this: I make you as God to Pharaoh [to declare My will and purpose to him]; and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet.

2 You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the children of Israel go out of his land.

3 And I will make Pharaoh’s heart hard, and multiply My signs and My wonders (miracles) in the land of Egypt.

4 But Pharaoh will not listen to you, and I shall lay My hand on Egypt and bring out My hosts [like a defensive army, tribe by tribe], My people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment (the plagues).

5 The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them.”

6 And Moses and Aaron did so; just as the Lordcommanded them, so they did.

7 Now Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three years old when they spoke to Pharaoh.

Aaron’s Rod Becomes a Serpent

8 Now the Lordsaid to Moses and Aaron,

9 “When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Work a miracle [to prove your authority],’ then you say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh, so that it may become a serpent.’”

10 So Moses and Aaron came to Pharaoh, and did just as the Lordhad commanded; Aaron threw down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent.

11 Then Pharaoh called for the wise men [skilled in magic and omens] and the sorcerers [skilled in witchcraft], and they also, these magicians (soothsayer-priests) of Egypt, did the same with their secret artsandenchantments.

12 For everyman threw down his staff and they turned into serpents; but Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs.

13 Yet Pharaoh’s heart was hardened and he would not listen to them, just as the Lordhad said.

Water Is Turned to Blood

14 Then the Lordsaid to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is hard; he refuses to let the people go.

15 Go to Pharaoh in the morning as he is going out to the water, and wait for him on the bank of the Nile; and you shall take in your hand the staff that was turned into a serpent.

16 You shall say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to you, saying, “Let My people go, so that they may serve Me in the wilderness. But behold, you have not listened until now.”

17 ~‘Thus says the Lord, “By this you shall knowandrecognizeandacknowledge that I am the Lord: look, with the staff in my hand I will strike the water in the Nile, and it shall be turned to blood.

18 The fish in the Nile will die, and the Nile will become foul, and the Egyptians will not be able to drink water from the Nile.”’”

19 Then the Lordsaid to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, over their streams, over their pools, and over all their reservoirs of water, so that they may become blood; and there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, incontainersboth of wood and of stone.’”

20 So Moses and Aaron did as the Lordcommanded; Aaron lifted up the staff and struck the waters in the Nile, in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants, and all the water that was in the Nile was turned into blood.

21 The fish in the Nile died, and the river became foul smelling, and the Egyptians could not drink its water, and there was blood throughoutall the land of Egypt.

22 But the magicians of Egypt did thesame by their secret artsandenchantments; so Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lordhad said.

23 Then Pharaoh turned and went into his house, and he did not take even this [divine sign] to heart.

24 So all the Egyptians dug near the river for water to drink, because they could not drink the water of the Nile.

25 Seven days passed after the Lordhad struck the Nile.

Frogs over the Land

1 Then the Lordsaid to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Let My people go, so that they may serve Me.

2 However, if you refuse to let them go, hear this: I am going to strike your entire land with frogs.

3 The Nile will swarm with frogs, which will come up and go into your home, into your bedroom and on to your bed, and into the houses of your servants and on your people, and into your ovens and your kneading bowls.

4 So the frogs will come up on you and on your people and all your servants.”’”

5 Then the Lordsaid to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers, over the streamsandcanals, over the pools [among the reeds], and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt.’”

6 So Aaron stretched out his hand [with his staff] over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt.

7 But the magicians (soothsayer-priests) did the same thing with their secret artsandenchantments, andbrought up [more] frogs on the land of Egypt.

8 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said, “Plead with the Lordthat He may take away the frogs from me and my people; and I will let the people go, so that they may sacrifice to the Lord.”

9 And Moses said to Pharaoh, “I am entirely at your service: when shall I plead [with the Lord] for you and your servants and your people, so that the frogs may leave you and your houses and remain only in the Nile?”

10 Then Pharaoh said, “Tomorrow.” Moses replied, “May it beas you say, so that you may know [without any doubt]andacknowledge that there is no one like the Lordour God.

11 The frogs will leave you and your houses and leave your servants and your people; they will remain only in the Nile.”

12 So Moses and Aaron left Pharaoh, and Moses cried out to the Lord[as he had agreed to do] concerning the frogs which God had inflicted on Pharaoh.

13 The Lorddid as Moses asked, and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the courtyardsandvillages, and out of the fields.

14 So they piled them up in heaps, and the land was detestableandstank.

15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was [temporary] relief, he hardened his heart and would not listenorpay attention to them, just as the Lordhad said.

The Plagues of Gnats and Insects

16 Then the Lordsaid to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the ground, and it will become [biting] gnats (lice) throughout the land of Egypt.’”

17 They did so; Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and there were [biting] gnats on man and animal. All the dust of the land became gnats through all the land of Egypt.

18 The magicians (soothsayer-priests) tried by their secret artsandenchantments to create gnats, but they could not; and there were gnats on man and animal.

19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the [supernatural] finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened and he would not listen to them, just as the Lordhad said.

20 Now the Lordsaid to Moses, “Get up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh as he is coming out to the water [of the Nile], and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Let My people go, so that they may serve Me.

21 For if you do not let My people go, hear this: I will send swarms of [bloodsucking] insects on you and on your servants and on your people and into your houses; and the houses of the Egyptians will be full of swarms of insects, as well as the ground on which they stand.

22 But on that day I will separateandset apart the land of Goshen, where My people are living, so that no swarms of insects will be there, so that you may know [without any doubt]andacknowledge that I, the Lord, am in the midst of the earth.

23 I willput a division (distinction) between My people and your people. By tomorrow this sign shall be in evidence.”’”

24 Then the Lorddid so. And there came heavyandoppressive swarms of [bloodsucking] insects into the house of Pharaoh and his servants’ houses; in all the land of Egypt the land was corruptedandruined because of the [great invasion of] insects.

25 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God [here] in the land [of Egypt].”

26 But Moses said, “It is not right [or even possible] to do that, for we will sacrifice to the Lordour God what is repulsiveandunacceptable to the Egyptians [that is, animals that the Egyptians consider sacred]. If we sacrifice what is repulsiveandunacceptable to the Egyptians, will they not riotandstone us?

27 We must go a three days’ journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lordour God as He commands us.”

28 So Pharaoh said, “I will let you go, so that you may sacrifice to the Lordyour God in the wilderness; only you shall not go very far away. Plead [with your God] for me.”

29 Moses said, “I am going to leave you, and I will urgently petition (pray, entreat) the Lordthat the swarms of insects may leave Pharaoh, his servants, and his people tomorrow; only do not let Pharaoh act deceitfully again by not letting the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.”

30 So Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to the Lord[on behalf of Pharaoh].

31 The Lorddid as Moses asked, and removed the swarms of [bloodsucking] insects from Pharaoh, from his servants and from his people; not one remained.

32 But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and he did not let the people go.

Egyptian Cattle Die

1 Then the Lordsaid to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and tell him, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews: “Let My people go, so that they may serve Me.

2 But if you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them,

3 now hear this: the hand of the Lordwill fall on your livestock which are out in the field, on the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the herds, and the flocks–a horrible plague shall come.

4 But the Lordwill make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing that belongs to the Israelites will die.”’”

5 The Lordset a [definite] time, saying, “Tomorrow the Lordwill do this thing in the land.”

6 And the Lorddid this thing the next day, and all [kinds of] the livestock of Egypt died; but of the livestock of the Israelites, not one died.

7 Then Pharaoh sent [men to investigate], and not even one of the livestock of the Israelites had died. But the heart of Pharaoh was hardened [and his mind was firmly set], and he did not let the people go.

The Plague of Boils

8 Then the Lordsaid to Moses and Aaron, “Take handfuls of soot from the brick kiln, and let Moses throw it toward the sky in the sight of Pharaoh.

9 It will become fine dust over the entire land of Egypt, and it will become boils breaking out in sores on man and animal in all the land [occupied by the Egyptians].”

10 So they took soot from the kiln, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses threw it toward the sky, and it became boils erupting in sores on man and animal.

11 The magicians (soothsayer-priests) could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils were on the magicians as well as on all the Egyptians.

12 But the Lordhardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did not listenorpay attention to them, just as the Lordhad told Moses.

13 Then the Lordsaid to Moses, “Get up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, “Let My people go, so that they may serve Me.

14 For this time I will send all My plagueson you [in full force,] and on your servants and on your people, so that you may know [without any doubt]andacknowledge that there is no one like Me in all the earth.

15 For by now I could have put out My hand and struck you and your people with a pestilence, and you would then have been cut off (obliterated) from the earth.

16 But indeed for this very reason I have allowed you to live, in order to show you My power and in order that My name may be proclaimed throughout all the earth.

The Plague of Hail

17 Since you are still [arrogantly] exalting yourself [in defiance] against My people by not letting them go,

18 hear this: tomorrow about this time I will send a very heavyanddreadful hail, such as has not been seen in Egypt from the day it was founded until now.

19 Now therefore send [a message], bring your livestock and whatever you have in the field to safety. Every man and animal that is in the field and is not brought home shall be struck by the hail and shall die.”’”

20 Then everyone among the servants of Pharaoh who feared the word of the Lordmade his servants and his livestock flee into the housesandshelters;

21 but everyone whoignoredanddid not take seriously the word of the Lordleft his servants and his livestock in the field.

22 Now the Lordsaid to Moses, “Stretch out your hand [with your staff] toward the sky, so that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, on man and on animal and on all the vegetation of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.”

23 Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky, and the Lordsent thunder and hail, and lightning (fireballs) ran down to the earthandalong the ground. And the Lordrained hail on the land of Egypt.

24 So there was hail, and lightning (fireballs) flashing intermittently in the midst of the extremely heavy hail, such as had not been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.

25 The hail struck down everything that was in the field throughout all the land of Egypt, both man and animal; the hail struckandbeat down all the plants in the field and shattered every tree in the field.

26 Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel lived, was there no hail.

27 Then Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “I have sinned this time; the Lordis righteous, and I and my people are wicked.

28 Prayandentreat the Lord, for there has been enough of God’sthunder and hail; I will let you go, and you shall stay here no longer.”

29 Moses said to him, “As soon as I leave the city, I will stretch out my hands to the Lord; the thunder will cease and there will be no more hail, so that you may know [without any doubt]andacknowledge that the earth is the Lord’s.

30 But as for you and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear the LordGod.”

31 (Now the flax and the barley were batteredandruined [by the hail], because the barley was in the ear (ripe, but soft) and the flax was in bud,

32 but the wheat and spelt (coarse wheat) were not batteredandruined, because theyripenlate in the season.)

33 So Moses left the city and Pharaoh, and stretched out his hands to the Lord; then thethunder and hail ceased, and rain no longer poured on the earth.

34 But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned again and hardened his heart, both he and his servants.

35 Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not let the Israelites go, just as the Lordhad said through Moses.

The Plague of Locusts

1 Then the Lordsaid to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants [making them determined and unresponsive], so that I may exhibit My signs [of divine power]among them,

2 and that you may recountandexplain in the hearing of your son, and your grandson, what I have done [repeatedly] to make a mockery of the Egyptians–My signs [of divine power] which I have done among them–so that you may know [without any doubt]andrecognize [clearly] that I am the Lord.”

3 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, so that they may serve Me.

4 ~‘For if you refuse to let My people go, then hear this: tomorrow I will bring [migratory] locusts into your country.

5 ~‘They shall cover the [visible] surface of the land, so that no one will be able to see the ground, and they will eat the rest of what has remained–that is, thevegetationleft after the hail–and they will eat every one of your trees that grows in the field;

6 your houses and those of all your servants and of all the Egyptians shall be filledwith locusts, as neither your fathers nor your grandfathers have seen, from their birth until this day.’” Then Moses turned and left Pharaoh.

7 Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long shall this man be a trap to us? Let the men go, so that they may serve the Lordtheir God. Do you not realize that Egypt is destroyed?”

8 So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh, and he said to them, “Go, serve the Lordyour God! Who specifically are the ones that are going?”

9 Moses said, “We will go with our young and our old, with our sons and our daughters, with our flocks and our herds [all of us and all that we have], for we must hold a feast to the Lord.”

10 Pharaoh said to them, “The Lordbe with you [to help you], if I ever let you go with your children [because you will never return]! Look [be forewarned],you have anevil plan in mind.

11 No! Go now, you who are men, [without your families] and serve the Lord, if that is what you want.” So Moses and Aaron were driven from Pharaoh’s presence.

12 Then the Lordsaid to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, so that they may come up on the land of Egypt and eat all the plants of the land, all that the hail has left.”

13 So Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt, and the Lordbrought an east wind on the land all that day and all that night; when it was morning, the east wind had brought the [swarms of] locusts.

14 The locusts came up over all the land of Egypt and settled down in the whole territory, a very dreadful mass of them; never before were there such locusts as these, nor will there ever be again.

15 For they covered the [visible] surface of the land, so that the ground was darkened; and they ate every plant of the land and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left. There remained not a green thing on the trees or the plants of the field throughout all the land of Egypt.

16 Then Pharaoh hurried to call for Moses and Aaron, and he said, “I have sinned against the Lordyour God and against you.

17 Now therefore, please forgive my sin only this once [more], and prayandentreat the Lordyour God, so that He will remove this [plague of] death from me.”

18 Moses left Pharaoh and entreated the Lord.

19 So the Lordshiftedthe windto a violent west wind which lifted up the locusts and drove them into theRed Sea; not one locust remained within the border of Egypt.

20 But the Lordhardened Pharaoh’s heart [so that it was even more resolved and obstinate], and he did not let the Israelites go.

Darkness over the Land

21 Then the Lordsaid to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky, so thatdarkness may come over the land of Egypt, a darkness which [is so awful that it] may be felt.”

22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and for three days a thick darkness was all over the land of Egypt [no sun, no moon, no stars].

23 The Egyptians could not see one another, nor did anyone leave his place for three days, but all the Israelites had [supernatural] light in their dwellings.

24 Then Pharaoh called to Moses, and said, “Go, serve the Lord; only your flocks and your herds must be left behind. Even your children may go with you.”

25 But Moses said, “You must also let us have sacrifices and burnt offerings, so that we may sacrifice them to the Lordour God.

26 Therefore, our livestock must also go with us; not one hoof shall be left behind, for we must take some of them to serve the Lordour God. Even we do not know with what we will serve the Lorduntil we arrive there.”

27 But the Lordhardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he was not willing to let them go.

28 Then Pharaoh said to Moses, “Get away from me! See that you never enter my presence again, for on the day that you see my face again you will die!”

29 Then Moses said, “You are correct; I will never see your face again!”

The Last Plague

1 Then the Lordsaid to Moses, “I will bring yet one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt; after that he will let you go. When he lets you go, he will most certainly drive you out of here completely.

2 Speak so that all of the people [of Israel] may hear, and tell every man to ask from his neighbor, and every woman to ask from her neighbor, articles of silver, and articles of gold.”

3 The Lordgave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was greatly esteemed in the land of Egypt, [both] in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people.

4 Then Moses said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘At midnight I am going out into the midst of Egypt,

5 and all the firstborn in the land [the pride, hope, and joy] of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the hand-mill, and all the firstborn of cattle as well.

6 ~‘There shall be a great cry [of heartache and sorrow] throughout the land of Egypt, such as has never been before and such as shall never be again.

7 ~‘But not even a dog willthreaten any of the Israelites, whether man or animal, so that you may know [without any doubt]andacknowledge how the Lordmakes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.’

8 All these servants of yours will come down to me and bow down before me, saying, ‘Get out, you and all the people who follow you.’ After that I will leave.” And he left Pharaoh in the heat of anger.

9 Then the Lordsaid to Moses, “Pharaoh will not listen to you, so that My wonders (miracles) may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.”

10 Moses and Aaron did all these wonders (miracles) before Pharaoh; yet the Lordhardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the Israelites go out of his land.