20 Then Yahweh said to Mosheh, “Get up early in the morning and when you see Far’oh coming down to the river, station yourself in front of him and tell him, ‘Yahweh saw that you must let my people go so they can serve me. 21 Certainly if you don’t release my people immediately, then take note: I’m about to send the swarm[fn] at you and your servants and at your people and into your houses. The Egyptians’ houses will be full of the swarm and even the ground that they’re on. 22 But when it happens, I’ll distinguish the Goshen region where my people live so the swarm won’t be there, so that you’ll be able to see that I’m Yahweh and I’m right here in this land. 23 This sign will happen tomorrow and you’ll see how I plan to set my people free from your people.’ ” 24 So Yahweh did what he’d said and a heavy swarm came to Far’oh’s house and the houses of his servants and all the Egyptians—the country was ruined by the arrival of the swarm.

25 Then Far’oh called for Mosheh and to Aharon and told them, “Go and sacrifice to the God of you all, but here in Egypt.”

26 “It wouldn’t be right to do that,” Mosheh replied, “because our sacrifices to Yahweh our God would be offensive to Egyptians. Listen, if we made sacrifices in front of the Egyptians that are repulsive to them, wouldn’t they throw rocks at us to try to kill us? 27 We need to travel into the wilderness for three days, then we’ll sacrifice to our God Yahweh there, just like he’s telling us to.”

28 So Far’oh relented, “I’ll let you all go into the wilderness and sacrifice to Yahweh your God—except you definitely can’t go very far. Now, ask God for me for the plague to stop.”

29 “Listen, I’m about to leave now,” Mosheh responded, “and I’ll pray to Yahweh and he’ll withdraw the swarm from Far’oh tomorrow, and from his servants and his people. But may Far’oh not be dishonest again and fail to let our people go to sacrifice to Yahweh.”

30 Then Mosheh left Far’oh and prayed to Yahweh 31 and Yahweh did what Mosheh asked him and he withdrew the swarm from Far’oh, and from his servants and his people. Not one remained. 32 But Far’oh changed his mind and remained stubborn and he wouldn’t let the Israelis leave.