8 Then Yahweh told Mosheh and Aharon, 9 “When Far’oh tells you to perform a miracle as a sign, then just tell Aharon to take his[fn]staff and throw it down in front of Far’oh so it turns into a snake.” 10 So Mosheh and Aharon went in to Far’oh’s court and did what Yahweh had told them: Aharon threw his staff down in front of Far’oh and his servants and it turned into a snake. 11 Then Far’oh also called for his wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians did the same thing using their magic— 12 each of them threw down his staff and they became snakes, except that Aharon’s staff swallowed up their staffs. 13 But Far’oh’s mind was made up and he took no notice of them as Yahweh had said earlier.

14 Then Yahweh told Mosheh, “Far’oh is very stubborn and he’s refused to let the people go. 15 So go to Far’oh. Listen, every morning he goes down to the river, so station yourself to meet him on the bank. Take the staff with you that turned into a snake, 16 and tell him, ‘Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, previously sent me to you to say, “Let my people go so they can serve me in the wilderness.” But listen, until now you haven’t done it 17 so Yahweh says, “Now you will know that I am Yahweh because of this: See, I’m about to use my staff to strike the water in the Nile and it will turn to blood[ref] 18 and the fish in the river will die and the river will stink. Then your people will gag to drink the water from the river.” ’

19 “Tell Aharon to take his staff and stretch out his hand over the waters of Egypt: over their streams, their canals, and their pools, and over every reservoir of their water, and the water will become blood. Then there’ll be blood in the entire country—even in wooden or stone containers of water.”

20 So And Mosheh and Aharon did exactly what Yahweh had commanded: Aharon raised the staff and struck the river, while Far’oh and his servants watched, and the entire river turned to blood. 21 Then the fish in the river died and the river stank, so the Egyptians couldn’t drink water from the river, and the blood was all over Egypt. 22 But the Egyptian sorcerers did the same with their magic, and so Far’oh stayed stubborn and wouldn’t listen to them, just as Yahweh had said earlier. 23 The Far’oh turned around and went back to his house, and he put all of that out of his mind. 24 Meanwhile, all the Egyptians dug holes around the river to get water to drink, because river water was undrinkable.

25 So a week went by since Yahweh had struck the river 8 and he said to Mosheh, “Go to Far’oh and tell him, ‘Yahweh says that you must let my people go so they can serve me.[fn] 2 But if you refuse to let them go, then look, I’m about to pound your entire territory with frogs. 3 The frogs will swarm in the river, then they’ll climb out and go into your house and in your bedroom and onto your bed. They’ll go into your servants’ houses and among your people, and in your cooking bowls and into your ovens. 4 They’ll climb on you and on your people and on all your servants.’ ”

5 Then Yahweh said to Mosheh, “Tell Aharon: Hold your staff out over the canals, the streams, and the pools, and cause the frogs to come up onto the land of Egypt.” 6 So Aharon reached out his hand over the Egyptian water supplies and frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. 7 But the sorcerers did the same with their magic, and they too brought up frogs over the land of Egypt.

8 Then Far’oh called for Mosheh and Aharon, and told them, “Ask Yahweh to take the frogs away from me and from my people. Then I’ll let your people go, and they can sacrifice to Yahweh.”

9 Mosheh answered, “I’ll pray for you and your servants and your people, praying that the frogs will keep away from you and your homes and only be left in the river. And I’ll give you the honour of specifying when it’ll happen.”

10 “Tomorrow morning,” the king replied.

“Just as you say,” Mosheh responded, “so that you’ll know that there’s no one else like our God Yahweh. 11 Tomorrow the frogs will leave you and go away from your houses, and from your servants and your people. They’ll only be left in the river.” 12 Then Mosheh and Aharon left Far’oh and Mosheh called out to Yahweh concerning the retraction of the frogs that he’d sent against the king. 13 So Yahweh did what Mosheh had requested and the frogs died off from the houses and the courtyards, and from the fields. 14 The people collected them into many piles and the whole country stank. 15 But when Far’oh saw that there was relief from the frogs, he firmed his resolve and didn’t listen to Mosheh and Aharon, just as Yahweh had said previously.

16 Then Yahweh said to Mosheh, “Tell Aharon: Stretch out your staff and strike the dust on the ground, and it will turn into lice[fn] all over Egypt.” 17 So Aharon held out his staff and struck the dust with it, and the dust became lice on the people and on the animals. All over Egypt, the dust turned into lice 18 and the sorcerers tried to do the same with their magic but they were unable to. So there were lice on people and animals 19 and the magicians said to Far’oh, “This is God’s finger.” But Far’oh was stubborn and he didn’t listen to them, just as Yahweh had said previously.[ref]

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.

9 Then Yahweh said to Mosheh, “Go in to Far’oh and tell him: ‘This is what the God of the Hebrews. Yahweh, says: Let my people go so they can serve me. 2 Certainly if you’re unwilling to release them and if you keep holding onto them, 3 then listen. Yahweh is about to inflict a very serious plague on your livestock which are in the fields—on the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the cattle, and on the flock. 4 But Yahweh will distinguish between the livestock of the Israelis and the Egyptians—none of the Israelis’ animals will die.’ ” 5 Then Yahweh said when it would happen, “Yahweh will do this to Egypt tomorrow.”

6 So the next day Yahweh did what he’d said and all of the livestock of the Egyptians died, yet none at all from the livestock of the Israelis died. 7 Far’oh sent people to investigate, and wow, not even one of the livestock of the Israelis had died. But Far’oh was strong-willed and wouldn’t let the people go.

8 Then Yahweh told Mosheh and Aharon, “Take handfuls of ash out of a furnace, then Mosheh should toss it up in the air in front of Far’oh. 9 It will become a powder over all Egypt and then it will turn into boils—bursting blisters—on people and on animals all over Egypt.” 10 So they took some ash from a furnace, and standing in front of Far’oh, Mosheh tossed it up into the air and it turned into boils with bursting blisters on the people and the animals.[ref] 11 Because of the boils, the sorcerers weren’t even able to stand there with Mosheh because the sorcerers suffered with them along with all the Egyptians. 12 But Yahweh caused Far’oh to remain stubborn and he didn’t listen to them, just as Yahweh had told Mosheh previously.

13 Then Yahweh told Mosheh, “Get up early in the morning, and stand in front of Far’oh and say to him, ‘This is what Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go so they can serve me 14 because this time, I’m about to send all my plagues to you and your servants, and your people. You’ll all be deeply distressed by them, in order that you might know that there is no one else like me in all the world. 15 By this time, I could have reached out and struck you and your people with such a plague that you would all have been obliterated from the land. 16 However, I’ve kept you for this reason: to show you my power and in order to proclaim my name all over the world.[ref] 17 You’re still considering yourself to be greater than my people by failing to release them. 18 Now listen: I’m about to cause extremely heavy hail to rain down at this time tomorrow. It’ll be hail like which has never been seen before in Egypt from the day it was founded until now. 19 So send for your livestock and everything you own in the country now, and bring it in under cover because the hail will come down on every person and animal that is found in the countryside and not sheltering under a roof, and they will die.’ ” 20 Some of Far’oh’s servants who believed what Yahweh said, quickly brought their slaves and their livestock back into their houses, 21 but those people who didn’t believe Yahweh just left their slaves and their animals out in the countryside.

22 “Raise your arm up toward the sky,” Yahweh told Mosheh, “and hail will strike all over Egypt—on the people and animals and on every plant in the Egyptian countryside.” 23 So Mosheh lifted his staff to the sky, and Yahweh sent thunder and hail, and lightning caused fires on the land, and so Yahweh rained hail down onto Egypt. 24 There was hail, and also fire coming down in the middle of the hail. It was very heavy, such as had never been in all of Egypt since it became a nation.[ref] 25 The hail struck everything in Egypt—everything that was in the countryside, from people to animals. It also struck every plant and broke every tree out in the countryside. 26 Only in the Goshen region where the Israelis were, was there no hail.

27 Then Far’oh sent for Mosheh and Aharon and told them, “I’ve sinned this time. Yahweh is righteous, and me and my people are guilty. 28 Pray to Yahweh to stop it, because the thunder of God and hail are too much. Then I’ll release you all—you won’t have to remain here.”

29 “As I’m leaving the city,” Mosheh replied, “I’ll spread my palms out to Yahweh. The thunder will stop and the hail won’t continue so that you will be able to see that the earth belongs to Yahweh. 30 But as for you and your servants, I know that you still don’t fear Yahweh God.”

31 (Now the flax and the barley were flattened by the hail because the barley was full grown and starting to fill out and the flax was in bloom. 32 But the wheat and the spelt weren’t destroyed because they come later in the season.)

33 So Mosheh left Far’oh, and as he was leaving the city, he spread his palms out to Yahweh and the thunder and hail ceased, and the rain stopped pouring down on the land. 34 But when Far’oh saw that the rain and hail and thunder had stopped, he added to his sins and he firmed his resolve—he and his servants. 35 And so Far’oh remained stubborn and didn’t let the Israelis leave, just as Yahweh had said through Mosheh previously.

10 Then Yahweh told Mosheh, “Go in to Far’oh because I’ve made him and his servants stubborn in order to be able to demonstrate these miracles of mine among them, 2 and so that in the future you’ll be able to tell your descendants that I made Egypt look foolish, and my miracles which I demonstrated among them—and so that you will know that I am Yahweh.”

3 So Mosheh and Aharon went in to Far’oh and told him, “This is what Yahweh, God of the Hebrews says: how long before you’ll submit to me? Let my people go so they can serve me, 4 because if you refuse to release them, then listen, I’ll bring locusts into your territory tomorrow. 5 They’ll cover the ground so that no one will even be able to see it, and they’ll devour whatever remains after the hail. Plus they’ll devour every tree growing in the countryside. 6 They’ll fill your houses and the houses of all your servants and the houses of all the Egyptians. It’ll be nothing like anything which your parents generation ever saw, nor anything seen by the previous generations from the day they came to be on the earth until today.” Then Mosheh turned around and went out from Far’oh with Aharon.

7 Then Far’oh’s servants asked him, “How much longer is this going to cause trouble for us? Let the men go and they’ll worship their God Yahweh. Don’t you understand yet that Egypt is being destroyed?”

8 So Mosheh and Aharon were brought back to Far’oh, and he told them, “Go and worship your God Yahweh. Who are the ones who’ll be going?”

9 “We’ll take our children and our old folks,” Mosheh answered. “We’ll go with our sons and daughters, and with our flocks and herds, because the festival of Yahweh is for all of us.”

10 “You’d need Yahweh with you if I ever let you and your children go together,” Far’oh responded. “You’re clearly plotting an evil trick! 11 Well that won’t happen! The men may go and worship Yahweh since that’s what you’ve been wanting.” Then he drove them out of the room.

12 Then Yahweh told Mosheh, “Extend your hand over Egypt and let the locusts rise up over the land, and let them devour all the plants—everything which the hail had spared.” 13 So Mosheh stretched his staff out over Egypt, and Yahweh sent an east wind over the land all that day and all night. Then morning came, and the east wind had brought the locusts. 14 The locusts covered across all the land of Egypt and came to rest everywhere within the country’s borders. They were extremely numerous—never before were there so many locusts, and it’ll never be repeated again.[ref] 15 The cloud of locusts blocked the sun and prevented people from being able to see very far. They devoured all the plants on the land and all of the fruit on the trees that the hail had left, and no piece of greenery remained on any tree or plant in the entire Egyptian countryside.

16 Far’oh quickly summoned Mosheh and Aharon and said, “I’ve sinned against your God Yahweh and against you. 17 So now just this once, please overlook my sin and pray to your God Yahweh and just let him take this deathly plague away from me.” 18 So Mosheh left Far’oh and went out and prayed to Yahweh, 19 and Yahweh caused a very strong sea wind. The wind carried away the locusts and drove them into the Red Sea—not a single locust remained anywhere in Egyptian territory. 20 But Yahweh caused Far’oh to remain stubborn and he wouldn’t release the Israelis.

21 Then Yahweh told Mosheh, “Raise your hand up toward the sky and let it become dark over all Egypt—darkness that can be felt.” 22 So Mosheh stretched his hand out towards the sky, and a thick darkness was in all Egypt for three days.[ref] 23 No one could see anyone else, and for three days no one was able to go anywhere, yet there was light in the region where the Israelis lived.

24 Then Far’oh summoned Mosheh and told him, “Go serve Yahweh. Your children can go with you all, but your flocks and your herds must remain behind.”

25 “On top of that,” Mosheh responded, “you must also give us the sacrifices and offerings to be burnt when we will sacrifice to Yahweh our God. 26 And even our livestock needs to go with us. Not a hoof will be left behind because we’ll choose from them to serve Yahweh our God. You see, we won’t know what we must sacrifice to Yahweh until we arrive there.”

27 But Yahweh caused Far’oh to strengthen his resolve and he wouldn’t agree to let them go. 28 “Get out of here!” Far’oh shouted. “And watch yourself! You’ll never see me again, because if I ever see you again, I’ll have you executed!”

29 “Yes,” Mosheh responded. “It’s just as you say: I’ll never see you again!”

11 Then Yahweh told Mosheh, “I’ll send one more plague to Far’oh and Egypt. After that he’ll let you all go from here. What’s more, when he does he’ll actually chase you all right out of here. 2 Go and quietly tell the people that both men and women should ask their Egyptian neighbours for items of gold and silver.” 3 Then Yahweh gave the Israelis favour in the eyes of the Egyptians. What’s more, Mosheh was very prestigious in the eyes of Far’oh’s servants and in the eyes of the Egyptian people.

4 Then Mosheh told Far’oh, “This is what Yahweh says: Sometime around the middle of the night I’ll go out around Egypt, 5 and every oldest son in Egypt will die, from the oldest son of Far’oh who sits on his throne, to the oldest son of the slave girl who lives behind the mill, as well as every oldest male offspring of your livestock. 6 Then there’ll be loud wailing right across Egypt which will be nothing anything that’s ever happened before, and nothing like it will ever happen again. 7 But amongst the Israelis, the dogs won’t growl at any person or animals so that you’ll know that Yahweh distinguishes between Egypt and Israel. 8 Then all your servants will come down to me, and they’ll bow to me, pleading, ‘Go, you and all the people who follow you.’ And after that I’ll leave Egypt.” Then Mosheh left Far’oh in a fiery rage.

9 Then Yahweh told Mosheh, “Far’oh refused to listen to you, so that I’m able to multiply my miracles in Egypt.” 10 Mosheh and Aharon had done all those miracles in front of Far’oh but Yahweh had made Far’oh stubborn so he hadn’t let the Israelis leave his country.

12 Then Yahweh told Mosheh and Aharon Egypt,[ref] 2 “This month is to become the beginning of the months for you all—from now on it will be the first month of the new year. 3 Assemble the people and tell them that on the tenth of this month, every man who’s the head of the household must select a lamb or young goat for his family. 4 But if the household’s too small to cook a whole animal, then neighbours can combine and share—budgeting on how much each person eats. 5 You all can choose either a sheep or a goat, but it must be a perfect, one-year-old male—without any defects. 6 You all must take special care of those animals until the fourteenth day of this month, then every Israeli household will slaughter their animal early that evening. 7 Then they must take some of the blood and put it on both doorposts and on the lintel of the houses that they’ll be in when they eat it. 8 They must roast them on the fire and eat the meat that night, along with flat bread and bitter herbs. 9 Don’t eat any of the meat raw and don’t boil it in water—it must be roasted over the fire with its head, legs, and internal organs. 10 Nothing must be left by morning—anything that’s not eaten must be burnt in the fire. 11 And this is how you all must eat it: with your belts fastened on your waists, your sandals on your feet, and your staffs in your hands. You all must eat it in a hurry. It is the Passover to Yahweh.

12 Then during that night, I will move throughout Egypt and I will kill all the oldest males—both people and animals. I will execute judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am Yahweh. 13 That blood on the doorposts and lintel will be your sign on the houses which you are all in. I will see the blood and will pass over above you all, and the plague won’t affect you all with destruction as I strike against Egypt.