Moses and Aaron Before Pharaoh

1 The Lord told Moses, “Look, I have made you a god to Pharaoh,⁠a and your brother Aaron will be your prophet. 2 Tell him everything I command you. Your brother Aaron will speak to Pharaoh so he sends the sons of Israel out of his land. 3 I will harden Pharaoh’s heart and multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. 4 Pharaoh will not listen to you. I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my people, the sons of Israel, out of the land of Egypt with my army and great vengeance. 5 All the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the sons of Israel out from among them.”

6 Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord commanded them. That is what they did. 7 Moses was eighty years old, and his brother Aaron was eighty-three, when he spoke to Pharaoh.

Aaron’s Staff Becomes a Dragon

8 The Lord told Moses and Aaron, 9 “If Pharaoh tells you, ‘Give us a sign or wonder,’ tell your brother Aaron, ‘Take the staff and throw it on the ground before Pharaoh and his servants. It will become a dragon.’”

10 Moses and Aaron went before Pharaoh and his servants and did just as the Lord commanded them. Aaron threw the staff down before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a dragon.

11 Pharaoh summoned Egypt’s wise men and sorcerers. The Egyptians’ enchanters also did the same with their magical potions. 12 Each threw down his staff, and they became dragons. Aaron’s staff swallowed their staffs.

13 Pharaoh’s heart grew strong, and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had told them.

The River Turns to Blood

14 The Lord told Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart has become heavy, so he will not send the people away. 15 Go to Pharaoh in the morning. Look, he is going out to the water. Stand on the riverbank to meet him, and take in your hand the staff that turned into a snake. 16 Tell him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to you, saying, “Send my people away so they can serve me in the wilderness.” Look, you have not listened up to this point. 17 The Lord says this: “By this you will know that I am the Lord. Look, I am striking the river’s water with the staff in my hand, and it will turn to blood. 18 The fish in the river will die, the river will stink, and the Egyptians will not be able to drink water from the river.”’”

19 The Lord told Moses, “Tell your brother Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over Egypt’s waters, over their rivers, canals, marshes, and all their standing water. It will be blood.’” And there was blood throughout the land of Egypt, both in the wood and in the stones.

20 Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord commanded them. He lifted it and struck the river’s water with his staff before Pharaoh and his servants. All the water in the river turned to blood. 21 The fish in the river died, and the river stank. The Egyptians could not drink water from the river, and there was blood throughout the land of Egypt.

22 The Egyptians’ enchanters also did the same with their magical potions. Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had said.

23 Pharaoh turned and went into his house. He did not pay attention even to this.

24 All the Egyptians dug around the river to drink water, and they could not drink water from the river.

25 Seven days passed after the Lord struck the river.

The Warning About Frogs

26 The Lord told Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and tell him, ‘The Lord says this: “Send my people away so they can serve me. 27 If you refuse to send them away, look, I am going to strike all your borders with frogs. 28 The river will vomit frogs. They will come up into your houses, into the private chambers of your bedrooms, onto your beds, into the houses of your servants and your people, into your dough, and into your ovens. 29 The frogs will climb onto you, your servants, and your people.”’”