Exodus 8:15-32
New American Standard Bible
15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he [a]hardened his heart and (A)did not listen to them, just as the Lord had said.
The Plague of Insects
16 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Extend your staff and strike the dust of the earth, so that it may turn into [b]gnats through all the land of Egypt.’” 17 They did so; and Aaron extended his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and there were [c]gnats on every [d]person and animal. All the dust of the earth turned into [e](B)gnats through all the land of Egypt. 18 The soothsayer priests tried with their secret arts to produce [f]gnats, but (C)they could not; so there were [g]gnats on every person and animal. 19 Then the soothsayer priests said to Pharaoh, “(D)This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was [h]hardened, and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had said.
20 Then the Lord said to Moses, “(E)Rise early in the morning and present yourself before Pharaoh, [i]as (F)he comes out to the water; and say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: “(G)Let My people go, so that they may serve Me. 21 For if you are not going to let My people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies 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 flies, and also the ground on which they live. 22 (H)But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where My people are [j]living, so that no swarms of flies will be there, in order that you may know that [k](I)I, the Lord, am in the midst of the land. 23 I will [l]put a division between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign will occur.”’” 24 Then the Lord did so. And [m]thick swarms of flies entered the house of Pharaoh and the houses of his servants, and the land was (J)laid waste because of the swarms of flies in all the land of Egypt.
25 Then Pharaoh (K)called for Moses and Aaron and said, “(L)Go, sacrifice to your God within the land.” 26 But Moses said, “It is not permissible for us to do so, because we will sacrifice to the Lord our God [n]that which is (M)an abomination to the Egyptians. If we sacrifice [o]that which is an abomination to the Egyptians before their eyes, will they not stone us? 27 We must go a (N)three days’ journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God, just as He [p]commands us.” 28 Pharaoh said, “(O)I will let you go, so that you may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only you shall not go very far away. (P)Plead for me.” 29 Then Moses said, “Behold, I am going to leave you, and I will plead with the Lord that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people tomorrow; only do not let Pharaoh (Q)deal deceitfully again in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.”
30 So (R)Moses left Pharaoh and pleaded with the Lord. 31 The Lord did [q]as Moses asked, and removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; not one remained. 32 But Pharaoh [r]hardened his heart this time also, and (S)he did not let the people go.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Exodus 8:15 Lit made heavy
- Exodus 8:16 Or lice
- Exodus 8:17 Or lice
- Exodus 8:17 I.e., Egyptians and their livestock
- Exodus 8:17 Or lice
- Exodus 8:18 Or lice
- Exodus 8:18 Or lice
- Exodus 8:19 Lit strong
- Exodus 8:20 Lit behold
- Exodus 8:22 Lit standing
- Exodus 8:22 Or I am the Lord in the midst of the earth
- Exodus 8:23 Lit set a ransom
- Exodus 8:24 Lit heavy
- Exodus 8:26 Lit the abomination of Egypt
- Exodus 8:26 Lit the abomination of Egypt
- Exodus 8:27 Lit says to us
- Exodus 8:31 Lit according to the word of Moses
- Exodus 8:32 Lit made heavy
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