1And the LORD said to Moses, “See, I have made you like a god to Pharaoh; and Aaron, your brother, shall be your prophet. 2You shall say all that I command you; and Aaron, your brother, shall speak to Pharaoh, that he should let the Israelites go out of his land. 3But I will harden Pharaoh's heart, so that I can multiply My signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. 4But Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay My hand on Egypt, and bring My people, the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. 5And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand against Egypt, and bring the Israelites out from among them.” 6And Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded them. 7And Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old, when they confronted Pharaoh. 8And the LORD said to Moses and to Aaron, 9“When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Show us a miracle’, you shall say to Aaron, ‘Take your rod, and throw it down in front of Pharaoh, and it shall become a snake.’” 10And Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and did as the LORD commanded: Aaron threw his rod down before Pharaoh, and his officials, and it became a snake. 11Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and sorcerers. Now the magicians of Egypt also did similar enchantments. 12For they each threw his rod down; and they became snakes; but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods. 13And God hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not listen to them; as the LORD had said. 14And the LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh's heart is stubborn; he refuses to let the people go. 15Go to Pharaoh in the morning, as he goes out to the river; and stand by the river bank to meet him; and take with you the rod, which was turned to a snake in your hand. 16And tell him, ‘The LORD God of the Hebrews has sent me to you to say, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness. Until now you would not hear. 17But this is what the LORD says, ‘In this you shall know that I am the LORD.’ Look, I will strike the water of the Nile with this rod in my hand; and it shall be turned to blood. 18And the fish in the river shall die, the river shall stink; and the Egyptians shall not be able to drink the water of the Nile.”’” 19And the LORD spoke to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Take your rod, and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt - their streams, rivers, ponds, and all their pools of water - that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, even in vessels of wood and of stone.’” 20And Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded; and he raised the rod, and struck the waters that were in the river, in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials; and all the water that was in the river was turned to blood. 21And the fish in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. 22And the magicians of Egypt did the same thing with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was more hardened, nor did he listen to them; just as the LORD had said. 23And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, and did not take this to heart. 24And all the Egyptians dug along the Nile looking for water to drink; because they could not drink the water of the Nile. 25And seven days passed, after the LORD had struck the Nile. Reader-Friendly Bible: Purple Letter Edition © 2024 by Jim Musser. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. Bible Hub |