Exodus 8

1Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD: Send my people away, that they may serve me.

2But if you refuse to send them away, look, I am striking all your territory with frogs.

3The Nile will swarm with frogs, and they will come up and enter your house, your bedroom, and upon your bed; into the houses of your servants and among your people; into your ovens and your kneading bowls.

4The frogs will come up upon you, upon your people, and upon all your servants.’”

5Then the LORD said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers, over the canals, and over the pools, and bring up the frogs over the land of Egypt.’” 6So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frog came up and covered the land of Egypt. 7But the magicians did the same by their secret arts, and they brought up frogs over the land of Egypt.

8Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said, “Pray earnestly to the LORD, that he may remove the frogs from me and from my people; then I will send the people away, that they may sacrifice to the LORD.” 9Moses said to Pharaoh, “Take the honor over me: When shall I pray for you, for your servants, and for your people, to cut off the frogs from you and from your houses? Only in the Nile shall they remain.” 10He said, “Tomorrow.” And he said, “According to your word, so that you may know that there is none like the LORD our God. 11“The frogs shall depart from you, from your houses, from your servants, and from your people. Only in the Nile shall they remain.”

12Then Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh, and Moses cried out to the LORD concerning the frogs that he had brought upon Pharaoh. 13And the LORD did according to the word of Moses. The frogs died in the houses, in the courtyards, and in the fields. 14They piled them up, heap upon heap, and the land stank. 15But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, just as the LORD had spoken.

16Then the LORD said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the land, and it shall become gnats throughout all the land of Egypt.’” 17And they did so. Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the land, and the gnats came upon humans and livestock. All the dust of the land became gnats throughout all the land of Egypt. 18The magicians did the same by their secret arts, trying to bring out the gnats, but they could not. And the gnats were upon humans and livestock. 19Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart grew strong, and he did not listen to them, just as the LORD had spoken.

20Then the LORD said to Moses, “Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh. Look, he is going out to the water. Say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD: Send my people away, that they may serve me. 21“For if you do not send my people away, look, I am sending the swarm against you, against your servants, against your people, and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians shall be filled with the swarm, and also the ground on which they are. 22“But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where my people dwell, so that no swarm shall be there, in order that you may know that I, the LORD, am in the midst of the land. 23“I will set a redemption between my people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall come to pass.’” 24And the LORD did so. A heavy swarm came into Pharaoh’s house, into the houses of his servants, and throughout all the land of Egypt. The land was ruined because of the swarm.

25Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God in the land.” 26But Moses said, “It would not be right to do so, for we would sacrifice to the LORD our God what is an abomination to the Egyptians. If we sacrifice what is an abomination to the Egyptians before their eyes, will they not stone us? 27“We will go a journey of three days into the wilderness, and we will sacrifice to the LORD our God, as he tells us.” 28Pharaoh said, “I will send you away, so that you may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness. Only, you must not go too far away. Pray earnestly for me.” 29Moses said, “Look, I am going out from you, and I will pray earnestly to the LORD; and tomorrow the swarm will depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. Only Pharaoh must not again deal deceitfully by refusing to send the people away to sacrifice to the LORD.”

30Then Moses went out from Pharaoh and prayed earnestly to the LORD. 31And the LORD did according to the word of Moses, and he removed the swarm from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. Not one remained. 32But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and he did not send the people away.