Exodus 7:1-13

1The Lord answered Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother will be your prophet.

2You must say whatever I command you; then Aaron your brother must declare it to Pharaoh so that he will let the Israelites go from his land.

3But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart and multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt.

4Pharaoh will not listen to you, but I will put my hand into Egypt and bring the military divisions of my people the Israelites out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment.

5The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the Israelites from among them.”

6So Moses and Aaron did this; they did just as the Lord commanded them.

7Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh.

8The Lord said to Moses and Aaron,

9“When Pharaoh tells you, ‘Perform a miracle,’ tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh. It will become a serpent.’”

10So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord had commanded. Aaron threw down his staff before Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a serpent.

11But then Pharaoh called the wise men and sorcerers — the magicians of Egypt, and they also did the same thing by their occult practices.

12Each one threw down his staff, and it became a serpent. But Aaron’s staff swallowed their staffs.

13However, Pharaoh’s heart was hard, and he did not listen to them, as the Lord had said.