Exodus 7:3-12

3But 1I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, so that I may 2multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt. 4When 3Pharaoh does not listen to you, I will lay My hand on Egypt and 4bring out My armies, My people the sons of Israel, from the land of Egypt by 5great judgments. 5Then 6the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I 7extend My hand over Egypt and bring out the sons of Israel from their midst.” 6So Moses and Aaron did this; 8as the Lord commanded them, so they did. 7And Moses was 9eighty years old and Aaron 10eighty-three, when they spoke to Pharaoh.

8Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 9“When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, ‘1112Work a miracle,’ then you shall say to Aaron, ‘13Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh, so that it may turn into a serpent.’” 10So Moses and Aaron came to Pharaoh, and so they did, just as the Lord had commanded; and Aaron threw his staff down before Pharaoh and 14his servants, and it 15turned into a serpent. 11Then Pharaoh also 16called for the wise men and the sorcerers, and they too, the 17soothsayer priests of Egypt, did the same with 18their secret arts. 12For each one threw down his staff, and they turned into serpents. But Aaron’s staff swallowed their staffs.