Exodus 8:15-32

15But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he 1hardened his heart and 2did not listen to them, just as the Lord had said.

16Then the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Extend your staff and strike the dust of the earth, so that it may turn into 3gnats through all the land of Egypt.’” 17They did so; and Aaron extended his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and there were 4gnats on every 5person and animal. All the dust of the earth turned into 67gnats through all the land of Egypt. 18The soothsayer priests tried with their secret arts to produce 8gnats, but 9they could not; so there were 10gnats on every person and animal. 19Then the soothsayer priests said to Pharaoh, “11This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was 12hardened, and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had said.

20Then the Lord said to Moses, “13Rise early in the morning and present yourself before Pharaoh, 14as 15he comes out to the water; and say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: “16Let My people go, so that they may serve Me. 21For 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. 2217But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where My people are 18living, so that no swarms of flies will be there, in order that you may know that 1920I, the Lord, am in the midst of the land. 23I will 21put a division between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign will occur.”’” 24Then the Lord did so. And 22thick swarms of flies entered the house of Pharaoh and the houses of his servants, and the land was 23laid waste because of the swarms of flies in all the land of Egypt.

25Then Pharaoh 24called for Moses and Aaron and said, “25Go, sacrifice to your God within the land.” 26But Moses said, “It is not permissible for us to do so, because we will sacrifice to the Lord our God 26that which is 27an abomination to the Egyptians. If we sacrifice 28that which is an abomination to the Egyptians before their eyes, will they not stone us? 27We must go a 29three days’ journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God, just as He 30commands us.” 28Pharaoh said, “31I 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. 32Plead for me.” 29Then 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 33deal deceitfully again in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.”

30So 34Moses left Pharaoh and pleaded with the Lord. 31The Lord did 35as Moses asked, and removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; not one remained. 32But Pharaoh 36hardened his heart this time also, and 37he did not let the people go.