Exodus 8

The Second Plague: Frogs

1 Then the Lord told Moses, ‘Go tell Pharaoh: The Lord says, Let My people go so they can worship Me.’

2 ‘If you do not let them go, I am going to send a plague of frogs all over your land.’

3 ‘The Nile River will be full of frogs. They will come up into your house, your bedroom, your bed, your servants’ houses, your ovens, and even your mixing bowls.’

4 ‘The frogs will be all over you, your people, and your servants.’

5 The Lord told Moses, ‘Tell Aaron to stretch out his hand with the staff over the rivers, canals, and ponds, and make frogs come up all over Egypt.’

6 So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and frogs came up and covered the whole land.

7 But Pharaoh’s magicians did the same thing with their tricks, and they made more frogs come up on the land.

8 Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said, ‘Pray to the Lord to take these frogs away from me and my people, and I will let your people go to worship the Lord.’

9 Moses said, ‘Alright, you pick the time. When should I pray for you, your people, and your servants to get rid of the frogs, They will stay in the Nile, and that is it.’

10 Pharaoh said, ‘Tomorrow.’ Moses replied, ‘Cool, so you will know there is no one like the Lord, our God.’

11 ‘The frogs will leave you, your houses, your servants, and your people. They will only be in the Nile.’

12 Moses and Aaron left Pharaoh, and Moses prayed to the Lord about the frogs.

13 The Lord did what Moses asked. The frogs died in the houses, courtyards, and fields.

14 They piled the frogs up into big heaps, and the whole land started stinking.

15 But when Pharaoh saw there was relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen, just like the Lord said.

The Third Plague: Gnats

16 Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Tell Aaron to stretch out his staff and hit the dust on the ground, and it will turn into gnats all over Egypt.’

17 They did what God said. Aaron struck the ground with his staff, and the dust turned into gnats, swarming all over people and animals.

18 Pharaoh’s magicians tried to do the same thing with their tricks, but they could not. The gnats stayed all over people and animals.

19 The magicians told Pharaoh, ‘This is the finger of God.’ But Pharaoh’s heart was stubborn, and he would not listen, just like the Lord said.

The Fourth Plague: Flies

20 Then the Lord told Moses, ‘Get up early and meet Pharaoh as he goes to the river. Tell him: The Lord says, Let My people go so they can worship Me.’

21 ‘If you do not let My people go, I am sending swarms of flies on you, your officials, your people, and your houses. The houses will be full of flies, and the ground will be covered with them.’

22 ‘But I am going to treat the land of Goshen differently, where My people live. No flies will go there so you will know I am the Lord, and I am in control even in Egypt.’

23 ‘I will draw a line between My people and your people. This sign will happen tomorrow.’

24 The Lord did what He said. Massive swarms of flies invaded Pharaoh’s palace, the houses of his officials, and all of Egypt. The land was wrecked because of the flies.

25 Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, ‘Alright, go worship your God, but do it here in the land.’

26 Moses said, ‘Nah, we cannot do that. What we sacrifice would offend the Egyptians and get us stoned. We need to go out of the city.’

27 ‘We must take a three-day trip into the wilderness to worship the Lord, just like He told us.’

28 Pharaoh said, ‘Fine, I will let you go worship in the wilderness, but do not go too far. Pray for me while you are at it.’

29 Moses said, ‘Alright, I will pray to the Lord, and the flies will leave tomorrow. But do not play me this time, let us go worship the Lord.’

30 Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to the Lord.

31 And the Lord did what Moses asked. The flies left Pharaoh, his officials, and his people. Not a single fly remained.

32 But Pharaoh hardened his heart again and would not let the people go.