亞倫和摩西面見法老

耶和華對摩西說:「我要使你在法老面前像上帝一樣,你哥哥亞倫是你的發言人。 你要把我吩咐你的話告訴你哥哥亞倫,由他要求法老讓以色列人離開埃及。 可是,我要使法老的心剛硬,雖然我在埃及行許多神蹟奇事, 他將無動於衷。那時,我必伸手重重地懲罰埃及,然後領我的大隊子民離開埃及。 埃及人看見我伸手攻擊他們、把以色列人帶出埃及,就會知道我是耶和華。」 摩西和亞倫便遵命而行。 去見法老的時候,摩西八十歲,亞倫八十三歲。

耶和華對摩西和亞倫說: 「倘若法老要你們行神蹟給他看,你就吩咐亞倫把手杖丟在法老面前,使杖變作蛇。」

10 摩西和亞倫照耶和華的吩咐來到法老面前。亞倫把手杖丟在法老和他的臣僕面前,杖就變作蛇。 11 法老召他的謀士和巫師前來,這些人是埃及的術士,他們也用邪術如法炮製。 12 各人將自己的手杖扔在地上,杖就變作蛇,但亞倫的杖吞噬了他們的杖。 13 法老卻仍然硬著心,不肯聽從摩西和亞倫,正如耶和華所言。

水變血之災

14 耶和華對摩西說:「法老非常頑固,不肯釋放百姓。 15 明天早晨,法老會去尼羅河邊,你就在那裡等他,要拿著曾變成蛇的手杖。 16 你要對他說,『希伯來人的上帝耶和華差遣我來告訴你,要讓祂的子民到曠野去事奉祂,但到如今你還是不肯。 17 所以祂說要用手杖擊打尼羅河水,使河水變成血,好叫你知道祂是耶和華。 18 河裡的魚會死,河水會發臭,埃及人不能再喝尼羅河的水。』」

19 耶和華對摩西說:「你告訴亞倫,讓他向埃及境內的各江河、溪流、池塘伸杖,使水變成血。埃及境內,包括木桶和石缸裡將到處是血。」 20 摩西和亞倫就按著耶和華所吩咐的去做,亞倫在法老和埃及眾臣僕面前舉杖擊打尼羅河水,河水都變成了血。 21 河裡的魚都死了,河水臭得不能飲用。埃及遍地都是血。 22 可是,法老的巫師也一樣用邪術使水變成血。法老的心仍然剛硬,不肯聽從摩西和亞倫的話,正如耶和華所言。 23 法老若無其事地轉身回宮去了。 24 因為河水不能飲用,埃及人就在尼羅河兩岸掘井取水飲用。

25 擊打河水後,七天過去了。

耶和华对摩西说:“看哪,我使你在法老面前好象 神一样;你哥哥亚伦要作你的先知。 我吩咐你的一切,你都要说;你哥哥亚伦要告诉法老,法老就让以色列人离开他的地。 我要使法老心硬,我也要在埃及地加增我的神迹奇事。 可是法老不听你们的话,我必下手击打埃及;借着严厉的刑罚把我的军队,我的人民以色列人,从埃及地领出来。 我向埃及伸手,把以色列人从他们中间领出来的时候,埃及人就必知道我是耶和华。” 摩西和亚伦这样行了;耶和华怎样吩咐摩西和亚伦,他们就照样行了。 摩西和亚伦与法老说话的时候,摩西八十岁,亚伦八十三岁。

以杖变蛇

耶和华告诉摩西和亚伦说: “如果法老告诉你们说:‘你们行件奇事吧’,你就要对亚伦说:‘拿你的手杖来,把它丢在法老面前,它就会变作蛇。’” 10 摩西和亚伦就进到法老那里,照着耶和华吩咐他们的行了;亚伦把手杖丢在法老和法老的臣仆面前,手杖就变了蛇。 11 于是,法老也把智慧人和行法术的人召了来;他们本是埃及的术士,也用他们的巫术照样行了。 12 他们各人都丢下自己的手杖,手杖就变了蛇;亚伦的手杖却吞了他们的手杖。 13 法老心里刚硬,不肯听他们的话,就像耶和华所说的一样。

血灾

14 耶和华对摩西说:“法老心里固执,拒绝让人民离去。 15 明天早晨你要到法老那里去。看哪,法老出来到水边去的时候,你要站在河边迎见他;那变过蛇的手杖,你要拿在手里。 16 你要对法老说:‘耶和华希伯来人的 神差我到你这里来,说:“让我的人民离开这里,好使他们可以在旷野事奉我”,你看,直到现在你还是不听。 17 耶和华这样说:“看哪,我要用我手里的杖击打河中的水,水就必变成血;因此你就知道我是耶和华。 18 河中的鱼必死亡,河水也必发臭,埃及人就必厌恶喝这河里的水。”’” 19 耶和华对摩西说:“你要对亚伦说:‘拿你的手杖来,把你的手伸在埃及的众水之上,就是在他们的江、河、池和所有水塘之上,使水都变成血。因此,在埃及全地,连木器石器中都必有血。’”

20 摩西和亚伦就这样行了,就像耶和华所吩咐的;亚伦在法老面前和法老的臣仆面前举起手杖,击打河里的水,河里的水就都变了血。 21 河里的鱼死了,河水发臭了,埃及人也不能喝这河里的水了;在埃及,全地都有血。 22 埃及的术士也用他们的巫术这样行了;可是法老却心里刚硬,不肯听摩西和亚伦,就像耶和华所说的。 23 法老转身回到宫里去,也不把这事放在心上。 24 所有的埃及人都在河的周围掘地,要得水喝,因为他们不能喝这河里的水。

25 耶和华击打尼罗河以后,满了七天。

Moses and Aaron Appear Before Pharaoh

The Lord said to Moses, “Look, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother will be your prophet. You are to speak everything that I command you, and Aaron your brother is to speak to Pharaoh, so that he will let the Israelites go out from his land. But I will make Pharaoh’s heart stubborn.[a] I will multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. Pharaoh will not listen to you, so I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my divisions, my people the Israelites, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I stretch out my hand over Egypt, and I bring out the Israelites from their midst.”

This is what Moses and Aaron did. Just as the Lord commanded them, that is exactly what they did. Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old when they spoke to Pharaoh.

Aaron’s Staff Becomes a Snake

The Lord said to Moses and to Aaron, “When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Give us a warning sign,’ then you are to tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down in front of Pharaoh, and it will become a snake.’”

10 Then Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh. They did just as the Lord had commanded. Aaron threw down his staff in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. 11 But then Pharaoh also called for his wise men and sorcerers. Those magicians[b] of Egypt did the same thing by their occult practices. 12 They each threw down their staffs, and those staffs became snakes. However, Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs. 13 But Pharaoh’s heart was hard,[c] and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had said.

The First Plague: Blood

14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is unyielding.[d] He refuses to let the people go. 15 Go to Pharaoh in the morning. When he goes out by the water, stand on the bank of the Nile to meet him. Take in your hand the staff that was turned into a snake.

16 “You are to tell him: ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to you. He says, “Let my people go so that they may serve me in the wilderness.” But look, until now you have not listened. 17 So this is what the Lord says: “In this way, you will know that I am the Lord.” Look! With the staff that is in my hand, I will strike the water in the Nile, and it will be turned to blood. 18 The fish that are in the Nile will die, and the Nile will stink. The Egyptians will not be able to drink water from the Nile.’”

19 The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff, and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt—over its rivers, its streams, its ponds, and all the reservoirs—and they will become blood. There will be blood in the entire land of Egypt, even in containers made of wood and stone.’”

20 Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded. In the sight of Pharaoh and his officials, Aaron lifted up the staff and struck the water that was in the Nile. All the water in the Nile was turned to blood. 21 The fish that were in the river died, and the river smelled so bad that the Egyptians were not able to drink water from the Nile. There was blood in the entire land of Egypt. 22 But the magicians of Egypt did the same thing by their occult practices. So Pharaoh’s heart was hard, and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had told them. 23 Pharaoh turned and went to his palace. He did not take to heart even this. 24 All the Egyptians dug around the Nile for water to drink, because they were not able to drink the water from the Nile. 25 Seven days passed after the Lord had struck the Nile.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 7:3 Literally stiff or resistant
  2. Exodus 7:11 Or sacred scribes or occult practitioners
  3. Exodus 7:13 Literally strong
  4. Exodus 7:14 Literally heavy

And the Lord said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.

Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land.

And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.

But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.

And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.

And Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded them, so did they.

And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh.

And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent.

10 And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the Lord had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.

11 Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.

12 For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.

13 And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said.

14 And the Lord said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go.

15 Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goeth out unto the water; and thou shalt stand by the river's brink against he come; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine hand.

16 And thou shalt say unto him, The Lord God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear.

17 Thus saith the Lord, In this thou shalt know that I am the Lord: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.

18 And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink; and the Egyptians shall lothe to drink of the water of the river.

19 And the Lord spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone.

20 And Moses and Aaron did so, as the Lord commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.

21 And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.

22 And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the Lord had said.

23 And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also.

24 And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.

25 And seven days were fulfilled, after that the Lord had smitten the river.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God(A) to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet.(B) You are to say everything I command you, and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of his country. But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart,(C) and though I multiply my signs and wonders(D) in Egypt, he will not listen(E) to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty acts of judgment(F) I will bring out my divisions,(G) my people the Israelites. And the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord(H) when I stretch out my hand(I) against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it.”

Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord commanded(J) them. Moses was eighty years old(K) and Aaron eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh.

Aaron’s Staff Becomes a Snake

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Perform a miracle,(L)’ then say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh,’ and it will become a snake.”(M)

10 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord commanded. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. 11 Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers,(N) and the Egyptian magicians(O) also did the same things by their secret arts:(P) 12 Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs. 13 Yet Pharaoh’s heart(Q) became hard and he would not listen(R) to them, just as the Lord had said.

The Plague of Blood

14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is unyielding;(S) he refuses to let the people go. 15 Go to Pharaoh in the morning as he goes out to the river.(T) Confront him on the bank of the Nile,(U) and take in your hand the staff that was changed into a snake. 16 Then say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to say to you: Let my people go, so that they may worship(V) me in the wilderness. But until now you have not listened.(W) 17 This is what the Lord says: By this you will know that I am the Lord:(X) With the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water of the Nile, and it will be changed into blood.(Y) 18 The fish in the Nile will die, and the river will stink;(Z) the Egyptians will not be able to drink its water.’”(AA)

19 The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff(AB) and stretch out your hand(AC) over the waters of Egypt—over the streams and canals, over the ponds and all the reservoirs—and they will turn to blood.’ Blood will be everywhere in Egypt, even in vessels[a] of wood and stone.”

20 Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded.(AD) He raised his staff in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials and struck the water of the Nile,(AE) and all the water was changed into blood.(AF) 21 The fish in the Nile died, and the river smelled so bad that the Egyptians could not drink its water. Blood was everywhere in Egypt.

22 But the Egyptian magicians(AG) did the same things by their secret arts,(AH) and Pharaoh’s heart(AI) became hard; he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said. 23 Instead, he turned and went into his palace, and did not take even this to heart. 24 And all the Egyptians dug along the Nile to get drinking water(AJ), because they could not drink the water of the river.

The Plague of Frogs

25 Seven days passed after the Lord struck the Nile.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 7:19 Or even on their idols