蛙災

耶和華對摩西說:「你進宮去告訴法老,『耶和華說,讓以色列百姓離開,好事奉我。 如果你不聽從,我就使青蛙來毀壞你的國土。 尼羅河將充滿青蛙,牠們要跳到你的宮裡、臥室和床鋪上,你的臣僕和百姓家裡,你的爐灶和揉麵盆裡。 青蛙還會跳到你和你的百姓及眾臣僕身上。』」

耶和華對摩西說:「你叫亞倫向埃及各地的江河、溪流和池塘伸杖,使青蛙遍佈埃及全境。」 亞倫伸杖,青蛙就遍佈了埃及全境。 巫師也行邪術如法炮製,叫青蛙上來。 法老召摩西和亞倫進宮,對他們說:「你們快求耶和華,使這些青蛙離開我們,我便讓百姓去獻祭給耶和華。」 摩西對法老說:「好吧,你要我在什麼時候為你以及你的臣僕和百姓禱告,叫這些青蛙離開你和你的宮殿,只留在河裡呢?」 10 法老說:「明天。」摩西說:「就照你說的,這樣你就知道沒有神明能比得上我們的上帝耶和華。 11 明天青蛙會離開你、你的宮殿、你的臣僕和百姓,只留在河裡。」 12 摩西和亞倫離開法老後,摩西就為法老所受的蛙災一事向耶和華呼求。 13 耶和華答應了摩西的祈求。凡在房屋內、院子裡和田野中的青蛙都死了。 14 百姓把青蛙的屍體堆積起來,埃及全境都充滿了死青蛙的腐臭氣味。 15 法老看見災難已經過去,便又硬著心,不肯聽從摩西和亞倫的話,正如耶和華所言。

虱災

16 耶和華對摩西說:「你吩咐亞倫用杖擊打地上的塵土,使埃及境內的塵土變成蝨子。」 17 他們就照上帝的吩咐去做,亞倫伸杖擊打地上的塵土,蝨子就跑到人和牲畜身上,全埃及的塵土都變成了蝨子。 18 巫師們也試圖用邪術變出蝨子來,卻無法成功。埃及的百姓和牲畜身上長滿了蝨子。 19 巫師們對法老說:「這是上帝的作為。」法老的心卻仍然剛硬,不肯答應摩西和亞倫的要求,正如耶和華所言。

蒼蠅之災

20 耶和華對摩西說:「明天清早,你趁法老去河邊時去見他,告訴他,『耶和華說,放我的子民走,他們好事奉我, 21 不然,我就叫無數的蒼蠅飛到你、你的臣僕和百姓身上,進到你們各自的家中,使埃及遍地佈滿蒼蠅。 22 但那天,我子民居住的歌珊卻絲毫不會受攪擾,這樣你就知道我耶和華主宰天下。 23 我要把我的子民跟你的百姓分開,明天我必行這神蹟。』」 24 耶和華果然這樣行。密密麻麻的蒼蠅飛進法老的王宮和他臣僕的家裡,埃及全國都受到蒼蠅的毀壞。 25 法老召見摩西和亞倫,對他們說:「你們可以去獻祭給你們的上帝,不過要在我的境內舉行。」 26 摩西說:「這怎麼行?我們用來獻祭的東西,是埃及人最憎惡的。如果我們在埃及境內舉行這樣的儀式,他們一定會拿石頭打死我們。 27 我們要照我們上帝耶和華的吩咐離開這裡,走三天的路程到曠野去獻祭給祂。」 28 法老說:「好,我讓你們去曠野獻祭給你們的上帝耶和華,只是不要走得太遠。現在為我祈求吧。」 29 摩西說:「我離開這裡就去祈求耶和華,使蒼蠅明天就離開你及你的臣僕和百姓,但這次你不可再食言,阻止以色列人去向耶和華獻祭。」 30 摩西說完以後,便離開王宮,去祈求耶和華。 31 耶和華就照摩西的祈求,使成群的蒼蠅離開法老及其臣僕和百姓,一隻也沒有留下。 32 這一次,法老又硬著心,不肯讓百姓離開埃及。

蛙灾

耶和华对摩西说:“你进宫去告诉法老,‘耶和华说,让以色列百姓离开,好事奉我。 如果你不听从,我就使青蛙来毁坏你的国土。 尼罗河将充满青蛙,它们要跳到你的宫里、卧室和床铺上,你的臣仆和百姓家里,你的炉灶和揉面盆里。 青蛙还会跳到你和你的百姓及众臣仆身上。’”

耶和华对摩西说:“你叫亚伦向埃及各地的江河、溪流和池塘伸杖,使青蛙遍布埃及全境。” 亚伦伸杖,青蛙就遍布了埃及全境。 巫师也行邪术如法炮制,叫青蛙上来。 法老召摩西和亚伦进宫,对他们说:“你们快求耶和华,使这些青蛙离开我们,我便让百姓去献祭给耶和华。” 摩西对法老说:“好吧,你要我在什么时候为你以及你的臣仆和百姓祷告,叫这些青蛙离开你和你的宫殿,只留在河里呢?” 10 法老说:“明天。”摩西说:“就照你说的,这样你就知道没有神明能比得上我们的上帝耶和华。 11 明天青蛙会离开你、你的宫殿、你的臣仆和百姓,只留在河里。” 12 摩西和亚伦离开法老后,摩西就为法老所受的蛙灾一事向耶和华呼求。 13 耶和华答应了摩西的祈求。凡在房屋内、院子里和田野中的青蛙都死了。 14 百姓把青蛙的尸体堆积起来,埃及全境都充满了死青蛙的腐臭气味。 15 法老看见灾难已经过去,便又硬着心,不肯听从摩西和亚伦的话,正如耶和华所言。

虱灾

16 耶和华对摩西说:“你吩咐亚伦用杖击打地上的尘土,使埃及境内的尘土变成虱子。” 17 他们就照上帝的吩咐去做,亚伦伸杖击打地上的尘土,虱子就跑到人和牲畜身上,全埃及的尘土都变成了虱子。 18 巫师们也试图用邪术变出虱子来,却无法成功。埃及的百姓和牲畜身上长满了虱子。 19 巫师们对法老说:“这是上帝的作为。”法老的心却仍然刚硬,不肯答应摩西和亚伦的要求,正如耶和华所言。

苍蝇之灾

20 耶和华对摩西说:“明天清早,你趁法老去河边时去见他,告诉他,‘耶和华说,放我的子民走,他们好事奉我, 21 不然,我就叫无数的苍蝇飞到你、你的臣仆和百姓身上,进到你们各自的家中,使埃及遍地布满苍蝇。 22 但那天,我子民居住的歌珊却丝毫不会受搅扰,这样你就知道我耶和华主宰天下。 23 我要把我的子民跟你的百姓分开,明天我必行这神迹。’” 24 耶和华果然这样行。密密麻麻的苍蝇飞进法老的王宫和他臣仆的家里,埃及全国都受到苍蝇的毁坏。 25 法老召见摩西和亚伦,对他们说:“你们可以去献祭给你们的上帝,不过要在我的境内举行。” 26 摩西说:“这怎么行?我们用来献祭的东西,是埃及人最憎恶的。如果我们在埃及境内举行这样的仪式,他们一定会拿石头打死我们。 27 我们要照我们上帝耶和华的吩咐离开这里,走三天的路程到旷野去献祭给祂。” 28 法老说:“好,我让你们去旷野献祭给你们的上帝耶和华,只是不要走得太远。现在为我祈求吧。” 29 摩西说:“我离开这里就去祈求耶和华,使苍蝇明天就离开你及你的臣仆和百姓,但这次你不可再食言,阻止以色列人去向耶和华献祭。” 30 摩西说完以后,便离开王宫,去祈求耶和华。 31 耶和华就照摩西的祈求,使成群的苍蝇离开法老及其臣仆和百姓,一只也没有留下。 32 这一次,法老又硬着心,不肯让百姓离开埃及。

蛙灾

耶和华对摩西说:“你到法老那里去,对他说:‘耶和华这样说:“让我的人民离开这里,使他们可以事奉我。 如果你拒绝让他们离开这里,看哪,我必用青蛙击打你的全境。 河里必滋生青蛙;青蛙必上来,进到你的宫殿和卧房里去,跳上你的床,进你臣仆的房屋,跳上你人民的身上,进你的炉子和抟面盆。 青蛙也必跳上你、你的人民和臣仆的身上。”’”(本章第1~4节在《马索拉文本》为7:26~29)

耶和华对摩西说:“你要对亚伦说把手中的杖伸在江、河、池之上,使青蛙上到埃及地来。”(本节在《马索拉文本》为8:1) 亚伦把手一伸在埃及的众水之上,青蛙就上来了,并且遮盖了埃及地。 众术士也用他们的巫术照样行了,使青蛙上了埃及地来。

法老把摩西和亚伦召了来,说:“请你们恳求耶和华,好叫他使青蛙离开我和我的人民,我就必让这人民离开这里,使他们可以向耶和华献祭。” 摩西回答法老:“请指示,我要在甚么时候为你和你的臣仆,以及你的人民,恳求耶和华除灭青蛙,使青蛙离开你和你的宫殿,只留在河里呢?”

10 法老说:“明天。”摩西回答:“就照着你的话行吧,好叫你知道没有神像耶和华我们的 神。 11 青蛙必离开你和你的宫殿、你的臣仆和你的人民,只留在河里。” 12 于是,摩西和亚伦离开法老走了出来;摩西为了耶和华加在法老身上青蛙的灾害向耶和华呼求。 13 耶和华就照着摩西的话行了;在房屋里、院子里和田野中的青蛙都死了。 14 有人把青蛙一堆一堆积聚起来,那地就发臭了。 15 法老一见灾祸平息了,就心里刚硬,不肯听他们的话,就像耶和华所说的。

虱灾

16 耶和华对摩西说:“你要对亚伦说:‘伸出你的手杖,击打地上的尘土,使尘土在埃及全地都变成虱子。’” 17 他们就这样行了;亚伦伸出手中的杖,击打地上的尘土,就在人身上和牲畜身上有了虱子;埃及全地所有地上的尘土都变成了虱子。 18 众术士也用他们的巫术照样行,要生出虱子来,却不能办到;所以在人身上和牲畜身上都有虱子。 19 众术士就对法老说:“这是 神的手指头。”法老却心里刚硬,不肯听摩西和亚伦,就像耶和华所说的。

蝇灾

20 耶和华对摩西说:“你要清早起来,站在法老面前;看哪,法老到水边来的时候,你要对他说:‘耶和华这样说:你要让我的人民离开这里,使他们可以事奉我。 21 如果你不让我的人民离开这里,看哪,我必叫苍蝇落在你和你臣仆,以及人民的身上,进到你的宫殿;埃及人的房屋都必充满苍蝇,他们所在的地方也是这样。 22 那日,我必把我人民居住的地方歌珊分别出来,使那里没有苍蝇,为要使你知道在全地上只有我是耶和华。 23 我必把我的人民和你的人民分别出来(按照《马索拉文本》,“分别出来”作“设定救赎”;两者在原文非常相似,现参照《七十士译本》等古译本翻译),明天必有这神迹。’” 24 耶和华就这样行了;无数的苍蝇进了法老的宫殿和他臣仆的房屋,并且遍布埃及全地;那地就因为苍蝇的缘故毁坏了。

25 法老把摩西和亚伦召了来,对他们说:“你们去,在这地献祭给你们的 神吧。” 26 摩西回答:“决不可以这样行,因为我们要把埃及人看为可憎的祭物献给耶和华我们的 神;如果我们把埃及人看为可憎的祭物在他们眼前献上,难道他们不拿石头打死我们吗? 27 我们要走三天的路程进到旷野,好照着耶和华吩咐我们的,向耶和华我们的 神献祭。” 28 法老回答:“我必让你们离开这里,你们可以在旷野献祭给耶和华你们的 神,只是你们不可走得太远;请你们为我祈祷。” 29 摩西说:“看哪,我要离开你出去,祈求耶和华,使苍蝇明天可以离开法老和法老的臣仆,以及法老的人民,只是不可再行欺骗,不让以色列人离开这里去献祭给耶和华。” 30 于是,摩西从法老那里出来,去祈求耶和华。 31 耶和华就照着摩西的话行了,使苍蝇离开了法老和他的臣仆,以及他的人民,连一只也没有留下。 32 可是,这一次法老还是心里刚硬,不肯让以色列人离开。

Chapter 8

The Lord then spoke to Moses: Speak to Aaron: Stretch out your hand with your staff over the streams, the canals, and the ponds, and make frogs overrun the land of Egypt. So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. But the magicians did the same by their magic arts and made frogs overrun the land of Egypt.

Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Pray to the Lord to remove the frogs from me and my people, and I will let the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.” Moses answered Pharaoh, “Please designate for me the time when I am to pray for you and your servants and your people, to get rid of the frogs from you and your houses. They will be left only in the Nile.” “Tomorrow,” he said. Then Moses replied, “It will be as you have said, so that you may know that there is none like the Lord, our God. The frogs will leave you and your houses, your servants and your people; they will be left only in the Nile.”

After Moses and Aaron left Pharaoh’s presence, Moses cried out to the Lord on account of the frogs that he had inflicted on Pharaoh; and the Lord did as Moses had asked. The frogs died off in the houses, the courtyards, and the fields. 10 Heaps of them were piled up, and the land stank. 11 But when Pharaoh saw there was a respite, he became obstinate and would not listen to them, just as the Lord had said.

Third Plague: The Gnats. 12 Thereupon the Lord spoke to Moses: Speak to Aaron: Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, and it will turn into gnats[a](A) throughout the land of Egypt. 13 They did so. Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and gnats came upon human being and beast alike. All the dust of the earth turned into gnats throughout the land of Egypt. 14 Though the magicians did the same thing to produce gnats by their magic arts, they could not do so.(B) The gnats were on human being and beast alike, 15 and the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.”[b] Yet Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not listen to them, just as the Lord had said.

Fourth Plague: The Flies. 16 Then the Lord spoke to Moses: Early tomorrow morning present yourself to Pharaoh when he sets out toward the water, and say to him: Thus says the Lord: Let my people go to serve me. 17 For if you do not let my people go, I will send swarms of flies upon you and your servants and your people and your houses. The houses of the Egyptians and the very ground on which they stand will be filled with swarms of flies. 18 But on that day I will make an exception of the land of Goshen, where my people are, and no swarms of flies will be there, so that you may know that I the Lord am in the midst of the land. 19 I will make a distinction[c] between my people and your people. This sign will take place tomorrow. 20 This the Lord did. Thick swarms of flies entered the house of Pharaoh and the houses of his servants; throughout Egypt the land was devastated on account of the swarms of flies.(C)

21 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Go sacrifice to your God within the land.” 22 But Moses replied, “It is not right to do so, for what we sacrifice to the Lord, our God, is abhorrent to the Egyptians.[d] If we sacrifice what is abhorrent to the Egyptians before their very eyes, will they not stone us? 23 We must go a three days’ journey in the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord, our God, as he commands us.” 24 Pharaoh said, “I will let you go to sacrifice to the Lord, your God, in the wilderness, provided that you do not go too far away. Pray for me.” 25 Moses answered, “As soon as I leave you I will pray to the Lord that the swarms of flies may depart tomorrow from Pharaoh, his servants, and his people. Pharaoh, however, must not act deceitfully again and refuse to let the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.” 26 When Moses left Pharaoh, he prayed to the Lord; 27 and the Lord did as Moses had asked, removing the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, his servants, and his people. Not one remained. 28 But once more Pharaoh became obstinate and would not let the people go.

Footnotes

  1. 8:12, 17 Gnats, flies: it is uncertain what species of troublesome insects are meant here in vv. 12–14 and then in vv. 17–27, the identification as “gnat” (vv. 12–14) and as “fly” (vv. 17–27) being based on the rendering of the Septuagint. Others suggest “lice” in vv. 12–14, while rabbinic literature renders Hebrew ‘arob in vv. 17–27 as a “mixture of wild animals.” In the Hebrew of the Old Testament, the word occurs only in the context of the plagues (see also Ps 78:45 and 105:31).
  2. 8:15 The finger of God: previously the magicians had, for the most part, been able to replicate the signs and wonders Moses performed to manifest God’s power—turning their staffs into snakes (7:11–12), turning water into blood (7:22), and producing frogs to overrun the land of Egypt (8:3). But now for the first time they are unable to compete, and confess a power greater than their own is at work. Cf. Lk 11:20.
  3. 8:19 A distinction: while some uncertainty surrounds the Hebrew here rendered as “distinction,” it is clear that now the Israelites begin to be set apart from the Egyptians, a separation that reaches a climax in the death of the Egyptian firstborn (11:7).
  4. 8:22 Perhaps Moses is deceiving the Pharaoh much like the “God-fearing” midwives (1:16–20), although ancient historians writing about Egypt some time after the period in which the exodus is set do note Egyptian prohibitions on sacrificing cattle or slaughtering sacred animals. As such, the Egyptians might well have fiercely resented certain sacrificial practices of the Israelites. Certain animals were held sacred in Egypt, as the representations of various deities.