瘟疫之災

耶和華對摩西說:「你再進宮見法老,告訴他,『希伯來人的上帝耶和華說,讓我的子民去事奉我。 如果你不讓他們走,繼續扣留他們, 我就會使你田間所有的牲畜,包括馬、驢、駱駝和牛羊,都染上嚴重的瘟疫。 但我要把埃及和以色列的牲畜分開,以色列人的牲畜必絲毫無損。』」 耶和華定了日期,說:「明天耶和華必在此地行這事。」 第二天,耶和華就這樣行了,埃及的牲畜都死了,但以色列人的牲畜一頭也沒死。 法老派人去探查,發現以色列人的牲畜真的安然無恙。可是,他仍然頑固,不肯讓以色列人離開。

膿瘡之災

耶和華對摩西和亞倫說:「你們去取幾把窯裡的灰,摩西要在法老面前把灰拋向空中。 這灰要變成塵土,散佈在埃及每一個角落,落在人或牲畜身上,就會起皰長瘡。」 10 摩西和亞倫便取了一些窯裡的灰,站在法老面前,摩西把灰拋向空中,埃及人和牲畜身上就開始起皰長瘡。 11 埃及的巫師無法與摩西對抗,因為他們及所有埃及人身上都長了膿瘡。 12 耶和華使法老的心剛硬,他就不聽他們的話,正如耶和華對摩西說的。

冰雹之災

13 耶和華對摩西說:「明天一早你再去見法老,對他說,『希伯來人的上帝耶和華這樣說,你要讓我的子民出去事奉我。 14 這一次,我要降下大災禍在你及你的臣僕和百姓身上,好叫你知道普天之下我獨一無二。 15 我若用瘟疫攻擊你和你的百姓,你們早就滅亡了。 16 我讓你活到現在,是為了向你彰顯我的權能,使我的名傳遍天下。 17 但你竟然在我的子民面前狂傲自大,不讓他們離開。 18 明天這個時候,我要使天上降下大冰雹,是你們埃及立國以來從沒有見過的。 19 現在,你要叫人趕快到田間把牲畜和屬於你的一切都帶到安全的地方。凡留在田間的人或牲畜都會被冰雹打死。』」 20 有些法老的臣僕聽了耶和華的話就很害怕,趕忙把在田間的僕人和牲畜都召回屋裡。 21 但那些不把耶和華的話放在心上的,仍把他們的奴僕和牲畜留在田間。 22 耶和華對摩西說:「你向天伸杖,天就會降下冰雹,落在埃及的一切人畜身上,摧毀田間的一切農作物。」 23 摩西向天伸出手杖,耶和華就發出雷電和冰雹,火光飛向大地。耶和華在埃及降下冰雹。 24 那時冰雹夾雜著火降下來,極為嚴重,在埃及史無前例。 25 冰雹摧毀了埃及境內田間的一切,包括人和牲畜,摧毀了田裡的一切作物,打斷了所有的樹木, 26 只有以色列人所住的歌珊沒有冰雹。 27 法老派人召來摩西和亞倫,對他們說:「這次我犯罪了,耶和華是對的,我和我的百姓錯了。 28 請你們向耶和華禱告,好止住雷電和冰雹。我准許以色列人出去,你們不必再留在這裡了。」 29 摩西回答說:「我一出城,就向耶和華舉手禱告,雷電和冰雹必立刻停止,這樣你就知道普天下都屬於耶和華。 30 但我知道你和你的臣僕還是不敬畏上帝耶和華。」

31 這場冰雹發生在大麥吐穗和亞麻開花的時候。 32 小麥和粗麥較晚成熟,沒有被冰雹打壞。 33 摩西離開法老,走出城外向耶和華舉手禱告,雷和冰雹便停止了,豪雨也不下了。 34 法老看見災禍停止,就又犯罪,他和他的臣僕都心裡頑固。 35 法老硬著心,不讓以色列人離開,正如耶和華藉摩西所言。

The Plague on Livestock

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: “Let my people go, so that they may worship(A) me.” If you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them back, the hand(B) of the Lord will bring a terrible plague(C) on your livestock in the field—on your horses, donkeys and camels and on your cattle, sheep and goats. But the Lord will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and that of Egypt,(D) so that no animal belonging to the Israelites will die.’”

The Lord set a time and said, “Tomorrow the Lord will do this in the land.” And the next day the Lord did it: All the livestock(E) of the Egyptians died,(F) but not one animal belonging to the Israelites died. Pharaoh investigated and found that not even one of the animals of the Israelites had died. Yet his heart(G) was unyielding and he would not let the people go.(H)

The Plague of Boils

Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Take handfuls of soot from a furnace and have Moses toss it into the air in the presence of Pharaoh. It will become fine dust over the whole land of Egypt, and festering boils(I) will break out on people and animals throughout the land.”

10 So they took soot from a furnace and stood before Pharaoh. Moses tossed it into the air, and festering boils broke out on people and animals. 11 The magicians(J) could not stand before Moses because of the boils that were on them and on all the Egyptians. 12 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart(K) and he would not listen(L) to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said to Moses.

The Plague of Hail

13 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning, confront Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go, so that they may worship(M) me, 14 or this time I will send the full force of my plagues against you and against your officials and your people, so you may know(N) that there is no one like(O) me in all the earth. 15 For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people(P) with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth. 16 But I have raised you up[a] for this very purpose,(Q) that I might show you my power(R) and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. 17 You still set yourself against my people and will not let them go. 18 Therefore, at this time tomorrow I will send the worst hailstorm(S) that has ever fallen on Egypt, from the day it was founded till now.(T) 19 Give an order now to bring your livestock and everything you have in the field to a place of shelter, because the hail will fall on every person and animal that has not been brought in and is still out in the field, and they will die.’”

20 Those officials of Pharaoh who feared(U) the word of the Lord hurried to bring their slaves and their livestock inside. 21 But those who ignored(V) the word of the Lord left their slaves and livestock in the field.

22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that hail will fall all over Egypt—on people and animals and on everything growing in the fields of Egypt.” 23 When Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky, the Lord sent thunder(W) and hail,(X) and lightning flashed down to the ground. So the Lord rained hail on the land of Egypt; 24 hail fell and lightning flashed back and forth. It was the worst storm in all the land of Egypt since it had become a nation.(Y) 25 Throughout Egypt hail struck everything in the fields—both people and animals; it beat down everything growing in the fields and stripped every tree.(Z) 26 The only place it did not hail was the land of Goshen,(AA) where the Israelites were.(AB)

27 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron. “This time I have sinned,”(AC) he said to them. “The Lord is in the right,(AD) and I and my people are in the wrong. 28 Pray(AE) to the Lord, for we have had enough thunder and hail. I will let you go;(AF) you don’t have to stay any longer.”

29 Moses replied, “When I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands(AG) in prayer to the Lord. The thunder will stop and there will be no more hail, so you may know that the earth(AH) is the Lord’s. 30 But I know that you and your officials still do not fear(AI) the Lord God.”

31 (The flax and barley(AJ) were destroyed, since the barley had headed and the flax was in bloom. 32 The wheat and spelt,(AK) however, were not destroyed, because they ripen later.)

33 Then Moses left Pharaoh and went out of the city. He spread out his hands toward the Lord; the thunder and hail stopped, and the rain no longer poured down on the land. 34 When Pharaoh saw that the rain and hail and thunder had stopped, he sinned again: He and his officials hardened their hearts. 35 So Pharaoh’s heart(AL) was hard and he would not let the Israelites go, just as the Lord had said through Moses.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 9:16 Or have spared you

The Fifth Plague: Livestock Diseased

Then the Lord said to Moses, (A)“Go in to Pharaoh and tell him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of the Hebrews: “Let My people go, that they may (B)serve Me. For if you (C)refuse to let them go, and still hold them, behold, the (D)hand of the Lord will be on your cattle in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the oxen, and on the sheep—a very severe pestilence. And (E)the Lord will make a difference between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt. So nothing shall die of all that belongs to the children of Israel.” ’ ” Then the Lord appointed a set time, saying, “Tomorrow the Lord will do this thing in the land.”

So the Lord did this thing on the next day, and (F)all the livestock of Egypt died; but of the livestock of the children of Israel, not one died. Then Pharaoh sent, and indeed, not even one of the livestock of the Israelites was dead. But the (G)heart of Pharaoh became hard, and he did not let the people go.

The Sixth Plague: Boils(H)

So the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Take for yourselves handfuls of ashes from a furnace, and let Moses scatter it toward the heavens in the sight of Pharaoh. And it will become fine dust in all the land of Egypt, and it will cause (I)boils that break out in sores on man and beast throughout all the land of Egypt.” 10 Then they took ashes from the furnace and stood before Pharaoh, and Moses scattered them toward heaven. And they caused (J)boils that break out in sores on man and beast. 11 And the (K)magicians could not stand before Moses because of the (L)boils, for the boils were on the magicians and on all the Egyptians. 12 But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh; and he (M)did not heed them, just (N)as the Lord had spoken to Moses.

The Seventh Plague: Hail

13 Then the Lord said to Moses, (O)“Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of the Hebrews: “Let My people go, that they may (P)serve Me, 14 for at this time I will send all My plagues to your very heart, and on your servants and on your people, (Q)that you may know that there is none like Me in all the earth. 15 Now if I had (R)stretched out My hand and struck you and your people with (S)pestilence, then you would have been cut off from the earth. 16 But indeed for (T)this purpose I have raised you up, that I may (U)show My power in you, and that My (V)name may be declared in all the earth. 17 As yet you exalt yourself against My people in that you will not let them go. 18 Behold, tomorrow about this time I will cause very heavy hail to rain down, such as has not been in Egypt since its founding until now. 19 Therefore send now and gather your livestock and all that you have in the field, for the hail shall come down on every man and every animal which is found in the field and is not brought home; and they shall die.” ’ ”

20 He who (W)feared the word of the Lord among the (X)servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his livestock flee to the houses. 21 But he who did not regard the word of the Lord left his servants and his livestock in the field.

22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be (Y)hail in all the land of Egypt—on man, on beast, and on every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.” 23 And Moses stretched out his rod toward heaven; and (Z)the Lord sent thunder and hail, and fire darted to the ground. And the Lord rained hail on the land of Egypt. 24 So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, so very heavy that there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. 25 And the (AA)hail struck throughout the whole land of Egypt, all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail struck every herb of the field and broke every tree of the field. 26 (AB)Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, there was no hail.

27 And Pharaoh sent and (AC)called for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, (AD)“I have sinned this time. (AE)The Lord is righteous, and my people and I are wicked. 28 (AF)Entreat[a] the Lord, that there may be no more [b]mighty thundering and hail, for it is enough. I will let you (AG)go, and you shall stay no longer.”

29 So Moses said to him, “As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will (AH)spread out my hands to the Lord; the thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, that you may know that the (AI)earth is the Lord’s. 30 But as for you and your servants, (AJ)I know that you will not yet fear the Lord God.”

31 Now the flax and the barley were struck, (AK)for the barley was in the head and the flax was in bud. 32 But the wheat and the spelt were not struck, for they are [c]late crops.

33 So Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh and (AL)spread out his hands to the Lord; then the thunder and the hail ceased, and the rain was not poured on the earth. 34 And when Pharaoh saw that the rain, the hail, and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet more; and he hardened his heart, he and his servants. 35 So (AM)the heart of Pharaoh was hard; neither would he let the children of Israel go, as the Lord had spoken by Moses.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 9:28 Pray to, Make supplication to
  2. Exodus 9:28 Lit. voices of God or sounds of God
  3. Exodus 9:32 Lit. darkened