⁵ The Lord answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff^(A) with which you struck the Nile,^(B) and go.

¹⁹ The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff^(A) and stretch out your hand^(B) 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.^(C) He raised his staff in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials and struck the water of the Nile,^(D) and all the water was changed into blood.^(E)

⁸ “Take the staff,^(A) and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water.^(B) You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”

⁹ So Moses took the staff^(C) from the Lord’s presence,^(D) just as he commanded him. ¹⁰ He and Aaron gathered the assembly together^(E) in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?”^{(F) 11} Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water^(G) gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.

²³ I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me^(A) that prison and hardships are facing me.^{(B) 24} However, I consider my life worth nothing to me;^(C) my only aim is to finish the race^(D) and complete the task^(E) the Lord Jesus has given me^(F)—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.^(G)

⁶ And you, son of man, do not be afraid^(A) of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns^(B) are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.^(C)