²⁵ Then Pharaoh ^(A)called for Moses and Aaron and said, “^(B)Go, sacrifice to your God within the land.” ²⁶ But Moses said, “It is not permissible for us to do so, because we will sacrifice to the Lord our God ^[a]that which is ^(C)an abomination to the Egyptians. If we sacrifice ^[b]that which is an abomination to the Egyptians before their eyes, will they not stone us? ²⁷ We must go a ^(D)three days’ journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God, just as He ^[c]commands us.” ²⁸ Pharaoh said, “^(E)I will let you go, so that you may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only you shall not go very far away. ^(F)Plead for me.” ²⁹ Then Moses said, “Behold, I am going to leave you, and I will plead with the Lord that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people tomorrow; only do not let Pharaoh ^(G)deal deceitfully again in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.”

³⁰ So ^(H)Moses left Pharaoh and pleaded with the Lord. ³¹ The Lord did ^[d]as Moses asked, and removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; not one remained. ³² But Pharaoh ^[e]hardened his heart this time also, and ^(I)he did not let the people go.

Egyptian Livestock Die

9 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and speak to him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews says: “^(J)Let My people go, so that they may serve Me.