Exodus 10:21-29

New International Reader's Version

The Plague of Darkness

²¹ The Lord spoke to Moses. He said, “Reach out your hand toward the sky so that darkness spreads over Egypt. It will be so dark that people can feel it.” ²² So Moses reached out his hand toward the sky. Then complete darkness covered Egypt for three days. ²³ No one could see anyone else or go anywhere for three days. But all the people of Israel had light where they lived.

²⁴ Then Pharaoh sent for Moses. He said to him, “Go. Worship the Lord. Even your women and children can go with you. Just leave your flocks and herds behind.”

²⁵ But Moses said, “You must allow us to take our animals. We need to offer them as sacrifices and burnt offerings to the Lord our God. ²⁶ Our livestock must also go with us. We have to use some of them to worship the Lord our God. We can’t leave even one animal behind. Until we get there, we won’t know what we are supposed to use to worship the Lord.”

²⁷ But the Lord made Pharaoh stubborn. So he wouldn’t let the people go. ²⁸ Pharaoh said to Moses, “Get out of my sight! Make sure you don’t come to see me again! If you do, you will die.”

²⁹ “I’ll do just as you say,” Moses replied. “I will never come to see you again.”