Exodus 8:20-32

GOD’S WORD Translation

The Fourth Plague—Flies

²⁰ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Early in the morning, stand in Pharaoh’s way when he’s going to the Nile. Say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Let my people go to worship me. ²¹ If you will not let my people go, I will send swarms of flies on you, your officials, your people, and your houses. The homes of the Egyptians will be filled with flies, and even the ground outside will be covered with them. ²² But on that day I will treat the region of Goshen differently. That is where my people live. There won’t be any flies there. This way you will know that I, the Lord, am here in this land. ²³ I will distinguish between my people and yours. This miraculous sign will happen tomorrow.’ ”

²⁴ The Lord did what he said. Dense swarms of flies came into Pharaoh’s palace and into the houses of his officials. All over Egypt the flies were ruining everything. ²⁵ Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God here in this country.”

²⁶ Moses replied, “It wouldn’t be right to do that. The sacrifices we offer to the Lord our God are disgusting to Egyptians. If they see us offer sacrifices that they consider disgusting, won’t they stone us to death? ²⁷ We need to travel three days into the desert to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God, as he told us to do.”

²⁸ Pharaoh said, “I will let you go, but don’t go very far. You may offer sacrifices to the Lord your God in the desert and pray for me.”

²⁹ Moses answered, “As soon as I leave you, I will pray to the Lord. Tomorrow the swarms of flies will go away from you, your officials, and your people. But you must stop tricking us by not letting the people go to offer sacrifices to the Lord.”

³⁰ Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to the Lord. ³¹ The Lord did what Moses asked. The swarms of flies left Pharaoh, his officials, and his people. Not one fly was left. ³² Yet, this time, too, Pharaoh was stubborn and did not let the people go.