Sing to the Lord a New Song

The Ninth Plague: Darkness

²¹ Then the Lord said to Moses, ^(A)“Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be ^(B)darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness to be felt.” ²² So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was pitch darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. ²³ They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but ^(C)all the people of Israel had light where they lived. ²⁴ Then Pharaoh called Moses and said, ^(D)“Go, serve the Lord; ^(E)your little ones also may go with you; only let your flocks and your herds remain behind.” ²⁵ But Moses said, “You must also let us have sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God. ²⁶ Our livestock also must go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for we must take of them to serve the Lord our God, and we do not know with what we must serve the Lord until we arrive there.” ²⁷ But the Lord ^(F)hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let them go. ²⁸ Then Pharaoh said to him, “Get away from me; take care never to see my face again, for on the day you see my face you shall die.” ²⁹ Moses said, “As you say! ^(G)I will not see your face again.”

¹⁵ And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ^(A)“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” ¹⁶ But ^(B)they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, ^(C)“Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” ¹⁷ So ^(D)faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

¹⁸ But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for

¹⁹ But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says,

²⁰ Then Isaiah is so bold as to say,

²¹ But of Israel he says, ^(K)“All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”