Exodus 10:21-29

GOD’S WORD Translation

The Ninth Plague—Darkness

²¹ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Lift your hand toward the sky, and a darkness ⌞so thick⌟ that it can be felt will come over Egypt.” ²² Moses lifted his hand toward the sky, and throughout Egypt there was total darkness for three days. ²³ People couldn’t see each other, and no one went anywhere for three days. But all the Israelites had light where they were living.

²⁴ Then Pharaoh called for Moses and said, “Go, worship the Lord! Even your women and children may go with you, but your flocks and herds must stay behind.”

²⁵ But Moses said, “You must allow us to take ⌞our animals⌟ for the sacrifices and burnt offerings we have to make to the Lord our God. ²⁶ All our livestock must go with us. Not one animal must be left behind. We’ll have to use some of them for worshiping the Lord our God, and we won’t know what we’ll need until we get there.”

²⁷ But the Lord made Pharaoh stubborn, so he refused to let them go. ²⁸ Pharaoh said to Moses, “Get out of my sight! Don’t ever let me see your face again. The day I do, you will die.”

²⁹ “You’re right!” Moses answered. “You’ll never see my face again.”