Moses

1The LORD said to Moses, "Look, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Your brother Aaron will be your prophet, the one who speaks your words for you."

And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.

NotePharaoh was the word for the king of Egypt. It was his title, like saying "the king." When you see LORD in big letters, it stands for God's own name. A prophet is a person who tells others what God says. Moses would get the words from God, and Aaron would say them out loud.

2"Say everything I tell you to say. Aaron will tell Pharaoh to let the people of Israel leave his land."

Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land.

NoteThe people of Israel were one big family. They all came from a man named Jacob, who was also called Israel. They lived in Egypt, and the Egyptians made them work as slaves.

3"But I will make Pharaoh stubborn. I will do many signs and wonders in the land of Egypt."

And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.

NoteStubborn means Pharaoh kept saying no, again and again. Signs and wonders are amazing things that only God can do.

4"Pharaoh will not listen to you. So I will use my power against Egypt. I will punish Egypt in mighty ways. Then I will bring out my people, the Israelites."

But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.

5"When I reach out my hand against Egypt, the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD. They will know it when I bring the Israelites out from among them."

And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.

NoteReaching out a hand is a way of saying God will use his power. God does not really have hands like ours.

6Moses and Aaron did exactly what the LORD told them to do.

And Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded them, so did they.

7Moses was eighty years old. Aaron was eighty-three. That is how old they were when they spoke to Pharaoh.

And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh.

NoteEighty years old is very old. Moses and Aaron were old men when they went to see the king.

8The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron. He said:

And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

9"Pharaoh will say to you, 'Show me a miracle.' Then tell Aaron to throw his staff down in front of Pharaoh. It will turn into a snake."

When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent.

NoteA miracle is something amazing that only God can do. A staff is a long walking stick. Shepherds carried them to guide their sheep.

10So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh. They did just what the LORD had told them. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his helpers. It turned into a snake.

And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.

NotePharaoh's helpers were important men who worked for the king. They stood near him and watched everything.

11Then Pharaoh called for his wise men and his magicians. They did the same thing using their magic.

Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.

NoteMagicians did tricks and said special words called spells. Egyptians believed these men had secret powers. Pharaoh called them to copy what Aaron did.

12Each man threw down his staff, and each staff turned into a snake. But Aaron's staff swallowed up all their staffs.

For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.

13Still Pharaoh stayed stubborn. He would not listen to them. It happened just as the LORD had said.

And he hardened Pharaoh’s heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.

14Then the LORD said to Moses, "Pharaoh is stubborn. He refuses to let the people go."

And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh’s heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go.

15"Go to Pharaoh in the morning. He will be walking out to the water. Wait for him at the edge of the river. Take the staff that turned into a snake."

Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goeth out unto the water; and thou shalt stand by the river’s brink against he come; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine hand.

NoteThis river is the Nile, the big river of Egypt. It almost never rains in Egypt. Nearly all the water for drinking and for farms came from that river. So the Nile was the most important thing in the land.

16"Say to him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, sent me to you. He says, let my people go, so they can worship me out in the desert. But you still have not listened.'"

And thou shalt say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear.

NoteHebrews was another name for the people of Israel. To worship God means to show him love and honor. People did this with singing, praying, and gifts. The desert here is empty land outside Egypt, with very few people in it.

17"The LORD says this: Now you will know that I am the LORD. I will strike the river water with the staff in my hand. The water will turn into blood."

Thus saith the LORD, In this thou shalt know that I am the LORD: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.

18"The fish in the river will die. The river will smell terrible. The Egyptians will not be able to drink its water."

And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink; and the Egyptians shall lothe to drink of the water of the river.

19The LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron to take his staff. Tell him to hold his hand out over all the water in Egypt. That means the streams, the canals, the ponds, and the pools. They will all turn into blood. There will be blood all over Egypt, even in wooden bowls and stone jars."

And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone.

NoteCanals were long ditches dug to carry river water out to the fields. People kept water at home in wooden bowls and big stone jars.

20Moses and Aaron did just what the LORD had told them. Aaron lifted the staff and struck the river water. Pharaoh and his helpers watched him do it. All the water in the river turned into blood.

And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.

21The fish in the river died. The river smelled awful, so the Egyptians could not drink its water. There was blood all over the land of Egypt.

And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.

22But the magicians of Egypt did the same thing with their magic. So Pharaoh stayed stubborn and would not listen to Moses and Aaron. It happened just as the LORD had said.

And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said.

23Pharaoh turned around and went into his house. He did not even think about what had happened.

And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also.

NoteNot thinking about it means Pharaoh did not care at all. He acted as if nothing had happened.

24All the Egyptians dug holes in the ground near the river. They were looking for water to drink, because the river water was ruined.

And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.

NoteWater from the river soaks into the sand beside it. If you dig a hole there, water slowly fills it up. That water was cleaner than the river.

25Seven whole days went by after the LORD struck the river.

And seven days were fulfilled, after that the LORD had smitten the river.

NoteSeven days is one whole week.

1The LORD spoke to Moses. "Go to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Tell him the LORD says this: Let my people go, so they can worship me."

And the LORD spake unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Let my people go, that they may serve me.

NoteWhen LORD is spelled with big letters, it stands for God's own special name. To worship God meant to sing, pray, and bring him gifts of animals and food.

2"If you will not let them go, I will fill your whole land with frogs."

And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs:

NoteThe King James says God will "smite all thy borders." Borders here means the whole country, not just the edges.

3"The river will swarm with frogs. They will hop into your house, your bedroom, and onto your bed. They will get into the houses of your helpers and onto your people. They will get into your ovens and your bread bowls."

And the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into thine house, and into thy bedchamber, and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens, and into thy kneadingtroughs:

NoteThe river is the Nile, the big river of Egypt. People drank from it and grew food beside it. A kneading trough, or bread bowl, was a big wooden bowl. People mixed flour and water in it to make bread dough. The King James word "servants" means the king's helpers and workers. Many of them were important people, not slaves.

4"The frogs will climb on you, on your people, and on all your helpers."

And the frogs shall come up both on thee, and upon thy people, and upon all thy servants.

5The LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron this: Hold out your hand with your walking stick over the rivers, streams, and ponds. Make frogs come up onto the land of Egypt."

And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch forth thine hand with thy rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt.

NoteThe rod, or walking stick, was a long wooden staff. Shepherds carried one every day to guide their sheep.

6So Aaron held out his hand over the waters of Egypt. Frogs came up and covered the whole land.

And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt.

7But the magicians did the same thing with their magic. They also brought frogs up onto the land of Egypt.

And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt.

NoteMagicians were men who worked for the king. They did tricks and said spells and claimed to have special power.

8Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron. He said, "Pray to the LORD to take the frogs away from me and my people. Then I will let your people go to worship the LORD."

Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Intreat the LORD, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the LORD.

NoteTo sacrifice meant to give God a gift, usually an animal. The gift was burned on a stone table called an altar.

9Moses said to Pharaoh, "You may choose the time. That honor is yours. When should I pray for you, your helpers, and your people? Then the frogs will leave you and your houses. Only the ones in the river will stay."

And Moses said unto Pharaoh, Glory over me: when shall I intreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee and thy houses, that they may remain in the river only?

NoteThe King James says "Glory over me." That was an old way of saying, "You choose. The honor is yours."

10Pharaoh said, "Tomorrow." Moses said, "It will be just as you say. Then you will know that no one is like the LORD our God."

And he said, To morrow. And he said, Be it according to thy word: that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the LORD our God.

11"The frogs will leave you, your houses, your helpers, and your people. They will stay only in the river."

And the frogs shall depart from thee, and from thy houses, and from thy servants, and from thy people; they shall remain in the river only.

12Moses and Aaron left Pharaoh. Then Moses called out to the LORD about the frogs he had sent against Pharaoh.

And Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh: and Moses cried unto the LORD because of the frogs which he had brought against Pharaoh.

13The LORD did what Moses asked. The frogs died in the houses, in the yards, and in the fields.

And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the villages, and out of the fields.

14People piled the dead frogs up in big heaps. The whole land smelled terrible.

And they gathered them together upon heaps: and the land stank.

NoteThere were so many dead frogs that people raked them into piles. With no way to bury them all, the smell filled the land.

15But Pharaoh saw that the trouble had stopped. So he made himself stubborn again and would not listen to them. It happened just as the LORD had said.

But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.

NoteThe King James says Pharaoh "hardened his heart." That means he made himself stubborn and would not change his mind.

16The LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron this: Hold out your stick and hit the dust on the ground. The dust will turn into tiny biting bugs all over Egypt."

And the LORD said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.

NoteThe King James word here is "lice." It means very tiny bugs that bite and crawl on skin. Nobody today knows exactly which bug it was.

17They did it. Aaron held out his hand with his stick and hit the dust. The bugs came onto people and animals. All the dust in the land turned into bugs all over Egypt.

And they did so; for Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man, and in beast; all the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.

18The magicians tried to make bugs with their magic, but they could not. The bugs stayed on the people and the animals.

And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast.

19The magicians said to Pharaoh, "God himself did this." But Pharaoh stayed stubborn and would not listen to them. It happened just as the LORD had said.

Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.

Note"The finger of God" was a way of saying God did this himself. The magicians meant no person had that kind of power.

20The LORD said to Moses, "Get up early in the morning. Pharaoh will come down to the water. Stand in front of him. Tell him the LORD says this: Let my people go, so they can worship me."

And the LORD said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; lo, he cometh forth to the water; and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Let my people go, that they may serve me.

NoteEgypt's kings went down to the Nile in the morning. The river gave them water and food, so it mattered very much to them.

21"If you will not let my people go, I will send swarms of flies. They will come on you, your helpers, your people, and your houses. Egyptian houses will be full of flies, and so will the ground they stand on."

Else, if thou wilt not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies upon thee, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thy houses: and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground whereon they are.

22"But that day I will treat Goshen differently, where my people live. No swarms of flies will be there. Then you will know that I, the LORD, am here in this land."

And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth.

NoteGoshen was the part of Egypt where the Israelites lived. It had good grass for their sheep and cows.

23"I will make a clear difference between my people and your people. This sign will happen tomorrow."

And I will put a division between my people and thy people: to morrow shall this sign be.

NoteA sign is something you can see that proves a message is true.

24The LORD did it. Thick swarms of flies filled Pharaoh's house and his helpers' houses. All over Egypt, the flies ruined the land.

And the LORD did so; and there came a grievous swarm of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants’ houses, and into all the land of Egypt: the land was corrupted by reason of the swarm of flies.

25Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron. He said, "Go and worship your God, but stay here inside Egypt."

And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said, Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land.

26Moses said, "That would not be right. The animals we offer to the LORD our God are ones the Egyptians hate to see killed. If we do that in front of them, they will throw stones at us."

And Moses said, It is not meet so to do; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the LORD our God: lo, shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, and will they not stone us?

NoteEgyptians thought some animals were holy and should not be killed. Seeing the Israelites kill them would make the Egyptians very angry. Throwing stones at someone was how angry crowds long ago punished people. It could kill them.

27"We must walk three days into the empty land. There we will worship the LORD our God, just as he tells us."

We will go three days’ journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the LORD our God, as he shall command us.

NoteThe wilderness, or empty land, is dry country with no towns or farms. Almost nobody lived there.

28Pharaoh said, "I will let you go worship the LORD your God in the empty land. But do not go very far. Now pray for me."

And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away: intreat for me.

29Moses said, "I am leaving you now, and I will pray to the LORD. Tomorrow the flies will leave Pharaoh, his helpers, and his people. But Pharaoh must not trick us again. He must let the people go and worship the LORD."

And Moses said, Behold, I go out from thee, and I will intreat the LORD that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, to morrow: but let not Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the LORD.

30So Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD.

And Moses went out from Pharaoh, and intreated the LORD.

31The LORD did what Moses asked. He took the flies away from Pharaoh, his helpers, and his people. Not one fly was left.

And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; and he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; there remained not one.

32But Pharaoh made himself stubborn this time too. He would not let the people go.

And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go.

1Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Tell him this: The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says, 'Let my people go, so they can serve me.'"

Then the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.

Note"The LORD" in capital letters stands for God's own special name. The Hebrews were another name for the people of Israel. They were living in Egypt as slaves.

2"But if you say no and keep holding on to them, here is what will happen."

For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still,

3"Look. The hand of the LORD will strike your animals out in the fields. Your horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, and sheep will get a terrible sickness."

Behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain.

Note"The hand of the LORD" is a picture. It means God's power doing something, not a real hand.

4"But the LORD will make a difference between Israel's animals and Egypt's animals. Not one animal belonging to the people of Israel will die."

And the LORD shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt: and there shall nothing die of all that is the children’s of Israel.

NoteIsrael means one big family that grew into a whole people. They all came from a man named Jacob, who was also called Israel.

5The LORD set a time for it. He said, "Tomorrow the LORD will do this thing in the land."

And the LORD appointed a set time, saying, To morrow the LORD shall do this thing in the land.

6The next day the LORD did it. All the animals of Egypt died. But not one animal of the people of Israel died.

And the LORD did that thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died: but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one.

7Pharaoh sent men to look. Not one animal of the Israelites was dead. Still Pharaoh's heart was hard, and he did not let the people go.

And Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.

NoteA "hard heart" does not mean a sick heart. It means being stubborn and refusing to change your mind.

8Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Take handfuls of ashes from a furnace, a very hot oven. Moses must throw them up toward the sky while Pharaoh watches."

And the LORD said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh.

NoteA furnace is a very hot oven, like the ones used to bake bricks. The gray ashes left inside are soft and powdery.

9"The ashes will become fine dust all over Egypt. It will make sores break open on people and animals everywhere in Egypt."

And it shall become small dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt.

NoteSores are painful bumps on the skin. These ones broke open and hurt badly.

10So they took ashes from the furnace and stood in front of Pharaoh. Moses threw them up toward the sky. Sores broke open on people and animals.

And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast.

11The magicians, the king's men who did secret arts, could not stand in front of Moses. They had the sores too, and so did all the Egyptians.

And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians.

NoteMagicians did tricks and secret spells for the king. Earlier they tried to copy what Moses did. Now they were too sore to even stand up.

12But the LORD made Pharaoh's heart hard. Pharaoh did not listen to them. This is what the LORD had told Moses.

And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had spoken unto Moses.

13Then the LORD said to Moses, "Get up early in the morning. Go stand in front of Pharaoh. Tell him: The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says, 'Let my people go, so they can serve me.'"

And the LORD said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.

14"This time I will send all my troubles on your own heart, on your helpers, and on your people. Then you will know there is no one like me in all the earth."

For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth.

15"By now I could have reached out my hand. I could have struck you and your people with a deadly sickness. You would have been wiped off the earth."

For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth.

16"But this is why I have raised you up: to show you my power. I want my name to be told all over the earth."

And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.

Note"Raised you up" means put you where you are. God is saying he let Pharaoh become king.

17"Are you still lifting yourself up above my people and refusing to let them go?"

As yet exaltest thou thyself against my people, that thou wilt not let them go?

18"Listen. About this time tomorrow I will send a terrible hailstorm. Egypt has never had hail like it since the day it began."

Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now.

NoteHail is lumps of ice that fall from the sky like rain. In Egypt it almost never rains, so hail was very strange there.

19"So send word now. Bring your animals and everything you have in the fields under cover. Every person and animal left outside will be hit by the hail and die."

Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field; for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die.

20Some of Pharaoh's helpers were afraid of the word of the LORD. They hurried their servants and animals into the houses.

He that feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses:

NoteTo "fear the word of the LORD" means to believe it and take it seriously. It does not just mean being scared.

21But others paid no attention to the word of the LORD. They left their servants and animals out in the fields.

And he that regarded not the word of the LORD left his servants and his cattle in the field.

22Then the LORD said to Moses, "Reach your hand up toward the sky. Hail will fall all over Egypt, on people, on animals, and on every plant in the fields."

And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.

23Moses reached his staff up toward the sky. The LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire ran along the ground. The LORD rained hail down on the land of Egypt.

And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt.

NoteA staff is a long walking stick. Moses carried his everywhere, and God used it to show his power. The "fire" running on the ground was lightning.

24There was hail, with fire flashing inside it. It was terrible. Egypt had never seen anything like it since it became a nation.

So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.

25All over Egypt the hail struck down everything in the fields, both people and animals. It beat down every plant and broke every tree.

And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field.

26The only place with no hail was the land of Goshen, where the people of Israel lived.

Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail.

NoteGoshen was the part of Egypt where the people of Israel lived. It had good grass for their animals.

27Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron. He said, "This time I have sinned. The LORD is right. I and my people have done wrong."

And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.

NoteTo sin means to do what is wrong, against God. Pharaoh is saying he was the one in the wrong.

28"Pray to the LORD. There has been enough thunder and hail. I will let you go. You do not have to stay any longer."

Intreat the LORD (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer.

29Moses said to him, "When I have left the city, I will lift my hands up to the LORD. The thunder will stop, and no more hail will fall. Then you will know the earth belongs to the LORD."

And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the LORD’s.

NoteLifting your hands up high was the way people prayed then. It showed they were asking God for something.

30"But I know that you and your helpers still do not fear the LORD God."

But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the LORD God.

31The flax and the barley were ruined. The barley was ripe, and the flax was in bud.

And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled.

NoteBarley is a grain used to make bread and feed animals. Flax is a plant whose stems are made into cloth. The barley was ready to pick and the flax was flowering, so the hail ruined them both.

32But the wheat and the spelt were not ruined, because they had not grown up yet.

But the wheat and the rie were not smitten: for they were not grown up.

NoteSpelt is a kind of wheat. Wheat and spelt grow later in the year. These plants were still small, so the hail did not break them.

33Moses left Pharaoh and went out of the city. He lifted his hands up to the LORD. The thunder and hail stopped, and the rain stopped pouring down.

And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands unto the LORD: and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth.

34Pharaoh saw that the rain, the hail, and the thunder had stopped. Then he sinned even more. He made his heart hard, and his helpers did too.

And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.

35Pharaoh's heart stayed hard. He would not let the people of Israel go. This is what the LORD had said through Moses.

And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the LORD had spoken by Moses.

1The LORD said to Moses, "Go in to Pharaoh. I have made his heart hard, and the hearts of his helpers too. I did this so I could show him these signs of mine."

And the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him:

NoteA hard heart means a stubborn heart. Pharaoh would not change his mind. Pharaoh's helpers were important men who helped him rule Egypt. A sign here is a wonder that shows God's power. Pharaoh was the king of Egypt.

2"And so you can tell your son and your grandson what I did in Egypt. Tell them about the signs I did among the people there. Then you will know that I am the LORD."

And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son’s son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the LORD.

NoteThe LORD in capital letters is God's own special name. It was the name he gave to Moses.

3Moses and Aaron came to Pharaoh. They said, "This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says. 'How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, so they can worship me.'"

And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me.

NoteAaron was Moses' brother. He helped Moses speak to the king. The Hebrews were Moses' people. They were slaves in Egypt. To humble yourself means to stop acting big and proud.

4"If you say no and will not let my people go, then listen. Tomorrow I will bring locusts into your land."

Else, if thou refuse to let my people go, behold, to morrow will I bring the locusts into thy coast:

NoteLocusts are bugs like grasshoppers. They fly in huge crowds and eat every green plant they land on.

5"They will cover the ground so that no one can see it. They will eat everything the hail left you. They will eat every tree that grows in your fields."

And they shall cover the face of the earth, that one cannot be able to see the earth: and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped, which remaineth unto you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which groweth for you out of the field:

NoteHail is balls of ice that fall from the sky. A storm of hail had just smashed the plants in Egypt.

6"They will fill your houses, and your helpers' houses, and every Egyptian's house. Your fathers and their fathers never saw such a thing, from the day they lived on earth until now." Then Moses turned and went out from Pharaoh.

And they shall fill thy houses, and the houses of all thy servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians; which neither thy fathers, nor thy fathers’ fathers have seen, since the day that they were upon the earth unto this day. And he turned himself, and went out from Pharaoh.

7Pharaoh's helpers said to him, "How long will this man be a trap for us? Let the men go, so they can worship the LORD their God. Don't you know yet that Egypt is ruined?"

And Pharaoh’s servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed?

NoteCalling someone a trap meant he kept bringing them trouble. Egypt was ruined because the crops and animals were dying.

8So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. He said to them, "Go, worship the LORD your God. But who is going?"

And Moses and Aaron were brought again unto Pharaoh: and he said unto them, Go, serve the LORD your God: but who are they that shall go?

9Moses said, "We will go with our young people and our old people. We will go with our sons and daughters, and our sheep and cattle. We must hold a feast for the LORD."

And Moses said, We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go; for we must hold a feast unto the LORD.

NoteA feast is a big special meal. This one was held to worship God.

10Pharaoh said to them, "May the LORD be with you if I ever let you go with your little ones! Look out. Something bad is right in front of you."

And he said unto them, Let the LORD be so with you, as I will let you go, and your little ones: look to it; for evil is before you.

NotePharaoh did not really mean this kindly. It was his way of saying no.

11"No. Only the men may go and worship the LORD. That is what you asked for." Then they were pushed out, away from Pharaoh.

Not so: go now ye that are men, and serve the LORD; for that ye did desire. And they were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence.

12The LORD said to Moses, "Reach out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts. Then they will come up over Egypt. They will eat every plant in the land that the hail left."

And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail hath left.

13Moses reached out his staff over the land of Egypt. The LORD sent an east wind over the land all that day and all that night. In the morning the east wind brought the locusts.

And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all that night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.

NoteA staff is a long walking stick. Shepherds carried them. An east wind is a wind that blows from the east.

14The locusts came up over all the land of Egypt. They settled in every part of Egypt. They were a terrible trouble. There were never so many locusts before, and there never will be again.

And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt: very grievous were they; before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such.

15They covered the whole ground, and the land turned dark. They ate every plant and all the fruit on the trees that the hail had left. Nothing green was left on any tree or plant in all Egypt.

For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt.

16Then Pharaoh quickly called for Moses and Aaron. He said, "I have sinned against the LORD your God and against you. I have done wrong."

Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said, I have sinned against the LORD your God, and against you.

17"Please forgive my sin just this one time. Ask the LORD your God to take this death away from me."

Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once, and intreat the LORD your God, that he may take away from me this death only.

NotePharaoh called the locusts "this death." With no plants left, people would have no food.

18So Moses went out from Pharaoh and asked the LORD.

And he went out from Pharaoh, and intreated the LORD.

19The LORD turned the wind into a very strong west wind. It picked up the locusts and threw them into the Red Sea. Not one locust was left anywhere in Egypt.

And the LORD turned a mighty strong west wind, which took away the locusts, and cast them into the Red sea; there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt.

NoteThe Red Sea is a big sea near Egypt. The wind blew the locusts far away into the water.

20But the LORD made Pharaoh's heart hard. So he would not let the children of Israel go.

But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go.

NoteThe children of Israel means the Hebrew people. A man named Jacob was also called Israel. They were all his family.

21The LORD said to Moses, "Reach out your hand toward the sky. Then darkness will cover the land of Egypt. It will be darkness you can feel."

And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.

NoteDarkness you can feel means darkness so thick it seemed heavy. It was like something you could touch.

22Moses reached out his hand toward the sky. Thick darkness covered all the land of Egypt for three days.

And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days:

23People could not see each other. No one got up from his place for three days. But all the children of Israel had light where they lived.

They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.

NoteThe children of Israel all lived together in one part of Egypt. The dark did not come there.

24Then Pharaoh called to Moses. He said, "Go, worship the LORD. Your little ones may go with you too. Only your sheep and cattle must stay here."

And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed: let your little ones also go with you.

25Moses said, "You must also give us animals for sacrifices and burnt offerings. We will offer them to the LORD our God."

And Moses said, Thou must give us also sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice unto the LORD our God.

NoteA sacrifice is an animal given to God as a gift. A burnt offering is one burned up completely on a special stone table.

26"Our animals must go with us too. Not one hoof will be left behind. We must take some of them to worship the LORD our God. We do not know what we must use until we get there."

Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not an hoof be left behind; for thereof must we take to serve the LORD our God; and we know not with what we must serve the LORD, until we come thither.

NoteA hoof is the hard foot of a cow or a sheep. Not one hoof means not even one animal.

27But the LORD made Pharaoh's heart hard, and he would not let them go.

But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go.

28Pharaoh said to him, "Get away from me! Be careful. Do not see my face again. On the day you see my face, you will die."

And Pharaoh said unto him, Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more; for in that day thou seest my face thou shalt die.

NoteTo see my face means to come and talk with me. Pharaoh was telling Moses never to come back.

29Moses said, "You have spoken well. I will never see your face again."

And Moses said, Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face again no more.