<n id="1" /><p class="bodytext">Moses told this<n id="2" /> to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him<n id="3" /> because of their discouragement<n id="4" /> and hard labor.

But Moses replied to<n id="1" /> the <sc>Lordsc>, &#8220;If the Israelites did not listen to me, then<n id="2" /> how will Pharaoh listen to me, since<n id="3" /> I speak with difficulty?&#8221;<n id="4" />p>

Tell him, &#8216;The <sc>Lordsc>, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to you to say,<n id="1" /> &#8220;Release my people, that they may serve me<n id="2" /> in the desert!&#8221; But until now<n id="3" /> you have not listened.<n id="4" />

When the fish<n id="1" /> that were in the Nile died, the Nile began<n id="2" /> to stink, so that the Egyptians could not drink water from the Nile. There was blood<n id="3" /> everywhere in the land of Egypt!

But the magicians of Egypt did the same<n id="1" /> by their secret arts, and so<n id="2" /> Pharaoh&#8217;s heart remained hard,<n id="3" /> and he refused to listen to Moses and Aaron<n id="4" /> &#8211; just as the <sc>Lordsc> had predicted.

All the Egyptians dug around the Nile for water to drink,<n id="1" /> because they could not drink the water of the Nile.p>

But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief,<n id="1" /> he hardened<n id="2" /> his heart and did not listen to them, just as the <sc>Lordsc> had predicted.<n id="3" />p>

When<n id="1" /> the magicians attempted<n id="2" /> to bring forth gnats by their secret arts, they could not. So there were gnats on people and on animals.

The magicians said<n id="1" /> to Pharaoh, &#8220;It is the finger<n id="2" /> of God!&#8221; But Pharaoh&#8217;s heart remained hard,<n id="3" /> and he did not listen to them, just as the <sc>Lordsc> had predicted.p>

<p class="bodytext">Pharaoh said, &#8220;I will release you<n id="1" /> so that you may sacrifice<n id="2" /> to the <sc>Lordsc> your God in the desert. Only you must not go very far.<n id="3" /> Do<n id="4" /> pray for me.&#8221;p>

and the <sc>Lordsc> did as Moses asked<n id="1" /> &#8211; he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. Not one remained!

But Pharaoh hardened<n id="1" /> his heart this time also and did not release the people.p>

But the Lord will distinguish<n id="1" /> between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, and nothing<n id="2" /> will die of all that the Israelites have.&#8221;&#8217;&#8221;<n id="3" />p>

And the <sc>Lordsc> did this<n id="1" /> on the next day;<n id="2" /> all<n id="3" /> the livestock of the Egyptians<n id="4" /> died, but of the Israelites&#8217; livestock not one died.

<p class="bodytext">The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for boils were on the magicians and on all the Egyptians.

But the <sc>Lordsc> hardened<n id="1" /> Pharaoh&#8217;s heart, and he did not listen to them, just as the <sc>Lordsc> had predicted to Moses.p>

I am going to cause very severe hail to rain down<n id="1" /> about this time tomorrow, such hail as has never occurred<n id="2" /> in Egypt from the day it was founded<n id="3" /> until now.

but those<n id="1" /> who did not take<n id="2" /> the word of the <sc>Lordsc> seriously left their servants and their cattle<n id="3" /> in the field.p>

Hail fell<n id="1" /> and fire mingled<n id="2" /> with the hail; the hail was so severe<n id="3" /> that there had not been any like it<n id="4" /> in all the land of Egypt since it had become a nation.

Pray to the <sc>Lordsc>, for the mighty<n id="1" /> thunderings and hail are too much!<n id="2" /> I will release you and you will stay no longer.&#8221;<n id="3" />p>