Exodus 9:1-35 NLT

[1] "Go back to Pharaoh," the LORD commanded Moses. "Tell him, 'This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go, so they can worship me. [2] If you continue to hold them and refuse to let them go, [3] the hand of the LORD will strike all your livestock-your horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep, and goats-with a deadly plague. [4] But the LORD will again make a distinction between the livestock of the Israelites and that of the Egyptians. Not a single one of Israel's animals will die! [5] The LORD has already set the time for the plague to begin. He has declared that he will strike the land tomorrow.'" [6] And the LORD did just as he had said. The next morning all the livestock of the Egyptians died, but the Israelites didn't lose a single animal. [7] Pharaoh sent his officials to investigate, and they discovered that the Israelites had not lost a single animal! But even so, Pharaoh's heart remained stubborn, and he still refused to let the people go. [8] Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Take handfuls of soot from a brick kiln, and have Moses toss it into the air while Pharaoh watches. [9] The ashes will spread like fine dust over the whole land of Egypt, causing festering boils to break out on people and animals throughout the land." [10] So they took soot from a brick kiln and went and stood before Pharaoh. As Pharaoh watched, Moses threw the soot into the air, and boils broke out on people and animals alike. [11] Even the magicians were unable to stand before Moses, because the boils had broken out on them and all the Egyptians. [12] But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and just as the LORD had predicted to Moses, Pharaoh refused to listen. [13] Then the LORD said to Moses, "Get up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh. Tell him, 'This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go, so they can worship me. [14] If you don't, I will send more plagues on you and your officials and your people. Then you will know that there is no one like me in all the earth. [15] By now I could have lifted my hand and struck you and your people with a plague to wipe you off the face of the earth. [16] But I have spared you for a purpose-to show you my power and to spread my fame throughout the earth. [17] But you still lord it over my people and refuse to let them go. [18] So tomorrow at this time I will send a hailstorm more devastating than any in all the history of Egypt. [19] Quick! Order your livestock and servants to come in from the fields to find shelter. Any person or animal left outside will die when the hail falls.'" [20] Some of Pharaoh's officials were afraid because of what the LORD had said. They quickly brought their servants and livestock in from the fields. [21] But those who paid no attention to the word of the LORD left theirs out in the open. [22] Then the LORD said to Moses, "Lift your hand toward the sky so hail may fall on the people, the livestock, and all the plants throughout the land of Egypt." [23] So Moses lifted his staff toward the sky, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning flashed toward the earth. The LORD sent a tremendous hailstorm against all the land of Egypt. [24] Never in all the history of Egypt had there been a storm like that, with such devastating hail and continuous lightning. [25] It left all of Egypt in ruins. The hail struck down everything in the open field-people, animals, and plants alike. Even the trees were destroyed. [26] The only place without hail was the region of Goshen, where the people of Israel lived. [27] Then Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron. "This time I have sinned," he confessed. "The LORD is the righteous one, and my people and I are wrong. [28] Please beg the LORD to end this terrifying thunder and hail. We've had enough. I will let you go; you don't need to stay any longer." [29] "All right," Moses replied. "As soon as I leave the city, I will lift my hands and pray to the LORD. Then the thunder and hail will stop, and you will know that the earth belongs to the LORD. [30] But I know that you and your officials still do not fear the LORD God." [31] (All the flax and barley were ruined by the hail, because the barley had formed heads and the flax was budding. [32] But the wheat and the emmer wheat were spared, because they had not yet sprouted from the ground.) [33] So Moses left Pharaoh's court and went out of the city. When he lifted his hands to the LORD, the thunder and hail stopped, and the downpour ceased. [34] But when Pharaoh saw that the rain, hail, and thunder had stopped, he and his officials sinned again, and Pharaoh again became stubborn. [35] Because his heart was hard, Pharaoh refused to let the people leave, just as the LORD had predicted through Moses.