The Third Plague: Gnats

16 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, (A)‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, so that it may become gnats in all the land of Egypt.’” 17 And they did so. Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and (B)there were gnats on man and beast. All the dust of the earth became gnats in all the land of Egypt. 18 The (C)magicians tried by their secret arts to produce gnats, but they could not. So there were gnats on man and beast. 19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is (D)the finger of God.” But Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.

The Fourth Plague: Flies

20 Then the Lord said to Moses, (E)“Rise up early in the morning and present yourself to Pharaoh, as he goes out to the water, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, (F)“Let my people go, that they may serve me. 21 Or else, if you will not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and your servants and your people, and into your houses. And the houses of the Egyptians shall be filled with swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand. 22 But on that day (G)I will set apart the land of Goshen, where my people dwell, so that no swarms of flies shall be there, (H)that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth.[a] 23 Thus I will put a division[b] between my people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall happen.”’” 24 And the Lord did so. (I)There came great swarms of flies into the house of Pharaoh and into his servants' houses. Throughout all the land of Egypt the land was ruined by the swarms of flies.

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 8:22 Or that I the Lord am in the land
  2. Exodus 8:23 Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew set redemption

The Plague of Gnats

16 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff(A) and strike the dust of the ground,’ and throughout the land of Egypt the dust will become gnats.” 17 They did this, and when Aaron stretched out his hand with the staff and struck the dust of the ground, gnats(B) came on people and animals. All the dust throughout the land of Egypt became gnats. 18 But when the magicians(C) tried to produce gnats by their secret arts,(D) they could not.

Since the gnats were on people and animals everywhere, 19 the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger(E) of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart(F) was hard and he would not listen,(G) just as the Lord had said.

The Plague of Flies

20 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning(H) and confront Pharaoh as he goes to the river and say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so that they may worship(I) me. 21 If you do not let my people go, I will send swarms of flies on you and your officials, on your people and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians will be full of flies; even the ground will be covered with them.

22 “‘But on that day I will deal differently with the land of Goshen,(J) where my people live;(K) no swarms of flies will be there, so that you will know(L) that I, the Lord, am in this land. 23 I will make a distinction[a] between my people and your people.(M) This sign will occur tomorrow.’”

24 And the Lord did this. Dense swarms of flies poured into Pharaoh’s palace and into the houses of his officials; throughout Egypt the land was ruined by the flies.(N)

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 8:23 Septuagint and Vulgate; Hebrew will put a deliverance