³⁴ But when Pharaoh saw that the rain, hail, and thunder had stopped, he and his officials sinned again, and Pharaoh again became stubborn.^[a]

A Plague of Blood

¹⁴ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is stubborn,^[a] and he still refuses to let the people go.

⁴ Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?

⁵ But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

¹¹ When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong.

¹³ He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, even though he had taken an oath of loyalty in God’s name. Zedekiah was a hard and stubborn man, refusing to turn to the Lord, the God of Israel.

²³ But unlike his father, he did not humble himself before the Lord. Instead, Amon sinned even more.

²² Even during this time of trouble, King Ahaz continued to reject the Lord.

¹⁵ But when Pharaoh saw that relief had come, he became stubborn.^[a] He refused to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had predicted.

²¹ And the Lord told Moses, “When you arrive back in Egypt, go to Pharaoh and perform all the miracles I have empowered you to do. But I will harden his heart so he will refuse to let the people go.