Exodus 8:20-32
The Plague of Flies
20And Yahweh said to Moses, “aRise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh 1as bhe comes out to the water, and you shall say to him, ‘Thus says Yahweh, “cLet My people go, that they may serve Me. 21“For if you do not let My people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and on your servants and on your people and into your houses; and the houses of the Egyptians will be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand. 22“aBut on that day I will make a distinction for the land of Goshen, where My people are 1living, so that no swarms of flies will be there, that you may know that 2,bI, Yahweh, am in the midst of the land. 23“And I will 1put a division between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign will happen.”’” 24Then Yahweh did so. And there came heavy swarms of flies into the house of Pharaoh and the houses of his servants, and the land was alaid waste because of the swarms of flies in all the land of Egypt.
25And Pharaoh acalled for Moses and Aaron and said, “bGo, sacrifice to your God within the land.” 26But Moses said, “It is not right to do so, for we will sacrifice to Yahweh our God 1what is aan abomination to the Egyptians. If we sacrifice 2what is an abomination to the Egyptians before their eyes, will they not then stone us? 27“We must go a athree days’ journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to Yahweh our God as He says to us.” 28And Pharaoh said, “aI will let you go, that you may sacrifice to Yahweh your God in the wilderness; only you shall not go very far away. bEntreat for me.” 29Then Moses said, “Behold, I am going out from you, and I shall entreat Yahweh that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people tomorrow; only may Pharaoh not adeal deceitfully again in not letting the people go to sacrifice to Yahweh.”
30So aMoses went out from Pharaoh and entreated Yahweh. 31And Yahweh did according to the word of Moses and caused the swarms of flies to depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; not one remained. 32Then Pharaoh 1hardened his heart with firmness this time also, and ahe did not let the people go.