The Plague of Darkness

²¹ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that darkness^(A) spreads over Egypt—darkness that can be felt.” ²² So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and total darkness^(B) covered all Egypt for three days.

¹⁷ But take this staff^(A) in your hand^(B) so you can perform the signs^(C) with it.”

⁵ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your staff^(A) over the streams and canals and ponds, and make frogs^(B) come up on the land of Egypt.’”

¹⁷ They did this, and when Aaron stretched out his hand with the staff and struck the dust of the ground, gnats^(A) came on people and animals. All the dust throughout the land of Egypt became gnats.

²³ When Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky, the Lord sent thunder^(A) and hail,^(B) and lightning flashed down to the ground. So the Lord rained hail on the land of Egypt;

¹⁵ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me?^(A) Tell the Israelites to move on. ¹⁶ Raise your staff^(B) and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water^(C) so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.

²⁶ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” ²⁷ Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place.^(A) The Egyptians were fleeing toward^[a] it, and the Lord swept them into the sea.^(B)

⁵ The Lord answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff^(A) with which you struck the Nile,^(B) and go.

⁸ “Take the staff,^(A) and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water.^(B) You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”