Exodus 7

1Yahweh said to Moses, "See, I have set you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother will be your prophet."

2You will speak everything I command you, and your brother Aaron will speak to Pharaoh so he sends the Israelites out of his land.

3I will make Pharaoh's heart stubborn and increase my signs and marvels in the land of Egypt.

4Pharaoh will not heed you, and I will bring my hand upon Egypt and lead out my hosts, my people the sons of Israel, from the land of Egypt through great judgments.

5The Egyptians will know that I am Yahweh when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring Israel's descendants out from among them.

6Moses and Aaron did exactly as Yahweh commanded them.

7Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh.

8Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron:

9When Pharaoh says to you, "Perform a wonder," then tell Aaron, "Take your staff and throw it before Pharaoh, and it will become a serpent."

10Moses and Aaron entered Pharaoh's presence and carried out Yahweh's instructions, as Aaron threw his rod down before Pharaoh and his servants, and it turned into a serpent.

11Pharaoh also summoned the wise men and sorcerers, and Egypt's magicians did likewise with their secret arts.

12They each threw down their rods, and they became serpents, but Aaron's rod swallowed theirs.

13Pharaoh's heart grew strong, and he paid no heed to them, as Yahweh had declared.

14Yahweh said to Moses, "Pharaoh's heart is hardened—he refuses to send the people away."

15Go meet Pharaoh in the morning when he heads out to the water; stand on the riverbank, and take in your hand the staff that became a serpent.

16Tell him, "Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to you, saying, 'Let my people go, so they may serve me in the wilderness,' but until now you have refused to listen."

17This is what Yahweh declares: By this you will know that I am Yahweh. Watch, I will strike the river's waters with the staff in my hand, and they will become blood.

18The fish in the river will die, the river will turn foul, and the Egyptians will detest drinking its water.

19Yahweh said to Moses, "Tell Aaron to take his staff and stretch out his hand over Egypt's waters—over their rivers, canals, ponds, and every standing pool—so they become blood, with blood covering the entire land of Egypt, even in wooden jars and stone ones."

20Moses and Aaron obeyed just as Yahweh instructed; he raised the staff and struck the river's waters before Pharaoh and his servants, and all the river's water became blood.

21The fish in the river died, it grew putrid, and the Egyptians could not drink its water; blood filled the whole land of Egypt.

22Egypt's magicians matched this with their secret arts; Pharaoh's heart grew stubborn, and he refused to heed them, as Yahweh had declared.

23Pharaoh turned and went into his house, paying no attention to this either.

24All the Egyptians dug beside the river for water to drink, because they could not drink the river water.

25Seven days passed after Yahweh struck the river.