SHEMOTH 8 (Exodus 8)

1 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 spoke to Mosheh, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus said 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄, “Let My people go, so that they serve Me.

2 “But if you refuse to let them go, see, I am smiting all your border with frogs.

3 “And the river shall swarm with frogs, which shall go up and shall come into your house, and into your bedroom, and on your bed, and into the houses of your servants, and on your people, and into your ovens, and into your kneading bowls,

4 and the frogs shall come up on you and on your people and on all your servants.” ’ ”

5 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 said to Mosheh, “Say to Aharon, ‘Stretch out your hand with your rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up on the land of Mitsrayim.’ ”

6 So Aharon stretched out his hand over the waters of Mitsrayim, and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Mitsrayim.

7 And the magicians did so with their magic, and brought up frogs on the land of Mitsrayim.

8 Pharaoh then called for Mosheh and Aharon, and said, “Pray to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 to take away the frogs from me and from my people, and I shall let the people go to slaughter to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄.”

9 And Mosheh said to Pharaoh, “Explain yourself to me: When am I to pray for you, and for your servants, and for your people, to destroy the frogs from you and your houses, and remain only in the river?”

10 So he said, “Tomorrow.” And he said, “Let it be according to your word, so that you know that there is no one like 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 our Elohim.

11 “And the frogs shall turn aside from you, and from your houses, and from your servants, and from your people – they shall remain in the river only.”

12 And Mosheh and Aharon went out from Pharaoh. And Mosheh cried out to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 concerning the frogs which He had brought against Pharaoh.

13 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 did according to the word of Mosheh. And the frogs died out of the houses, out of the courtyards, and out of the fields.

14 And they gathered them together in heaps, and the land stank.

15 And when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, as 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 had said.

16 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 said to Mosheh, “Say to Aharon, ’Stretch out your rod, and strike the dust of the land, so that it becomes gnats in all the land of Mitsrayim.’ ”

17 And they did so, and Aharon stretched out his hand with his rod and struck the dust of the earth, and it became gnats on man and beast. All the dust of the land became gnats in all the land of Mitsrayim.

18 And the magicians did similarly with their magic to bring forth gnats, but they were unable. And there were gnats on man and beast.

19 The magicians then said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of Elohim!” But the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not listen to them, as 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 had said.

20 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 said to Mosheh, “Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh as he comes out to the water, and say to him, ‘Thus said 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄, “Let My people go, so that they serve Me.

21 “Or else, if you do not let My people go, see, I am sending swarms of flies on you and your servants, and on your people and into your houses. And the houses of the Mitsrites shall be filled with swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand.

22 “And in that day I shall separate the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, so that you know that I am 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 in the midst of the land.

23 “And I shall put a distinction between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall be.” ’ ”

24 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 did so, and thick swarms of flies came into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants’ houses, and into all the land of Mitsrayim, and the land was ruined because of the swarms of flies.

25 Pharaoh then called for Mosheh and Aharon, and said, “Go, slaughter to your Elohim in the land.”

26 And Mosheh said, “It is not right to do so, for we would be slaughtering the abomination of the Mitsrites to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 our Elohim. See, if we slaughter the abomination of the Mitsrites before their eyes, would they not stone us?

27 “Let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, then we shall slaughter to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 our Elohim, as He commands us.”

28 And Pharaoh said, “I am letting you go, then you shall slaughter to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 your Elohim in the wilderness. Only, do not go very far away! Pray for me.”

29 And Mosheh said, “See, when I leave you I shall pray to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄, and tomorrow the swarms of flies shall depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. But do not let Pharaoh again deceive, not to let the people go to slaughter to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄.”

30 And Mosheh went out from Pharaoh and prayed to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄.

31 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 did according to the word of Mosheh and removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. Not one remained.

32 But Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time too, and did not let the people go.