< Exodus 11 >

1 And the LORD said to Moses, Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go from here: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out from here altogether.
The Lord told Moses, “There's one last plague I will bring down on Pharaoh and on Egypt. After that he will let you go, but when he does, he'll expel every one of you from the country.
2 Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man ask of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold.
Now go and tell the Israelites, both men and women, to ask their Egyptian neighbors for silver and gold objects.”
3 And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants, and in the sight of the people.
The Lord made the Egyptians look favorably on the Israelites. In fact, Moses himself was highly respected in Egypt by both Pharaoh's officials and the ordinary people.
4 And Moses said, Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt:
Moses said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Around midnight I will go through the whole of Egypt.
5 And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even to the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts.
Every firstborn son in the land of Egypt will die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh sitting on his throne to the firstborn of the servant girl working with a handmill, as well as all the firstborn of the cattle.
6 And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there hath been none like it, nor shall be like it any more.
There will be loud cries of mourning all over Egypt, such as have never been before, and will never be again.
7 But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.
But among all the Israelites there won't even be the sound of a dog barking at them or their animals. That way you will know that the Lord distinguishes between Egypt and Israel.’
8 And all these thy servants shall come down to me, and bow down themselves to me, saying, Depart thou, and all the people that follow thee: and after that I will depart. And he went out from Pharaoh in a great anger.
All your officials will come to me, bowing down before me and saying, ‘Leave, and take everyone who follows you with you!’ After that I will leave.” Moses was very angry, and left Pharaoh.
9 And the LORD said to Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken to you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.
The Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh is refusing to listen to you so I can do even more miracles in Egypt.”
10 And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: and the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel depart from his land.
Moses and Aaron did these miracles before Pharaoh, but the Lord gave Pharaoh a stubborn attitude, and he wouldn't let the Israelites leave his country.

< Exodus 11 >