The Plague on the Firstborn Foretold 1 UST Yahweh said to Moses,“I will bring one more disaster on the king of Egypt and on all his people. After that, he will let you leave. When he does, he will absolutely chase you out of Egypt. BSB BSB: Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will bring upon Pharaoh and Egypt one more plague. After that, he will allow you to leave this place. And when he lets you go, he will drive you out completely.
2 UST Speak quickly to all the Israelites. Tell them to ask all their Egyptian neighbors, both men and women, to give them things made from silver and gold.” BSB BSB: Now announce to the people that men and women alike should ask their neighbors for articles of silver and gold.”
3 UST Yahweh made the Egyptians willing to help the Israelites. Also, the king’ s officials and all the rest of the people thought that Moses was one of the most important men in Egypt. BSB BSB: And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh’s officials and by the people.
4 UST Then Moses said{ to the king},“This is what Yahweh says:‘About midnight I will go through Egypt, BSB BSB: So Moses declared, “This is what the LORD says: ‘About midnight I will go throughout Egypt,
5 UST and I will kill every oldest son in Egypt. I will kill without exception: the rich king’ s oldest son, the poor mill slave’ s oldest son, and even every oldest male born among the animals. BSB BSB: and every firstborn son in the land of Egypt will die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, to the firstborn of the servant girl behind the hand mill, as well as the firstborn of all the cattle.
6 UST When that happens, people all over Egypt will lament more terribly than anyone ever has lamented before and more than anyone ever will again. BSB BSB: Then a great cry will go out over all the land of Egypt. Such an outcry has never been heard before and will never be heard again.
7 UST But dogs will not even bark at the Israelites or at their animals. Then you will know for sure that I, Yahweh, am treating the Egyptians differently from the Israelites.’ BSB BSB: But among all the Israelites, not even a dog will snarl at man or beast.’ Then you will know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.
8 UST Then all these officials of yours will come and bow down before me and will say,‘Please get out of Egypt, you and everyone who is with you!’ After that, we will leave Egypt!” When Moses had said that, he left the king very angrily. BSB BSB: And all these officials of yours will come and bow before me, saying, ‘Go, you and all the people who follow you!’ After that, I will depart.” And hot with anger, Moses left Pharaoh’s presence.
9 UST Then Yahweh said to Moses,“The king will not obey you. This is so I can cause many disastrous miracles in his country.” BSB BSB: The LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not listen to you, so that My wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.”
10 UST Moses and Aaron did all these miracles in front of the king, but Yahweh made the king stubborn. The king did not let the Israelites leave his land. BSB BSB: Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh, but the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart so that he would not let the Israelites go out of his land.