Old Testament · Exodus

Exodus 11

The Plague on the Firstborn Foretold

1And the LORD said to Moses, "Yet one plague I will bring upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt; afterward he will let you go from here. When he lets you go altogether, he will surely drive you out from here. 2Speak now in the ears of the people, and let them ask, each man^a from his neighbor and each woman^b from her neighbor, articles of silver and articles of gold."

3And the LORD gave the people favor in the eyes of Egypt. Also the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the eyes of Pharaoh's servants and in the eyes of the people.

4And Moses said, "Thus says the LORD: About midnight I am going out into the midst of Egypt, 5and every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne to the firstborn of the maidservant who is behind the mill, and every firstborn of beast. 6And there shall be a great cry in all the land of Egypt, such as there has not been, and such as there will not be again. 7But against all the children of Israel not a dog shall sharpen its tongue, against man or beast; that you may know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. 8And all these your servants shall come down to me and bow down to me, saying, 'Go out, you and all the people who are at your feet,' and after that I will go out." And he went out from with Pharaoh in burning anger.

9And the LORD said to Moses, "Pharaoh will not listen to you, in order that my wonders^c may be multiplied in the land of Egypt."

10And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh; and the LORD strengthened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go out from his land.