28 The Lord blanketed Egypt in darkness,

for they had defied* his commands to let his people go.

29 He turned their water into blood,

poisoning all the fish.

30 Then frogs overran the land

and even invaded the king’s bedrooms.

31 When the Lord spoke, flies descended on the Egyptians,

and gnats swarmed across Egypt.

32 He sent them hail instead of rain,

and lightning flashed over the land.

33 He ruined their grapevines and fig trees

and shattered all the trees.

34 He spoke, and hordes of locusts came—

young locusts beyond number.

35 They ate up everything green in the land,

destroying all the crops in their fields.

36 Then he killed the oldest son in each Egyptian home,

the pride and joy of each family.

37 The Lord brought his people out of Egypt, loaded with silver and gold;

and not one among the tribes of Israel even stumbled.

38 Egypt was glad when they were gone,

for they feared them greatly.