Exodus 10:21–29

The Ninth Plague: Darkness

²¹Then the Lord said to Moses, ^l“Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be ^mdarkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness to be felt.” ²²So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was pitch darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. ²³They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but ⁿall the people of Israel had light where they lived. ²⁴Then Pharaoh called Moses and said, ^o“Go, serve the Lord; ^pyour little ones also may go with you; only let your flocks and your herds remain behind.” ²⁵But Moses said, “You must also let us have sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God. ²⁶Our livestock also must go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for we must take of them to serve the Lord our God, and we do not know with what we must serve the Lord until we arrive there.” ²⁷But the Lord ^qhardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go. ²⁸Then Pharaoh said to him, “Get away from me; take care never to see my face again, for on the day you see my face you shall die.” ²⁹Moses said, “As you say! ^rI will not see your face again.”