Darkness over the Land

21 Then the Lord said to Moses, “aStretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even a darkness bwhich may be felt.”

22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and there was athick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days.

23 They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, abut all the sons of Israel had light in their dwellings.

24 Then Pharaoh acalled to Moses, and said, “Go, serve the Lord; only let your flocks and your herds be detained. Even byour little ones may go with you.”

25 But Moses said, “You must also 1let us have sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may 2sacrifice them to the Lord our God.

26 “aTherefore, our livestock too shall go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for we shall take some of them to serve the Lord our God. And until we arrive there, we ourselves do not know with what we shall serve the Lord.”

27 But athe Lord 1hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he was not willing to let them go.

28 Then Pharaoh said to him, “aGet away from me! 1Beware, do not see my face again, for in the day you see my face you shall die!”

29 Moses said, “You are right; aI shall never see your face again!”