The Eighth Plague: Locusts

1  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) מֹשֶׁ֔ה (Moses), בֹּ֖א (Go in) אֶל־ (to) פַּרְעֹ֑ה (Pharaoh), כִּֽי־ (for) אֲנִ֞י (I) הִכְבַּ֤דְתִּי (have made heavy) אֶת־ (-) לִבּוֹ֙ (his heart) וְאֶת־ (and) לֵ֣ב (the heart) עֲבָדָ֔יו (of his servants), לְמַ֗עַן (that) שִׁתִ֛י (I may set) אֹתֹתַ֥י (signs of Mine) אֵ֖לֶּה (these) בְּקִרְבּֽוֹ׃ (within him), 2  וּלְמַ֡עַן (and so that) תְּסַפֵּר֩ (you may recount) בְּאָזְנֵ֨י (in the ears) בִנְךָ֜ (of your son) וּבֶן־ (and son) בִּנְךָ֗ (of your son) אֵ֣ת (-) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (how) הִתְעַלַּ֙לְתִּי֙ (I have dealt severely) בְּמִצְרַ֔יִם (with Egypt) וְאֶת־ (and) אֹתֹתַ֖י (My signs) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) שַׂ֣מְתִּי (I have set) בָ֑ם (among them), וִֽידַעְתֶּ֖ם (and you⁺ shall know) כִּי־ (that) אֲנִ֥י (I) יְהוָֽה׃ (am YHWH).

3  וַיָּבֹ֨א (And came in) מֹשֶׁ֣ה (Moses) וְאַהֲרֹן֮ (and Aaron) אֶל־ (to) פַּרְעֹה֒ (Pharaoh), וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ (and they said) אֵלָ֗יו (to him), כֹּֽה־ (Thus) אָמַ֤ר (says) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֣י (God) הָֽעִבְרִ֔ים (of the Hebrews), עַד־ (Until) מָתַ֣י (when) מֵאַ֔נְתָּ (will you refuse) לֵעָנֹ֖ת (to humble yourself) מִפָּנָ֑י (before My face)? שַׁלַּ֥ח (Send out) עַמִּ֖י (My people), וְיַֽעַבְדֻֽנִי׃ (that they may serve Me). 4  כִּ֛י (For) אִם־ (if) מָאֵ֥ן (refuse) אַתָּ֖ה (you) לְשַׁלֵּ֣חַ (to send out) אֶת־ (-) עַמִּ֑י (My people), הִנְנִ֨י (behold), מֵבִ֥יא (I am bringing) מָחָ֛ר (tomorrow) אַרְבֶּ֖ה (the locust) בִּגְבֻלֶֽךָ׃ (into your territory). 5  וְכִסָּה֙ (And it shall cover) אֶת־ (-) עֵ֣ין (the eye) הָאָ֔רֶץ (of the land), וְלֹ֥א (so that no one) יוּכַ֖ל (will be able) לִרְאֹ֣ת (to see) אֶת־ (-) הָאָ֑רֶץ (the land). וְאָכַ֣ל׀ (And it shall eat) אֶת־ (-) יֶ֣תֶר (the remnant) הַפְּלֵטָ֗ה (of what is left), הַנִּשְׁאֶ֤רֶת (what remains) לָכֶם֙ (for you⁺) מִן־ (from) הַבָּרָ֔ד (the hail), וְאָכַל֙ (and it shall eat) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (every) הָעֵ֔ץ (tree) הַצֹּמֵ֥חַ (that grows) לָכֶ֖ם (for you⁺) מִן־ (from) הַשָּׂדֶֽה׃ (the field). 6  וּמָלְא֨וּ (And they shall fill) בָתֶּ֜יךָ (your houses) וּבָתֵּ֣י (and the houses) כָל־ (of all) עֲבָדֶיךָ֮ (your servants) וּבָתֵּ֣י (and the houses) כָל־ (of all) מִצְרַיִם֒ (Egypt)— אֲשֶׁ֨ר (which) לֹֽא־ (neither) רָא֤וּ (have seen) אֲבֹתֶ֙יךָ֙ (your fathers), וַאֲב֣וֹת (and not fathers) אֲבֹתֶ֔יךָ (your fathers’), מִיּ֗וֹם (from the day) הֱיוֹתָם֙ (that they were) עַל־ (on) הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה (the earth), עַ֖ד (to) הַיּ֣וֹם (day) הַזֶּ֑ה (this).

וַיִּ֥פֶן (And he turned) וַיֵּצֵ֖א (and went out) מֵעִ֥ם (from) פַּרְעֹֽה׃ (Pharaoh).

7  וַיֹּאמְרוּ֩ (And said) עַבְדֵ֨י (servants) פַרְעֹ֜ה (of Pharaoh) אֵלָ֗יו (to him), עַד־ (Until) מָתַי֙ (when) יִהְיֶ֨ה (shall be) זֶ֥ה (this one) לָ֙נוּ֙ (to us) לְמוֹקֵ֔שׁ (a snare)? שַׁלַּח֙ (Send out) אֶת־ (-) הָ֣אֲנָשִׁ֔ים (the men), וְיַֽעַבְד֖וּ (that they may serve) אֶת־ (-) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֑ם (their God). הֲטֶ֣רֶם (Do not yet) תֵּדַ֔ע (you know) כִּ֥י (that) אָבְדָ֖ה (has perished) מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (Egypt)?

8  וַיּוּשַׁ֞ב (And were brought back) אֶת־ (-) מֹשֶׁ֤ה (Moses) וְאֶֽת־ (and) אַהֲרֹן֙ (Aaron) אֶל־ (to) פַּרְעֹ֔ה (Pharaoh), וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (and he said) אֲלֵהֶ֔ם (to them), לְכ֥וּ (Go), עִבְד֖וּ (serve) אֶת־ (-) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם (your⁺ God)! מִ֥י (Who) וָמִ֖י (and who) הַהֹלְכִֽים׃ (are the ones going)?

9  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) מֹשֶׁ֔ה (Moses), בִּנְעָרֵ֥ינוּ (With our young) וּבִזְקֵנֵ֖ינוּ (and with our old) נֵלֵ֑ךְ (we will go), בְּבָנֵ֨ינוּ (with our sons) וּבִבְנוֹתֵ֜נוּ (and with our daughters), בְּצֹאנֵ֤נוּ (with our flocks) וּבִבְקָרֵ֙נוּ֙ (and with our herds) נֵלֵ֔ךְ (we will go); כִּ֥י (for) חַג־ (it is a feast) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) לָֽנוּ׃ (for us).

10  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And he said) אֲלֵהֶ֗ם (to them) יְהִ֨י (May be) כֵ֤ן (thus) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) עִמָּכֶ֔ם (with you⁺) כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר (when) אֲשַׁלַּ֥ח (I send out) אֶתְכֶ֖ם (you⁺) וְאֶֽת־ (and) טַפְּכֶ֑ם (your⁺ little ones). רְא֕וּ (See), כִּ֥י (for) רָעָ֖ה (evil is) נֶ֥גֶד (before) פְּנֵיכֶֽם׃ (your⁺ faces). 11  לֹ֣א (Not) כֵ֗ן (so)! לְכֽוּ־ (Go) נָ֤א (now), הַגְּבָרִים֙ (the men), וְעִבְד֣וּ (and serve) אֶת־ (-) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH). כִּ֥י (For) אֹתָ֖הּ (that is what) אַתֶּ֣ם (you⁺) מְבַקְשִׁ֑ים (are seeking). וַיְגָ֣רֶשׁ (And were driven out) אֹתָ֔ם (they) מֵאֵ֖ת (from) פְּנֵ֥י (the face) פַרְעֹֽה׃פ (of Pharaoh).

12  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) יְהוָ֜ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) מֹשֶׁ֗ה (Moses), נְטֵ֨ה (Stretch out) יָדְךָ֜ (your hand) עַל־ (over) אֶ֤רֶץ (the land) מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ (of Egypt) בָּֽאַרְבֶּ֔ה (for the locust), וְיַ֖עַל (and they shall go up) עַל־ (upon) אֶ֣רֶץ (the land) מִצְרָ֑יִם (of Egypt), וְיֹאכַל֙ (and eat) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (every) עֵ֣שֶׂב (plant) הָאָ֔רֶץ (of the land), אֵ֛ת (-) כָּל־ (all) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) הִשְׁאִ֖יר (has left) הַבָּרָֽד׃ (the hail).

13  וַיֵּ֨ט (And stretched out) מֹשֶׁ֣ה (Moses) אֶת־ (-) מַטֵּהוּ֮ (his staff) עַל־ (over) אֶ֣רֶץ (the land) מִצְרַיִם֒ (of Egypt), וַֽיהוָ֗ה (and YHWH) נִהַ֤ג (drove) ר֥וּחַ (a wind) קָדִים֙ (east) בָּאָ֔רֶץ (over the land) כָּל־ (all) הַיּ֥וֹם (day) הַה֖וּא (that), וְכָל־ (and all) הַלָּ֑יְלָה (the night). הַבֹּ֣קֶר (The morning) הָיָ֔ה (when it was), וְר֙וּחַ֙ (and wind) הַקָּדִ֔ים (the east) נָשָׂ֖א (brought) אֶת־ (-) הָאַרְבֶּֽה׃ (the locust).

14  וַיַּ֣עַל (And went up) הָֽאַרְבֶּ֗ה (the locust) עַ֚ל (over) כָּל־ (all) אֶ֣רֶץ (the land) מִצְרַ֔יִם (of Egypt), וַיָּ֕נַח (and rested) בְּכֹ֖ל (in all) גְּב֣וּל (the territory) מִצְרָ֑יִם (of Egypt). כָּבֵ֣ד (It was severe) מְאֹ֔ד (very); לְ֠פָנָיו (before them) לֹא־ (not) הָ֨יָה (there had been) כֵ֤ן (such) אַרְבֶּה֙ (a locust) כָּמֹ֔הוּ (as it), וְאַחֲרָ֖יו (and after it) לֹ֥א (not) יִֽהְיֶה־ (shall there be) כֵּֽן׃ (such). 15  וַיְכַ֞ס (And for it covered) אֶת־ (-) עֵ֣ין (the eye) כָּל־ (of all) הָאָרֶץ֮ (the land), וַתֶּחְשַׁ֣ךְ (and was darkened) הָאָרֶץ֒ (the land). וַיֹּ֜אכַל (And it ate) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (every) עֵ֣שֶׂב (plant) הָאָ֗רֶץ (of the land) וְאֵת֙ (and) כָּל־ (all) פְּרִ֣י (the fruit) הָעֵ֔ץ (of the trees) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) הוֹתִ֖יר (had left) הַבָּרָ֑ד (the hail). וְלֹא־ (And not) נוֹתַ֨ר (there remained) כָּל־ (anything) יֶ֧רֶק (green) בָּעֵ֛ץ (on the trees) וּבְעֵ֥שֶׂב (or on the plants) הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה (of the field) בְּכָל־ (in all) אֶ֥רֶץ (the land) מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (of Egypt).

16  וַיְמַהֵ֣ר (And hurried) פַּרְעֹ֔ה (Pharaoh) לִקְרֹ֖א (to call) לְמֹשֶׁ֣ה (for Moses) וּֽלְאַהֲרֹ֑ן (and for Aaron) וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (and said), חָטָ֛אתִי (I have sinned) לַיהוָ֥ה (against YHWH) אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֖ם (your⁺ God) וְלָכֶֽם׃ (and against you⁺). 17  וְעַתָּ֗ה (And now) שָׂ֣א (forgive), נָ֤א (please), חַטָּאתִי֙ (my sin) אַ֣ךְ (only) הַפַּ֔עַם (this once), וְהַעְתִּ֖ירוּ (and pray) לַיהוָ֣ה (to YHWH) אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם (your⁺ God) וְיָסֵר֙ (that He may take away) מֵֽעָלַ֔י (from me) רַ֖ק (only) אֶת־ (-) הַמָּ֥וֶת (death) הַזֶּֽה׃ (this).

18  וַיֵּצֵ֖א (And he went out) מֵעִ֣ם (from) פַּרְעֹ֑ה (Pharaoh) וַיֶּעְתַּ֖ר (and he prayed) אֶל־ (to) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH). 19  וַיַּהֲפֹ֨ךְ (And turned) יְהוָ֤ה (YHWH) רֽוּחַ־ (a wind) יָם֙ (sea) חָזָ֣ק (mighty) מְאֹ֔ד (very), וַיִּשָּׂא֙ (and it lifted up) אֶת־ (-) הָ֣אַרְבֶּ֔ה (the locust) וַיִּתְקָעֵ֖הוּ (and blew it) יָ֣מָּה (into the Sea) סּ֑וּף (Red). לֹ֤א (Not) נִשְׁאַר֙ (there remained) אַרְבֶּ֣ה (locust) אֶחָ֔ד (one) בְּכֹ֖ל (in all) גְּב֥וּל (the territory) מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (of Egypt).

20  וַיְחַזֵּ֥ק (And strengthened) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) אֶת־ (-) לֵ֣ב (heart) פַּרְעֹ֑ה (of Pharaoh), וְלֹ֥א (and not) שִׁלַּ֖ח (he did send out) אֶת־ (-) בְּנֵ֥י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃פ (of Israel).

The Ninth Plague: Darkness

21  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) יְהוָ֜ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) מֹשֶׁ֗ה (Moses), נְטֵ֤ה (Stretch out) יָֽדְךָ֙ (your hand) עַל־ (toward) הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם (the heavens), וִ֥יהִי (and there shall be) חֹ֖שֶׁךְ (darkness) עַל־ (over) אֶ֣רֶץ (the land) מִצְרָ֑יִם (of Egypt), וְיָמֵ֖שׁ (and is felt) חֹֽשֶׁךְ׃ (a darkness).

22  וַיֵּ֥ט (And stretched out) מֹשֶׁ֛ה (Moses) אֶת־ (-) יָד֖וֹ (his hand) עַל־ (toward) הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם (the heavens), וַיְהִ֧י (and there was) חֹֽשֶׁךְ־ (darkness) אֲפֵלָ֛ה (thick) בְּכָל־ (in all) אֶ֥רֶץ (the land) מִצְרַ֖יִם (of Egypt) שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת (three) יָמִֽים׃ (days). 23  לֹֽא־ (Not) רָא֞וּ (they could see) אִ֣ישׁ (each man) אֶת־ (-) אָחִ֗יו (his brother), וְלֹא־ (and not) קָ֛מוּ (rose) אִ֥ישׁ (man) מִתַּחְתָּ֖יו (from his place) שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת (for three) יָמִ֑ים (days). וּֽלְכָל־ (And for all) בְּנֵ֧י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל (of Israel) הָ֥יָה (there was) א֖וֹר (light) בְּמוֹשְׁבֹתָֽם׃ (in their dwellings).

24  וַיִּקְרָ֨א (And called) פַרְעֹ֜ה (Pharaoh) אֶל־ (to) מֹשֶׁ֗ה (Moses) וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (and said), לְכוּ֙ (Go), עִבְד֣וּ (serve) אֶת־ (-) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH). רַ֛ק (Only) צֹאנְכֶ֥ם (your⁺ flocks) וּבְקַרְכֶ֖ם (and your⁺ herds) יֻצָּ֑ג (shall stay behind). גַּֽם־ (Also) טַפְּכֶ֖ם (your⁺ little ones) יֵלֵ֥ךְ (shall go) עִמָּכֶֽם׃ (with you⁺).

25  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) מֹשֶׁ֔ה (Moses), גַּם־ (Also) אַתָּ֛ה (you) תִּתֵּ֥ן (must give) בְּיָדֵ֖נוּ (into our hands) זְבָחִ֣ים (sacrifices) וְעֹל֑וֹת (and burnt offerings), וְעָשִׂ֖ינוּ (and we shall make them) לַיהוָ֥ה (to YHWH) אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ (our God). 26  וְגַם־ (And also) מִקְנֵ֜נוּ (our livestock) יֵלֵ֣ךְ (shall go) עִמָּ֗נוּ (with us). לֹ֤א (Not) תִשָּׁאֵר֙ (shall remain) פַּרְסָ֔ה (a hoof), כִּ֚י (for) מִמֶּ֣נּוּ (from it) נִקַּ֔ח (we shall take) לַעֲבֹ֖ד (to serve) אֶת־ (-) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ (our God), וַאֲנַ֣חְנוּ (and we) לֹֽא־ (not) נֵדַ֗ע (do know) מַֽה־ (with what) נַּעֲבֹד֙ (we shall serve) אֶת־ (-) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) עַד־ (until) בֹּאֵ֖נוּ (we arrive) שָֽׁמָּה׃ (there).

27  וַיְחַזֵּ֥ק (And strengthened) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) אֶת־ (-) לֵ֣ב (the heart) פַּרְעֹ֑ה (of Pharaoh), וְלֹ֥א (and not) אָבָ֖ה (he was willing) לְשַׁלְּחָֽם׃ (to send them out). 28  וַיֹּֽאמֶר־ (And said) ל֥וֹ (to him) פַרְעֹ֖ה (Pharaoh), לֵ֣ךְ (Go away) מֵעָלָ֑י (from me)! הִשָּׁ֣מֶר (Take heed) לְךָ֗ (to yourself) אֶל־ (not) תֹּ֙סֶף֙ (do again) רְא֣וֹת (see) פָּנַ֔י (my face)! כִּ֗י (For) בְּי֛וֹם (in the day) רְאֹתְךָ֥ (you see) פָנַ֖י (my face), תָּמֽוּת׃ (you shall die)!

29  וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And said) מֹשֶׁ֖ה (Moses), כֵּ֣ן (Thus) דִּבַּ֑רְתָּ (you have spoken), לֹא־ (not) אֹסִ֥ף (I will again) ע֖וֹד (ever) רְא֥וֹת (see) פָּנֶֽיךָ׃פ (your face)!