God tells Moses he will be like God to Pharaoh, with Aaron his prophet. Aaron's staff becomes a serpent and swallows those of the magicians, and the first plague turns the Nile to blood.
1 And the LORD said unto Moses , See , I have made thee a god to Pharaoh : and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet .
2 Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh , that he send the children of Israel out of his land .
3 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart , and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt .
4 But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt , and bring forth mine armies , and my people the children of Israel , out of the land of Egypt by great judgments .
5 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD , when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt , and bring out the children of Israel from among them.
6 And Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded them, so did they.
7 And Moses was fourscore years old , and Aaron fourscore and three years old , when they spake unto Pharaoh .
8 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron , saying ,
9 When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying , Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron , Take thy rod , and cast it before Pharaoh , and it shall become a serpent .
10 And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh , and they did so as the LORD had commanded : and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh , and before his servants , and it became a serpent .
11 Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers : now the magicians of Egypt , they also did in like manner with their enchantments .
12 For they cast down every man his rod , and they became serpents : but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods .
13 And he hardened Pharaoh's heart , that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said .
14 And the LORD said unto Moses , Pharaoh's heart is hardened , he refuseth to let the people go .
15 Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning ; lo, he goeth out unto the water ; and thou shalt stand by the river's brink against he come ; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine hand .
16 And thou shalt say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying , Let my people go , that they may serve me in the wilderness : and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear .
17 Thus saith the LORD , In this thou shalt know that I am the LORD : behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river , and they shall be turned to blood .
18 And the fish that is in the river shall die , and the river shall stink ; and the Egyptians shall lothe to drink of the water of the river .
19 And the LORD spake unto Moses , Say unto Aaron , Take thy rod , and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt , upon their streams , upon their rivers , and upon their ponds , and upon all their pools of water , that they may become blood ; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt , both in vessels of wood , and in vessels of stone .
20 And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded ; and he lifted up the rod , and smote the waters that were in the river , in the sight of Pharaoh , and in the sight of his servants ; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood .
21 And the fish that was in the river died ; and the river stank , and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river ; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt .
22 And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments : and Pharaoh's heart was hardened , neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said .
23 And Pharaoh turned and went into his house , neither did he set his heart to this also.
24 And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink ; for they could not drink of the water of the river .
25 And seven days were fulfilled , after that the LORD had smitten the river .