Exodus 8:20-32 - Plague Four: Flies
20 Jehovah said to Moses: Early tomorrow morning, go and meet the king as he goes to the river. Tell him that Jehovah says: 'Let my people go, so that they can serve me. 21 I warn you that if you refuse, I will punish you by sending flies on you, your officials, and your people. The houses of the Egyptians will be full of flies. The ground will be covered with them. 22 At that same time I will cut off the land of Goshen where my people live. No swarms of flies shall be there. / Then you will know that I am Jehovah in the midst of the earth. 23 I will put a dividing line between my people and your people. This sign will happen tomorrow.'
24 Jehovah did what he said. Dense swarms of flies came into Pharaoh's palace and into the houses of his officials. All over Egypt the flies ruined everything. 25 Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron. He said: Go, sacrifice to your God here in this country.
26 Moses replied: It is not right to do that. The sacrifices we offer to Jehovah our God are disgusting to Egyptians. If they see us offer sacrifices that they consider disgusting, will they not stone us to death? 27 We need to travel three days into the desert to offer sacrifices to Jehovah our God, as he told us to do.
28 Pharaoh said: I will let you go, but do not go far. You may offer sacrifices to Jehovah your God in the desert and pray for me.
29 Moses answered: As soon as I leave you, I will pray to Jehovah. Tomorrow the swarms of flies will go away from you, your officials, and your people. But you must stop tricking us by not letting the people go to offer sacrifices to Jehovah. 30 Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to Jehovah. 31 Jehovah did what Moses asked. The swarms of flies left Pharaoh, his officials, and his people. Not a single fly was left. 32 Again Pharaoh was stubborn and did not let the people go.