1 The LORD said to Moses, “I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. After that he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will drive you out of here completely. 2 Now speak in the hearing of the people: let each man ask his neighbor and each woman ask her neighbor for articles of silver and gold.” 3 The LORD gave the people favor in the eyes of the Egyptians. The man Moses, too, was greatly esteemed in the land of Egypt, in the eyes of Pharaoh’s servants and in the eyes of the people.

4 Moses said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘About midnight I will go out through the midst of Egypt. 5 Every firstborn in the land of Egypt will die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sits on his throne, to the firstborn of the slave woman at the mill, and every firstborn of the animals. 6 There will be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, unlike anything that has ever been or ever will be again. 7 But not a dog will make a sound against any of the Israelites, against either person or animal, so that you may know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.’ 8 All these servants of yours will come down to me and bow down before me, saying, ‘Go out, you and all the people who follow you!’ After that I will go out.” Then he left Pharaoh’s presence in burning anger.

9 The LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not listen to you, so that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.” 10 Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh, but the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the Israelites go out of his land.