1The LORD answered Moses, "I have made you a god to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron is your prophet. 2Tell your brother Aaron everything I command you, and he must tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites leave the country. 3But I will make Pharaoh stubborn. Even though I will do many miraculous signs and amazing things in Egypt, 4Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will use my power to punish Egypt severely, and I will bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt in organized family groups. 5The Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I use my power against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of there." 6Moses and Aaron did as the LORD had commanded them. 7Moses was 80 years old and Aaron was 83 when they talked to Pharaoh.

8The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 9"When Pharaoh says to you, 'Give me a sign to prove that God has sent you,' tell Aaron, 'Take your shepherd's staff and throw it down in front of Pharaoh,' and it will become a large snake." 10Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did as the LORD had commanded. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a large snake. 11Then Pharaoh sent for his wise men and sorcerers. These Egyptian magicians did the same thing using their magic spells. 12Each of them threw his staff down, and they all became large snakes. But Aaron's staff swallowed theirs. 13Yet, Pharaoh continued to be stubborn and would not listen to them, as the LORD had predicted.

14Then the LORD said to Moses, "Pharaoh is being stubborn. He refuses to let my people go. 15In the morning meet Pharaoh when he's on his way to the Nile. Wait for him on the bank of the river. Take along the staff that turned into a snake. 16Say to him, 'The LORD God of the Hebrews sent me to tell you, "Let my people go to worship me in the desert." So far you have not listened. 17Here is what the LORD says: This is the way you will recognize that I am the LORD: With this staff in my hand, I'm going to strike the Nile, and the water will turn into blood. 18The fish in the Nile will die, and the river will stink. The Egyptians will not be able to drink any water from the Nile.'" 19The LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron, 'Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt-its rivers, canals, ponds, and all its reservoirs-so that they turn into blood. There will be blood everywhere in Egypt, even in the wooden and stone containers.'"

20Moses and Aaron did as the LORD had commanded. In front of Pharaoh and his officials, Aaron raised his staff and struck the Nile. All the water in the river turned into blood. 21The fish in the Nile died, and it smelled so bad that the Egyptians couldn't drink any water from the river. There was blood everywhere in Egypt. 22But the Egyptian magicians did the same thing using their magic spells. So Pharaoh continued to be stubborn and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, as the LORD had predicted. 23Pharaoh turned and went back to his palace. He dismissed the entire matter from his mind. 24All the Egyptians dug along the Nile for water to drink because they couldn't drink any of the water from the river. 25Seven days passed after the LORD struck the Nile.