1. And the Lord said to Moses: "Behold, I have appointed you as the god of Pharaoh. And Aaron, your brother, will be your prophet.
2. You will speak to him all that I command you. And he will speak to Pharaoh, so that he may release the sons of Israel from his land.
3. But I will harden his heart, and I will multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt,
4. and he will not listen to you. And I will send my hand over Egypt, and I will lead my army and my people, the sons of Israel, from the land of Egypt, through very great judgments.
5. And the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord, who has extended my hand over Egypt, and who has led the sons of Israel from their midst."
6. And so, Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had instructed. And so it was done.
7. Now Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three, when they spoke to Pharaoh.
8. And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron:
9. "When Pharaoh will say to you, 'Show signs,' you shall say to Aaron, 'Take your staff, and cast it down before Pharaoh, and it will be turned into a snake.' "
10. And so Moses and Aaron entered to Pharaoh, and they did just as the Lord had commanded. And Aaron took the staff in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and it was turned into a snake.
11. Then Pharaoh called the wise men and the sorcerers. And they also, by Egyptian incantations and certain secrets, did similarly.
12. And each one cast down their staffs, and they were turned into serpents. But the staff of Aaron devoured their staffs.
13. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had instructed.