17. Now forgive my sin this time. Pray to the Lord your God. Ask him to stop this punishment that kills.”
18. Moses left the king and prayed to the Lord.
19. So the Lord changed the wind. He made a very strong wind to blow from the west. It blew the locusts away into the Red Sea. Not one locust was left anywhere in Egypt.
20. But the Lord caused the king to be stubborn again. And he did not let the people of Israel go.
21. Then the Lord told Moses, “Raise your hand toward the sky, and darkness will cover the land of Egypt. It will be so dark you will be able to feel it.”
22. So Moses raised his hand toward the sky. Then total darkness was everywhere in Egypt for three days.
23. No one could see anyone else. And no one could go anywhere for three days. But the Israelites had light where they lived.
24. Again the king of Egypt called for Moses. He said, “All of you may go and worship the Lord. You may take your women and children with you. But you must leave your sheep and cattle here.”
25. Moses said, “You must let us have animals to use as sacrifices and burnt offerings. We have to offer them to the Lord our God.
26. So we must take our animals with us. Not a hoof will be left behind. We have to use some of the animals to worship the Lord our God. We do not yet know exactly what we will need to worship the Lord. We will know when we get there.”
27. But the Lord made the king stubborn again. So he refused to let them go.