11. Not so! Go now, you that are men, and serve the Lord, for that is what you desire.” Then they were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence.
12. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, so that they may come up upon the land of Egypt and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail has left.”
13. So Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt; then the Lord brought an east wind upon the land all that day and all that night. And when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.
14. The locusts went up over all the land of Egypt and settled down in all the territory of Egypt. They were very grievous. Never before had there been such locusts as they, nor would there be such ever again.
15. For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened, and they ate every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left. As a result, nothing green remained there in the trees or herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt.
16. Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste and said, “I have sinned against the Lord, your God, and against you.
17. Now therefore please forgive my sin only this once, and entreat the Lord your God, so that He may take away from me this death only.”
18. So he went out from Pharaoh and prayed to the Lord.
19. Then the Lord turned a mighty strong west wind, which took away the locusts and threw them into the Red Sea. Not one locust remained in all the territory of Egypt.
20. But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go.
21. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the heavens, so that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness which may be felt.”
22. So Moses stretched forth his hand toward the heavens, and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days.
23. They did not see one another; nor did anyone rise from his place for three days. But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.
24. Then Pharaoh called to Moses and said, “Go, serve the Lord. Only let your flocks and your herds be detained. Even let your little ones also go with you.”
25. But Moses said, “You must also give us sacrifices and burnt offerings, so that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.
26. Our livestock will go with us also. Not a hoof will be left behind, for we must take of them to serve the Lord our God. And we do not know with what we must serve the Lord, until we get there.”
27. But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go.