16. But I had a special reason for making you king. I decided to show you my power. I wanted my name to become known everywhere on earth.
17. " ' "But you are still against my people. You will not let them go.
18. So at this time tomorrow I will send the worst hailstorm ever to fall on Egypt in its entire history.
19. " ' "Give an order now to bring your livestock inside to a safe place. Bring in everything that is outside. The hail will fall on all of the people and animals that are left outside. They will die." ' "
20. The officials of Pharaoh who had respect for what the Lord had said obeyed him. They hurried to bring their slaves and their livestock inside.
21. But others didn't pay attention to what the Lord had said. They left their slaves and livestock outside.
22. Then the Lord spoke to Moses. He said, "Reach your hand out toward the sky. Then hail will fall all over Egypt. It will beat down on people and animals alike. It will strike everything that is growing in the fields of Egypt."
23. Moses reached his wooden staff out toward the sky. Then the Lord sent thunder and hail. Lightning flashed down to the ground. The Lord rained hail on the land of Egypt.
24. Hail fell and lightning flashed back and forth. It was the worst storm in Egypt's entire history.