Chapter C: The Stinging Gnats and Swarms of Flies

And the Lord said unto Moses, "Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the earth, that it may become stinging gnats throughout all the land of Egypt." And there were gnats upon man, and upon beast; all the dust of the earth became gnats throughout all the land of Egypt.

And the Lord said unto Moses, "Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; and say unto him, 'Thus saith the Lord, Let my people go, that they may serve me. Else, if thou wilt not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies upon thee, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thy houses: and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground whereon they are. And I will separate in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth.'"

And the Lord did so; and there came grievous swarms of flies into all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh said, "I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness."

And the Lord removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; there remained not one. And Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and he did not let the people go.