New American Standard Bible

Exodus 4:8-22 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

8. "If they will not believe you or heed the witness of the first sign, they may believe the witness of the last sign.

9. But if they will not believe even these two signs or heed what you say, then you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground; and the water which you take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground."

10. Then Moses said to the Lord, "Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue."

11. The Lord said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?

12. Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say."

13. But he said, "Please, Lord, now send the message by whomever You will."

14. Then the anger of the Lord burned against Moses, and He said, "Is there not your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. And moreover, behold, he is coming out to meet you; when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.

15. You are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I, even I, will be with your mouth and his mouth, and I will teach you what you are to do.

16. Moreover, he shall speak for you to the people; and he will be as a mouth for you and you will be as God to him.

17. You shall take in your hand this staff, with which you shall perform the signs."

18. Then Moses departed and returned to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, "Please, let me go, that I may return to my brethren who are in Egypt, and see if they are still alive." And Jethro said to Moses, "Go in peace."

19. Now the Lord said to Moses in Midian, "Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead."

20. So Moses took his wife and his sons and mounted them on a donkey, and returned to the land of Egypt. Moses also took the staff of God in his hand.

21. The Lord said to Moses, "When you go back to Egypt see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders which I have put in your power; but I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go.

22. Then you shall say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the Lord, "Israel is My son, My firstborn.