12. They threw their walking sticks on the ground, and their sticks became snakes. But Aaron’s stick swallowed theirs.
13. Still the king was stubborn and refused to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said.
14. Then the Lord said to Moses, “The king is being stubborn and refuses to let the people go.
15. In the morning the king will go out to the Nile River. Go meet him by the edge of the river, and take with you the walking stick that became a snake.
16. Tell him: The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, sent me to you. He said, ‘Let my people go worship me in the desert.’ Until now you have not listened.
17. This is what the Lord says: ‘This is how you will know that I am the Lord. I will strike the water of the Nile River with this stick in my hand, and the water will change into blood.
18. Then the fish in the Nile will die, and the river will begin to stink. The Egyptians will not be able to drink the water from the Nile.’ ”