Then the LORDsaidto Moses,"Goto Pharaoh,for I have hardenedhis heartand the heartof his servants,that I may performthesesignsof Mine amongthem,
Godis a righteousjudge,And a Godwho has indignationeveryday.
But the LORDhardenedPharaoh'sheart,and he did not letthe sonsof Israelgo.
"So I will stretchout My handand strikeEgyptwith allMy miracleswhichI shall doin the midstof it; and afterthat he will let you go.
The LORDsaidto Moses,"When you gobackto Egyptseethat you performbeforePharaohallthe wonderswhichI have putin your power;but I will hardenhis heartso that he will not letthe peoplego.
"When Pharaohdoes not listento you, then I will layMy handon Egyptand bringout My hosts,My peoplethe sonsof Israel,from the landof Egyptby greatjudgments.
And the LORDhardenedPharaoh'sheart,and he did not listento them, justas the LORDhad spokento Moses.
"But, indeed,for thisreasonI have allowed you to remain,in orderto showyou My powerand in orderto proclaimMy namethrough allthe earth.
Then Pharaohsentfor Mosesand Aaron,and saidto them, "I have sinnedthistime;the LORDis the righteousone,and I and my peopleare the wickedones.
"HE HAS BLINDEDTHEIR EYESAND HE HARDENEDTHEIR HEART,SOTHAT THEY WOULD NOT SEEWITH THEIR EYESAND PERCEIVEWITH THEIR HEART,AND BE CONVERTEDAND I HEALTHEM."
For the Scripturesaysto Pharaoh,"FOR THISVERYPURPOSE I RAISEDYOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATEMY POWERIN YOU, AND THAT MY NAMEMIGHT BE PROCLAIMEDTHROUGHOUTTHE WHOLEEARTH."
So thenHe has mercyon whomHe desires,and He hardenswhomHe desires.
For it was of the LORDto hardentheir hearts,to meetIsraelin battlein orderthat he might utterlydestroythem, that they might receivenomercy,but that he might destroythem, justas the LORDhad commandedMoses.
"Woeto us! Whoshall deliverus from the handof thesemightygods?Theseare the godswho smotethe Egyptianswith all[kinds of] plaguesin the wilderness.
