Exodus 1

1 These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with his family:

These are the names of the sons of Israel who came into Egypt with Jacob, each with his household:

2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah;

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,

3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin;

Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,

4 Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher.

Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

5 The descendants of Jacob numbered seventy in all, including Joseph, who was already in Egypt.

All the people who were descendants of Jacob were seventy in number. Joseph was already in Egypt.

6 Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died,

Then Joseph, all his brothers, and all that generation died.

7 but the Israelites were fruitful and increased rapidly; they multiplied and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them.

The Israelites were fruitful, increased greatly in numbers, and became very strong; the land was filled with them.

8 Then a new king, who did not know Joseph, came to power in Egypt.

Now then a new king arose over Egypt, one who did not know about Joseph.

9 “Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become too numerous and too powerful for us.

He said to his people, “Look, the Israelites are more numerous and stronger than we are.

10 Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase even more; and if a war breaks out, they may join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country.”

Come, let us deal with them wisely, otherwise they will continue to grow in numbers, and if war breaks out, they will join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the land.”

11 So the Egyptians appointed taskmasters over the Israelites to oppress them with forced labor. As a result, they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh.

So they put taskmasters over them to oppress them with hard labor. The Israelites built store cities for Pharaoh: Pithom and Rameses.

12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and flourished; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites.

But the more the Egyptians oppressed them, the more the Israelites increased in numbers and spread. So the Egyptians began to dread the Israelites.

13 They worked the Israelites ruthlessly

The Egyptians made the Israelites work rigorously.

14 and made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar, and with all kinds of work in the fields. Every service they imposed was harsh.

They made their lives bitter with hard service with mortar and brick, and with all kinds of work in the fields. All their required work was hard.

15 Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah,

Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives; the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the other Puah.

16 “When you help the Hebrew women give birth, observe them on the birthstools. If the child is a son, kill him; but if it is a daughter, let her live.”

He said, “When you assist the Hebrew women on the birthstool, observe when they give birth. If it is a son, then you must kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she may live.”

17 The midwives, however, feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt had instructed; they let the boys live.

But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt ordered them; instead, they let the baby boys live.

18 So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?”

The king of Egypt summoned the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and let the baby boys live?”

19 The midwives answered Pharaoh, “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before a midwife arrives.”

The midwives answered Pharaoh, “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women. They are vigorous and have finished giving birth before a midwife comes to them.”

20 So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied and became even more numerous.

God protected these midwives. The people increased in numbers and became very strong.

21 And because the midwives feared God, He gave them families of their own.

Because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.

22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people: “Every son born to the Hebrews you must throw into the Nile, but every daughter you may allow to live.”

Pharaoh ordered all his people, “You must throw every son that is born into the river, but every daughter you will let live.”