Exodus 1

1 Now these are the names of the sons of Israel who came into Egypt; every man and his family came with Jacob.

Now, these, are the names of the Sons of Israel, who came into Egypt, with Jacob, did each man and his household come in: —

2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah;

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah;

3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin;

Issachar, Zebulon, and Benjamin;

4 Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

5 All the offspring of Jacob were seventy persons: and Joseph had come to Egypt before them.

And it came to pass that all the persons who were descended from Jacob were seventy souls, —but, Joseph, was already in Egypt.

6 Then Joseph came to his end, and all his brothers, and all that generation.

So then Joseph died and all his brethren, and all that generation.

7 And the children of Israel were fertile, increasing very greatly in numbers and in power; and the land was full of them.

But the sons of Israel, were fruitful and swarmed and multiplied and waxed mighty, with exceeding vigour, —so that the land was filled with them.

8 Now a new king came to power in Egypt, who had no knowledge of Joseph.

Then arose a new king over Egypt, —who had not known Joseph.

9 And he said to his people, See, the people of Israel are greater in number and in power than we are:

So he said, unto his people, Lo! the people of the sons of Israel are too many and mighty for us!

10 Let us take care for fear that their numbers may become even greater, and if there is a war, they may be joined with those who are against us, and make an attack on us, and go up out of the land.

Come on! let us shew ourselves wise with regard to them, lest they so multiply that it shall come to pass when war befalleth us, that they also, shall join themselves unto them who hate us, and shall make war upon us. and then go up out of the land.

11 So they put overseers of forced work over them, in order to make their strength less by the weight of their work. And they made store-towns for Pharaoh, Pithom and Raamses.

So they set over them chiefs of tribute, to the end they might humiliate them with their burdens, —and they built store-cities for Pharaoh, even Pithom and Raamses.

12 But the more cruel they were to them, the more their number increased, till all the land was full of them. And the children of Israel were hated by the Egyptians.

But the more they were humiliating them, the more, were they multiplying, and, the more, were they breaking forth, so they were filled with alarm because of the sons of Israel.

13 And they gave the children of Israel even harder work to do:

And the Egyptians rigorously made the sons of Israel serve;

14 And made their lives bitter with hard work, making building-material and bricks, and doing all sorts of work in the fields under the hardest conditions.

and embittered their lives with harsh service, in clay and in bricks, and in all manner of service in the field, —all their service, wherein they rigorously made them serve.

15 And the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew women who gave help at the time of childbirth (the name of the one was Shiphrah and the name of the other Puah),

Then said the king of Egypt to the Hebrew midwives, —of whom, the name of the one was, Shiphrah, and, the name of the other Puah; —

16 When you are looking after the Hebrew women in childbirth, if it is a son you are to put him to death; but if it is a daughter, she may go on living.

then he said—When ye act as midwives unto the Hebrew women, then shall ye look out for the sex, —If it is, a son, then shall ye kill it, But, if it is, a daughter, then shall it live.

17 But the women had the fear of God, and did not do as the king of Egypt said, but let the male children go on living.

But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt spake unto them, —but suffered the male children to live.

18 And the king of Egypt sent for the women, and said to them, Why have you done this, and let the male children go on living?

Then called the king of Egypt for the midwives, and said to them—Wherefore have ye done this thing, that ye should let the male children live?

19 And they said to Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are strong, and the birth takes place before we come to them.

And the midwives said unto Pharaoh. Because not like the Egyptian women, are the Hebrew women, for they are full of life, ere yet the midwife can come in unto them, they have given birth,

20 And the blessing of God was on these women: and the people were increased in number and became very strong.

So then God dealt well with the midwives, —and the people multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty.

21 And because the women who took care of the Hebrew mothers had the fear of God, he gave them families.

And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made for them households.

22 And Pharaoh gave orders to all his people, saying, Every son who comes to birth is to be put into the river, but every daughter may go on living.

Then gave Pharaoh command to all his people saying—Every son that is born to the Hebrews, into the river, shall ye cast him; But every daughter, shall ye suffer to live.