Exodus 1

1 These are the names of the sons of Israel that came into Egypt together with Jacob their father; they came in each with their whole family.

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

2 Ruben, Simeon, Levi, Judas,

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah;

3 Issachar, Zabulon, Benjamin,

Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin;

4 Dan and Nephthalim, Gad and Aser.

Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher.

5 But Joseph was in Egypt. And all the souls [born] of Jacob were seventy-five.

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

6 And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation.

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

7 And the children of Israel increased and multiplied, and became numerous and grew exceedingly strong, and the land multiplied them.

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

8 And there arose up another king over Egypt, who knew not Joseph.

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

9 And he said to his nation, Behold, the race of the children of Israel is a great multitude, and is stronger than we:

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

10 come then, let us deal craftily with them, lest at any time they be increased, and whenever war shall happen to us, these also shall be added to our enemies, and having prevailed against us in war, they will depart out of the land.

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.”

11 And he set over them taskmasters, who should afflict them in their works; and they built strong cities for Pharao, both Pitho, and Ramesses, and On, which is Heliopolis.

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.

12 But as they humbled them, by so much they multiplied, and grew exceedingly strong; and the Egyptians greatly abhorred the children of Israel.

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

13 And the Egyptians tyrannized over the children of Israel by force.

They worked the Israelites ruthlessly

14 And they embittered their life by hard labours, in the clay and in brick-making, and all the works in the plains, according to all the works, wherein they caused them to serve with violence.

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.

15 And the king of the Egyptians spoke to the midwives of the Hebrews; the name of the one was, Sepphora; and the name of the second, Phua.

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

16 And he said, When you do the office of midwives to the Hebrew women, and they are about to be delivered, if it be a male, kill it; but if a female, save it.

“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.”

17 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt appointed them; and they saved the male children alive.

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

18 And the king of Egypt called the midwives, and said to them, Why is it that you have done this thing, and saved the male children alive?

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

19 And the midwives said to Pharao, The Hebrew women are not as the women of Egypt, for they are delivered before the midwives go in to them. So they bore children.

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

20 And God did well to the midwives, and the people multiplied, and grew very strong.

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

21 And as the midwives feared God, they established for themselves families.

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

22 And Pharao charged all his people, saying, Whatever male [child] shall be born to the Hebrews, cast into the river; and every female, save it alive.

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.”