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 came into Egypt with Jacob, each with his household:

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, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

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

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

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

Then Joseph, 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Egyptians made the Israelites work rigorously.

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.

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 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 spoke to the Hebrew midwives; the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the other 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.

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

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

The king of Egypt summoned the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and let the baby 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. They are vigorous and have finished giving birth before a midwife comes to them.”

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

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

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

Because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.

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.

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