Exodus 2
1 After this there went a man of the house of Levi; and took a wife of his own kindred.
It was around this time that a man from the tribe of Levi married a woman, also a Levite.
2 And she conceived, and bore a son; and seeing him a goodly child hid him three months.
She became pregnant and had a son. She saw he was a lovely baby, and she hid him for three months.
3 And when she could hide him no longer, she took a basket made of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and pitch: and put the little babe therein, and laid him in the sedges by the river’s brink,
But when she couldn't hide him anymore, she got a papyrus basket and covered it with tar and pitch. Then she put her baby in the basket and placed it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile.
4 His sister standing afar off, and taking notice what would be done.
His sister waited some distance away, keeping an eye on him.
5 And behold the daughter of Pharao came down to wash herself in the river: and her maids walked by the river’s brink. And when she saw the basket in the sedges, she sent one of her maids for it: and when it was brought,
Then Pharaoh's daughter arrived to bathe in the Nile. Her ladies-in-waiting were walking along the bank of the river. When she saw the basket among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it and bring it to her.
6 She opened it and seeing within it an infant crying, having compassion on it she said: This is one of the babes of the Hebrews.
When she opened it she saw the baby boy. He was crying and she felt sorry for him. “This must be one of the Hebrew boys,” she said.
7 And the child’s sister said to her Shall I go and call to thee a Hebrew woman, to nurse the babe?
His sister asked Pharaoh's daughter, “Would you like me to go and find one of the Hebrew women to nurse him for you?”
8 She answered: Go. The maid went and called her mother.
“Yes, go and do that,” she replied. So the girl went and called the baby's mother to come.
9 And Pharao’s daughter said to her. Take this child and nurse him for me: I will give thee thy wages. The woman took, and nursed the child: and when he was grown up, she delivered him to Pharao’s daughter.
“Take this baby boy and nurse him for me,” she told his mother. “I will pay you myself.” So his mother took him home and nursed him.
10 And she adopted him for a son, and called him Moses, saying: Because I took him out of the water.
When the boy was older she took him to Pharaoh's daughter, who adopted him as her son. She called him Moses, because she said, “I pulled him out of the water.”
11 In those days after Moses was grown up, he went out to his brethren: and saw their affliction, and an Egyptian striking one of the Hebrews his brethren.
Later, when Moses had grown up, he went to visit his people, the Hebrews. He saw them doing hard labor. He also saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people.
12 And when he had looked about this way and that way, and saw no one there, he slew the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.
He looked all around to make sure no one was watching, and then he killed the Egyptian and buried his body in the sand.
13 And going out the next day, he saw two Hebrews quarrelling: and he said to him that did the wrong: Why strikest thou thy neighbour?
The following day he went back and he saw two Hebrews fighting with each other. He said to the one at fault, “Why are you beating one of your own people?”
14 But he answered: Who hath appointed thee prince and judge over us? Wilt thou kill me, as thou didst yesterday kill the Egyptian? Moses feared, and said: How is this come to be known?
“Who put you in charge to judge us?” the man replied. “Are you going to kill me like you did the Egyptian?” Moses became frightened at this, and said to himself, “People know what I've done!”
15 And Pharao heard of this word and sought to kill Moses: but he fled from his sight, and abode in the land of Madian, and he sat down by a well.
When Pharaoh found out, he tried to have Moses killed, but Moses ran away from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian. One day as he was sitting by a well,
16 And the priest of Madian had seven daughters, who came to draw water: and when the troughs were filled, desired to water their father’s flocks.
and the Midianite priest's seven daughters came to fetch water to fill up the troughs so their father's flock could drink.
17 And the shepherds came and drove them away: and Moses arose, and defending the maids, watered their sheep.
Some shepherds arrived and chased them off, but Moses intervened and rescued them, and watered their flock.
18 And when they returned to Raguel their father, he said to them: Why are ye come sooner than usual?
When they got home, their father Reuel asked them, “How did you get back so quickly today?”
19 They answered: A man of Egypt delivered us from the hands of the shepherds: and he drew water also with us, and gave the sheep to drink.
“An Egyptian rescued us from some shepherds who attacked us,” they replied. “Then he even fetched water for us so the flock could drink.”
20 But he said: Where is he? why have you let the man go? call him that he may eat bread.
“So where is he?” Reuel asked his daughter. “You didn't just leave him there, did you? Go and invite him to eat with us!”
21 And Moses swore that he would dwell with him. And he took Sephora his daughter to wife:
Moses agreed to stay with the man, who arranged for his daughter Zipporah to marry Moses.
22 And she bore him a son, whom he called Gersam, saying: I have been a stranger in a foreign country. And she bore another, whom he called Eliezer, saying: For the God of my father, my helper hath delivered me out of the hand of Pharao.
She had a son, and Moses named him Gershom, for he said, “I'm an exile living in a foreign country.”
23 Now after a long time the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel groaning, cried out because of the works: and their cry went up unto God from the works.
Years later, the king of Egypt died. But the Israelites were still groaning under their hard labor. Their cries for help because of their hardship reached God.
24 And he heard their groaning, and remembered the covenant which he made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
God heard their groans, and recalled his agreement with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
25 And the Lord looked upon the children of Israel, and he knew them.
God also looked sympathetically on the Israelites, and was concerned for them.
