Exodus 2
1 After this there went a man of the house of Levi; and took a wife of his own kindred.
Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a woman of Levi.
2 And she conceived, and bore a son; and seeing him a goodly child hid him three months.
The woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a healthy boy, 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 could no longer hide him, she took a papyrus basket and sealed it with bitumen and pitch. Then she put the child in it and placed it among the reeds in the water along the side of the river.
4 His sister standing afar off, and taking notice what would be done.
His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to 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,
Pharaoh's daughter came down to bathe at the river while her attendants walked along by the riverside. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her attendant to get it.
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 child. Behold, the baby was crying. She had compassion on him and said, “This is certainly one of the Hebrews' children.”
7 And the child’s sister said to her Shall I go and call to thee a Hebrew woman, to nurse the babe?
Then the baby's sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, “Should I go and find you a Hebrew woman to nurse the child for you?”
8 She answered: Go. The maid went and called her mother.
Pharaoh's daughter said to her, “Go.” So the young girl went and got the child's mother.
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.
Pharaoh's daughter said to the baby's mother, “Take this child and nurse him for me, and I will pay you wages.” So the woman took the child 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 child grew older, she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses and said, “Because I drew him from 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.
When Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and observed their hard work. He saw an Egyptian striking 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 this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no one there, he killed the Egyptian and hid 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?
He went out the next day, and, behold, two Hebrew men were fighting. He said to the one who was in the wrong, “Why are you hitting your companion?”
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?
But the man said, “Who made you a leader and judge over us? Are you planning to kill me as you killed that Egyptian?” Then Moses became afraid and said, “What I did has certainly become known to others.”
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.
Now when Pharaoh heard about it, he tried to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. There he sat down 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.
Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. They came, drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock.
17 And the shepherds came and drove them away: and Moses arose, and defending the maids, watered their sheep.
The shepherds came and tried to drive them away, but Moses went and helped them. Then he watered their flock.
18 And when they returned to Raguel their father, he said to them: Why are ye come sooner than usual?
When the girls went to Reuel their father, he said, “Why are you home so early 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.
They said, “An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds. He even drew water for us and watered the flock.”
20 But he said: Where is he? why have you let the man go? call him that he may eat bread.
He said to his daughters, “So where is he? Why did you leave the man? Call him so he can eat a meal 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 also gave him his daughter Zipporah in marriage.
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 bore a son, and Moses called his name Gershom; he said, “I have been a resident in a foreign land.”
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.
A long time later, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned because of the slave labor. They cried out for help, and their pleas went up to God because of their bondage.
24 And he heard their groaning, and remembered the covenant which he made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
When God heard their groaning, God called to mind his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
25 And the Lord looked upon the children of Israel, and he knew them.
God saw the Israelites, and he understood their situation.
