Exodus 1

1 Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt (euery man and his housholde came thither with Iaakob)

These are the names of the children of Israel, that went into Egypt with Jacob: they went in, every man with his household:

2 Reuben, Simeon, Leui, and Iudah,

Ruben, Simeon, Levi, Juda,

3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Beniamin,

Issachar, Zabulon, and Benjamin,

4 Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

Dan, and Nephtali, Gad and Aser.

5 So al the soules, that came out of the loines of Iaakob, were seuentie soules: Ioseph was in Egypt already.

And all the souls that came out of Jacob’s thigh, were seventy: but Joseph was in Egypt.

6 Nowe Ioseph died and all his brethren, and that whole generation.

After he was dead, and all his brethren, and all that generation,

7 And the children of Israel brought foorth fruite and encreased in aboundance, and were multiplied, and were exceeding mightie, so that the land was full of them.

The children of Israel increased, and sprung up into multitudes, and growing exceedingly strong they filled the land.

8 Then there rose vp a newe King in Egypt, who knewe not Ioseph.

In the mean time there arose a new king over Egypt, that knew not Joseph:

9 And he sayde vnto his people, Beholde, the people of the children of Israel are greater and mightier then we.

And he said to his people: Behold the people of the children of Israel are numerous and stronger than we.

10 Come, let vs worke wisely with them, least they multiplie, and it come to passe, that if there be warre, they ioyne them selues also vnto our enemies, and fight against vs, and get them out of the land.

Come, let us wisely oppress them, lest they multiply: and if any war shall rise against us, join with our enemies, and having overcome us, depart out of the land.

11 Therefore did they set taskemasters ouer them, to keepe the vnder with burdens: and they built the cities Pithom and Raamses for the treasures of Pharaoh.

Therefore he set over them masters of the works, to afflict them with burdens, and they built for Pharao cities of tabernacles, Phithom and Ramesses.

12 But the more they vexed them, the more they multiplied and grewe: therefore they were more grieued against the children of Israel.

But the more they oppressed them, the more they were multiplied, and increased:

13 Wherefore the Egyptians by crueltie caused the children of Israel to serue.

And the Egyptians hated the children of Israel, and afflicted them and mocked them:

14 Thus they made them weary of their liues by sore labour in clay and in bricke, and in al worke in the fielde, with all maner of bondage, which they layde vpon them most cruelly.

And they made their life bitter with hard works in clay, and brick, and with all manner of service, wherewith they were overcharged in the works of the earth.

15 Moreouer the King of Egypt commanded ye midwiues of the Ebrewe women, (of which the ones name was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah)

And the king of Egypt spoke to the midwives of the Hebrews: of whom one was called Sephora, the other Phua,

16 And sayde, When ye doe the office of a midwife to the women of the Ebrewes, and see them on their stooles, if it be a sonne, then yee shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then let her liue.

Commanding them: When you shall do the office of midwives to the Hebrew women, and the time of delivery is come: if it be a man child, kill it: if a woman, keep it alive.

17 Notwithstanding ye midwiues feared God, and did not as the King of Egypt commanded them, but preserued aliue the men children.

But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded, but saved the men children.

18 Then the King of Egypt called for the midwiues, and sayde vnto them, Why haue yee done thus, and haue preserued aliue the men children?

And the king called for them and said: What is that you meant to do, that you would save the men children?

19 And the midwiues answered Pharaoh, Because the Ebrewe women are not as the women of Egypt: for they are liuely, and are deliuered yer the midwife come at them.

They answered: The Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women: for they themselves are skillful in the office of a midwife; and they are delivered before we come to them.

20 God therefore prospered the midwiues, and the people multiplied and were very mightie.

Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied and grew exceedingly strong.

21 And because ye midwiues feared God, therefore he made them houses.

And because the midwives feared God, he built them houses.

22 Then Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Euery man childe that is borne, cast yee into the riuer, but reserue euery maide childe aliue.

Pharao therefore charged all his people, saying: Whatsoever shall be born of the male sex, ye shall cast into the river: whatsoever of the female, ye shall save alive.