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 sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with his family:
2 Reuben, Simeon, Leui, and Iudah,
Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah;
3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Beniamin,
Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin;
4 Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher.
5 So al the soules, that came out of the loines of Iaakob, were seuentie soules: Ioseph was in Egypt already.
The descendants of Jacob numbered seventy in all, including Joseph, who was already in Egypt.
6 Nowe Ioseph died and all his brethren, and that whole generation.
Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died,
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.
but the Israelites were fruitful and increased rapidly; they multiplied and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them.
8 Then there rose vp a newe King in Egypt, who knewe not Ioseph.
Then a new king, who did not know Joseph, came to power in Egypt.
9 And he sayde vnto his people, Beholde, the people of the children of Israel are greater and mightier then we.
“Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become too numerous and too powerful for us.
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 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 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.
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 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 were oppressed, the more they multiplied and flourished; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites.
13 Wherefore the Egyptians by crueltie caused the children of Israel to serue.
They worked the Israelites ruthlessly
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 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 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)
Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah,
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.
“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 Notwithstanding ye midwiues feared God, and did not as the King of Egypt commanded them, but preserued aliue the men children.
The midwives, however, feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt had instructed; they let the boys live.
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?
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 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.
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 God therefore prospered the midwiues, and the people multiplied and were very mightie.
So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied and became even more numerous.
21 And because ye midwiues feared God, therefore he made them houses.
And because the midwives feared God, He gave them families of their own.
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.
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.”
