< Exodus 1 >

1 Now, these, are the names of the Sons of Israel, who came into Egypt, with Jacob, did each man and his household come in: —
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, Levi, and Judah;
Ruben, Simeon, Levi, Juda,
3 Issachar, Zebulon, and Benjamin;
Issachar, Zabulon, and Benjamin,
4 Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.
Dan, and Nephtali, Gad and Aser.
5 And it came to pass that all the persons who were descended from Jacob were seventy souls, —but, Joseph, was already in Egypt.
And all the souls that came out of Jacob’s thigh, were seventy: but Joseph was in Egypt.
6 So then Joseph died and all his brethren, and all that generation.
After he was dead, and all his brethren, and all that generation,
7 But the sons of Israel, were fruitful and swarmed and multiplied and waxed mighty, with exceeding vigour, —so that the land was filled with them.
The children of Israel increased, and sprung up into multitudes, and growing exceedingly strong they filled the land.
8 Then arose a new king over Egypt, —who had not known Joseph.
In the mean time there arose a new king over Egypt, that knew not Joseph:
9 So he said, unto his people, Lo! the people of the sons of Israel are too many and mighty for us!
And he said to his people: Behold the people of the children of Israel are numerous and stronger than we.
10 Come on! let us shew ourselves wise with regard to them, lest they so multiply that it shall come to pass when war befalleth us, that they also, shall join themselves unto them who hate us, and shall make war upon us. and then go up 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 So they set over them chiefs of tribute, to the end they might humiliate them with their burdens, —and they built store-cities for Pharaoh, even Pithom and Raamses.
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 were humiliating them, the more, were they multiplying, and, the more, were they breaking forth, so they were filled with alarm because of the sons of Israel.
But the more they oppressed them, the more they were multiplied, and increased:
13 And the Egyptians rigorously made the sons of Israel serve;
And the Egyptians hated the children of Israel, and afflicted them and mocked them:
14 and embittered their lives with harsh service, in clay and in bricks, and in all manner of service in the field, —all their service, wherein they rigorously made them serve.
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 Then said the king of Egypt to the Hebrew midwives, —of whom, the name of the one 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 then he said—When ye act as midwives unto the Hebrew women, then shall ye look out for the sex, —If it is, a son, then shall ye kill it, But, if it is, a daughter, then shall it live.
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 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt spake unto them, —but suffered the male children to live.
But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded, but saved the men children.
18 Then called the king of Egypt for the midwives, and said to them—Wherefore have ye done this thing, that ye should let the male children live?
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 midwives said unto Pharaoh. Because not like the Egyptian women, are the Hebrew women, for they are full of life, ere yet the midwife can come in unto them, they have given birth,
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 So then God dealt well with the midwives, —and the people multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty.
Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied and grew exceedingly strong.
21 And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made for them households.
And because the midwives feared God, he built them houses.
22 Then gave Pharaoh command to all his people saying—Every son that is born to the Hebrews, into the river, shall ye cast him; But every daughter, shall ye suffer to live.
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.

< Exodus 1 >