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 sons of Israel that came into Egypt together with Jacob their father; they came in each with their whole family.

2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah;

Ruben, Simeon, Levi, Judas,

3 Issachar, Zebulon, and Benjamin;

Issachar, Zabulon, Benjamin,

4 Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

Dan and Nephthalim, 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.

But Joseph was in Egypt. And all the souls [born] of Jacob were seventy-five.

6 So then Joseph died and all his brethren, and all that generation.

And Joseph died, 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.

And the children of Israel increased and multiplied, and became numerous and grew exceedingly strong, and the land multiplied them.

8 Then arose a new king over Egypt, —who had not known Joseph.

And there arose up another king over Egypt, who 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 nation, Behold, the race of the children of Israel is a great multitude, and is 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 then, let us deal craftily with them, lest at any time they be increased, and whensoever war shall happen to us, these also shall be added to our enemies, and having prevailed against us in war, they will 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.

And he set over them task-masters, who should afflict them in their works; and they built strong cities for Pharao, both Pitho, and Ramesses, and On, which is Heliopolis.

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 as they humbled them, by so much they multiplied, and grew exceedingly strong; and the Egyptians greatly abhorred the children of Israel.

13 And the Egyptians rigorously made the sons of Israel serve;

And the Egyptians tyrannised over the children of Israel by force.

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 embittered their life by hard labours, in the clay and in brick-making, and all the works in the plains, according to all the works, wherein they caused them to serve with violence.

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 the Egyptians spoke to the midwives of the Hebrews; the name of the one was, Sepphora; and the name of the second, 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.

And he said, When ye do the office of midwives to the Hebrew women, and they are about to be delivered, if it be a male, kill it; but if a female, save it.

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 as the king of Egypt appointed them; and they saved the male children alive.

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 of Egypt called the midwives, and said to them, Why is it that ye have done this thing, and saved the male children alive?

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,

And the midwives said to Pharao, The Hebrew women are not as the women of Egypt, for they are delivered before the midwives go in to them. So they bore children.

20 So then God dealt well with the midwives, —and the people multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty.

And God did well to the midwives, and the people multiplied, and grew very strong.

21 And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made for them households.

And as the midwives feared God, they established for themselves families.

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.

And Pharao charged all his people, saying, Whatever male [child] shall be born to the Hebrews, cast into the river; and every female, save it alive.