Exodus 1

1 Now these [are] the names of the children of Israel, who came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob.

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, Zebulun, and Benjamin,

Issachar, Zabulon, Benjamin,

4 Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

Dan and Nephthalim, Gad and Aser.

5 And all the souls that descended from Jacob, were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt [already].

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

6 And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation.

And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation.

7 And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and became exceeding mighty; and 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 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who knew not Joseph.

And there arose up another king over Egypt, who knew not Joseph.

9 And he said to his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel [are] more and mightier than we.

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, let us deal wisely with them: lest they multiply, and it shall come to pass, that when there falleth out any war, they will join with our enemies, and fight against us, and depart from 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 Therefore they set over them task-masters, to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure-cities, 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 afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children 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 made the children of Israel to serve with rigor.

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

14 And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in mortar, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service in which they made them serve, [was] with rigor.

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 And the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives (of which the name of 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 And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see [them] upon the stools; if it [shall be] a son, then ye shall kill him; but if it [shall be] a daughter, then she shall 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 commanded them, but saved the male-children alive.

But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt appointed them; and they saved the male children alive.

18 And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said to them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the male-children alive?

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 to Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women [are] not as the Egyptian women: for they [are] lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in to them.

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 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and became very 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 them houses.

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

22 And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.

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.