Exodus 1

1 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.

Now these are the names of the children of Israel, that came into Egypt with Jacob, every man and his household they came.

2 Ruben, Simeon, Levi, Judas,

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,

3 Issachar, Zabulon, Benjamin,

Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,

4 Dan and Nephthalim, Gad and Aser.

Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

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

And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls; together with Joseph who was already in Egypt.

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

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

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

And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them.

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

Now there rose up a new king over Egypt, who knew not Joseph.

9 And he said to his nation, Behold, the race of the children of Israel is a great multitude, and is stronger than we:

And he said unto his people: Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more numerous and mightier than we.

10 come then, let us deal craftily with them, lest at any time they be increased, and whenever 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.

Come, let us deal wisely with them lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there happen to be a war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and depart out of the land.

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

And they set over taskmasters, to afflict them with their burdensome labors; and they built treasure cities, for Pharaoh, Pithom and Raamses.

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

But in the measure that they afflicted them, so they multiplied and so they spread out; and they felt abhorrence because of the children of Israel.

13 And the Egyptians tyrannized over the children of Israel by force.

And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to labor with rigor:

14 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.

And they made their lives bitter with hard labor, in mortar, and in bricks, and in all manner of labor in the field; in all their service, wherein they made them labor with rigor.

15 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.

And the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah;

16 And he said, When you 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.

And he said: When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, ye shall look upon the birth; if it be a son, then shall ye kill him; but if it be a daughter, then may she live.

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

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

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

And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and he said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men-children alive?

19 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.

And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively; ere the midwife cometh in unto them they are delivered.

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

And God dealt well with the midwives; and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.

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

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

22 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.

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.