Exodus 1

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

These are the names of the sons of Israel who came into Egypt with Jacob, each with his household:

2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,

3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,

Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,

4 Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

5 And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt [already].

All the people who were descendants of Jacob were seventy in number. Joseph was already in Egypt.

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

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

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

The Israelites were fruitful, increased greatly in numbers, and became very strong; the land was filled with them.

8 Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.

Now then a new king arose over Egypt, one who did not know about Joseph.

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

He said to his people, “Look, the Israelites are more numerous and stronger than we are.

10 Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and [so] get them up out of the land.

Come, let us deal with them wisely, otherwise they will continue to grow in numbers, and if war breaks out, they will join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the land.”

11 Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.

So they put taskmasters over them to oppress them with hard labor. The Israelites built store cities for Pharaoh: Pithom and Rameses.

12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.

But the more the Egyptians oppressed them, the more the Israelites increased in numbers and spread. So the Egyptians began to dread the Israelites.

13 And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour:

The Egyptians made the Israelites work rigorously.

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

They made their lives bitter with hard service with mortar and brick, and with all kinds of work in the fields. All their required work was hard.

15 And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one [was] Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:

Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives; the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the other Puah.

16 And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see [them] upon the stools; if it [be] a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it [be] a daughter, then she shall live.

He said, “When you assist the Hebrew women on the birthstool, observe when they give birth. If it is a son, then you must kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she may live.”

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

But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt ordered them; instead, they let the baby boys live.

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

The king of Egypt summoned the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and let the baby boys live?”

19 And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women [are] not as the Egyptian women; for they [are] lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them.

The midwives answered Pharaoh, “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women. They are vigorous and have finished giving birth before a midwife comes to them.”

20 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.

God protected these midwives. The people increased in numbers and became very strong.

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

Because the midwives feared God, he gave them 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.

Pharaoh ordered all his people, “You must throw every son that is born into the river, but every daughter you will let live.”