Exodus 1

1 These are the names of the sons of Israel, who went into Egypt with Jacob. They entered, each one with his house:

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, 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 Therefore, all the souls of those who went forth from Jacob’s thigh were seventy. Now Joseph was in Egypt.

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

6 When he had died, along with all of his brothers and all of that generation,

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

7 the sons of Israel increased, and they multiplied like seedlings. And having been strengthened exceedingly, they filled the land.

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

8 Meanwhile, there arose a new king over Egypt, who was ignorant of 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 sons of Israel are many, and they are stronger than we are.

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 wisely oppress them, lest they multiply; and if any war should advance against us, they may be added to our enemies, and having fought against us, they might 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 And so he set over them masters of the works, in order to afflict them with burdens. And they built for Pharaoh the cities of the tabernacles: 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 And the more they oppressed them, so much more did they multiply and increase.

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 hated the sons of Israel, and they afflicted them and mocked them.

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

14 And they led their life directly into bitterness, with hard work in clay and brick, and with all kinds of servitude, so that they were being overwhelmed with the works of the land.

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 the king of Egypt spoke to the midwives of the Hebrews, (one of whom one was called Shiphrah, another 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 instructing them: “When you will act as a midwife to the Hebrew women, and the time of delivery has arrived: if it is male, put it to death; if it is female, retain it.”

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 so they did not act according to the precept of the king of Egypt, but they kept the males safe.

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

18 And summoning them, the king said, “What did you intend to do, so that you would save the boys?”

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 They responded: “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women. For they themselves have the wisdom of a midwife, and so they give birth before we can come 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 acted favorably toward the midwives. And the people increased, and they were strengthened exceedingly.

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

21 And because the midwives feared God, he built houses for them.

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

22 Therefore, Pharaoh instructed all his people, saying: “Whatever will be born of the male sex, cast it into the river; whatever will be born of the female sex, retain it.”

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.