Exodus 1

1 Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt (euery man and his housholde came thither with Iaakob)

Now these are the names of the sons of Israel who came into Egypt; every man and his family came with Jacob.

2 Reuben, Simeon, Leui, and Iudah,

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah;

3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Beniamin,

Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin;

4 Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

5 So al the soules, that came out of the loines of Iaakob, were seuentie soules: Ioseph was in Egypt already.

All the offspring of Jacob were seventy persons: and Joseph had come to Egypt before them.

6 Nowe Ioseph died and all his brethren, and that whole generation.

Then Joseph came to his end, and all his brothers, and all that generation.

7 And the children of Israel brought foorth fruite and encreased in aboundance, and were multiplied, and were exceeding mightie, so that the land was full of them.

And the children of Israel were fertile, increasing very greatly in numbers and in power; and the land was full of them.

8 Then there rose vp a newe King in Egypt, who knewe not Ioseph.

Now a new king came to power in Egypt, who had no knowledge of Joseph.

9 And he sayde vnto his people, Beholde, the people of the children of Israel are greater and mightier then we.

And he said to his people, See, the people of Israel are greater in number and in power than we are:

10 Come, let vs worke wisely with them, least they multiplie, and it come to passe, that if there be warre, they ioyne them selues also vnto our enemies, and fight against vs, and get them out of the land.

Let us take care for fear that their numbers may become even greater, and if there is a war, they may be joined with those who are against us, and make an attack on us, and go up out of the land.

11 Therefore did they set taskemasters ouer them, to keepe the vnder with burdens: and they built the cities Pithom and Raamses for the treasures of Pharaoh.

So they put overseers of forced work over them, in order to make their strength less by the weight of their work. And they made store-towns for Pharaoh, Pithom and Raamses.

12 But the more they vexed them, the more they multiplied and grewe: therefore they were more grieued against the children of Israel.

But the more cruel they were to them, the more their number increased, till all the land was full of them. And the children of Israel were hated by the Egyptians.

13 Wherefore the Egyptians by crueltie caused the children of Israel to serue.

And they gave the children of Israel even harder work to do:

14 Thus they made them weary of their liues by sore labour in clay and in bricke, and in al worke in the fielde, with all maner of bondage, which they layde vpon them most cruelly.

And made their lives bitter with hard work, making building-material and bricks, and doing all sorts of work in the fields under the hardest conditions.

15 Moreouer the King of Egypt commanded ye midwiues of the Ebrewe women, (of which the ones name was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah)

And the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew women who gave help at the time of childbirth (the name of the one was Shiphrah and the name of the other Puah),

16 And sayde, When ye doe the office of a midwife to the women of the Ebrewes, and see them on their stooles, if it be a sonne, then yee shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then let her liue.

When you are looking after the Hebrew women in childbirth, if it is a son you are to put him to death; but if it is a daughter, she may go on living.

17 Notwithstanding ye midwiues feared God, and did not as the King of Egypt commanded them, but preserued aliue the men children.

But the women had the fear of God, and did not do as the king of Egypt said, but let the male children go on living.

18 Then the King of Egypt called for the midwiues, and sayde vnto them, Why haue yee done thus, and haue preserued aliue the men children?

And the king of Egypt sent for the women, and said to them, Why have you done this, and let the male children go on living?

19 And the midwiues answered Pharaoh, Because the Ebrewe women are not as the women of Egypt: for they are liuely, and are deliuered yer the midwife come at them.

And they said to Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are strong, and the birth takes place before we come to them.

20 God therefore prospered the midwiues, and the people multiplied and were very mightie.

And the blessing of God was on these women: and the people were increased in number and became very strong.

21 And because ye midwiues feared God, therefore he made them houses.

And because the women who took care of the Hebrew mothers had the fear of God, he gave them families.

22 Then Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Euery man childe that is borne, cast yee into the riuer, but reserue euery maide childe aliue.

And Pharaoh gave orders to all his people, saying, Every son who comes to birth is to be put into the river, but every daughter may go on living.