Exodus 1

1 Now, these, are the names of the Sons of Israel, who came into Egypt, with Jacob, did each man and his household come in: —

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

2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah;

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah,

3 Issachar, Zebulon, and Benjamin;

Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,

4 Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

5 And it came to pass that all the persons who were descended from Jacob were seventy souls, —but, Joseph, was already in Egypt.

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

6 So then Joseph died and all his brethren, and all that generation.

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

7 But the sons of Israel, were fruitful and swarmed and multiplied and waxed mighty, with exceeding vigour, —so that the land was filled with them.

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

8 Then arose a new king over Egypt, —who had not known Joseph.

Meanwhile, there arose a new king over Egypt, who was ignorant of Joseph.

9 So he said, unto his people, Lo! the people of the sons of Israel are too many and mighty for us!

And he said to his people: “Behold, the people of the sons of Israel are many, and they are stronger than we are.

10 Come on! let us shew ourselves wise with regard to them, lest they so multiply that it shall come to pass when war befalleth us, that they also, shall join themselves unto them who hate us, and shall make war upon us. and then go up out of the land.

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.”

11 So they set over them chiefs of tribute, to the end they might humiliate them with their burdens, —and they built store-cities for Pharaoh, even Pithom and Raamses.

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.

12 But the more they were humiliating them, the more, were they multiplying, and, the more, were they breaking forth, so they were filled with alarm because of the sons of Israel.

And the more they oppressed them, so much more did they multiply and increase.

13 And the Egyptians rigorously made the sons of Israel serve;

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

14 and embittered their lives with harsh service, in clay and in bricks, and in all manner of service in the field, —all their service, wherein they rigorously made them serve.

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.

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

Then the king of Egypt spoke to the midwives of the Hebrews, (one of whom one was called Shiphrah, another Puah)

16 then he said—When ye act as midwives unto the Hebrew women, then shall ye look out for the sex, —If it is, a son, then shall ye kill it, But, if it is, a daughter, then shall it live.

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.”

17 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt spake unto them, —but suffered the male children to live.

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.

18 Then called the king of Egypt for the midwives, and said to them—Wherefore have ye done this thing, that ye should let the male children live?

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

19 And the midwives said unto Pharaoh. Because not like the Egyptian women, are the Hebrew women, for they are full of life, ere yet the midwife can come in unto them, they have given birth,

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.”

20 So then God dealt well with the midwives, —and the people multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty.

Therefore, God acted favorably toward the midwives. And the people increased, and they were strengthened exceedingly.

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

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

22 Then gave Pharaoh command to all his people saying—Every son that is born to the Hebrews, into the river, shall ye cast him; But every daughter, shall ye suffer to live.

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.”