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 came into Egypt with Jacob, each with his household:

2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah;

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,

3 Issachar, Zebulon, and Benjamin;

Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,

4 Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

Dan, 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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.

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 rigorously made the sons of Israel serve;

The Egyptians made the Israelites work rigorously.

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.

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 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 Hebrew midwives; the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the other 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.

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 spake unto them, —but suffered the male children to live.

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

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?

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 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,

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 So then God dealt well with the midwives, —and the people multiplied, and waxed exceeding 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 for them households.

Because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.

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.

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