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

Now these are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob; they came each one with his household:

2 R euben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,

Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah;

3 I ssachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,

Issachar, Zebulun and Benjamin;

4 D an and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

5 A ll the offspring of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt.

All the persons who came from the loins of Jacob were seventy in number, but Joseph was already in Egypt.

6 T hen Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation.

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

7 B ut the descendants of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, and the land was full of them.

But the sons of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly, and multiplied, and became exceedingly mighty, so that the land was filled with them.

8 N ow a new king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph.

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

9 H e said to his people, Behold, the Israelites are too many and too mighty for us '> outnumber us both in people and in strength].

He said to his people, “Behold, the people of the sons of Israel are more and mightier than we.

10 C ome, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply more and, should war befall us, they join our enemies, fight against us, and escape out of the land.

Come, let us deal wisely with them, or else they will multiply and in the event of war, they will also join themselves to those who hate us, and fight against us and depart from the land.”

11 S o they set over taskmasters to afflict and oppress them with burdens. And built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh.

So they appointed taskmasters over them to afflict them with hard labor. And they built for Pharaoh storage cities, Pithom and Raamses.

12 B ut the more oppressed them, the more they multiplied and expanded, so that were vexed and alarmed because of the Israelites.

But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out, so that they were in dread of the sons of Israel.

13 A nd the Egyptians reduced the Israelites to severe slavery.

The Egyptians compelled the sons of Israel to labor rigorously;

14 T hey made their lives bitter with hard service in mortar, brick, and all kinds of work in the field. All their service was with harshness and severity.

and they made their lives bitter with hard labor in mortar and bricks and at all kinds of labor in the field, all their labors which they rigorously imposed on them.

15 T hen the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, of whom one was named Shiprah and the other Puah,

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

16 W hen you act as midwives to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, she shall live.

and he said, “When you are helping the Hebrew women to give birth and see them upon the birthstool, if it is a son, then you shall put him to death; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.”

17 B ut the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded, but let the male babies live.

But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded them, but let the boys live.

18 S o the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, Why have you done this thing and allowed the male children to live?

So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this thing, and let the boys live?”

19 T he midwives answered Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; they are vigorous and quickly delivered; their babies are born before the midwife comes to them.

The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife can get to them.”

20 S o God dealt well with the midwives and the people multiplied and became very strong.

So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied, and became very mighty.

21 A nd because the midwives revered and feared God, He made them households.

Because the midwives feared God, He established households for them.

22 T hen Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son born you shall cast into the river, but every daughter you shall allow to live.

Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “ Every son who is born you are to cast into the Nile, and every daughter you are to keep alive.”