1 ¶ Now these are the names of the sons of Israel, who came into Egypt with Jacob; each one came in with his household.

Now these are the names of the sons of Israel, who came into Egypt (every man and his household came with Jacob):

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 nd all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already.

All the souls who came out of Jacob’s body were seventy souls, and Joseph was in Egypt already.

6 A nd Joseph died and all his brethren and all that generation.

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

7 A nd the sons of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly and multiplied and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.

The children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them.

8 ¶ Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, who knew not Joseph.

Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who didn’t know Joseph.

9 A nd he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the sons of Israel are more and mightier than we.

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

10 N ow, therefore, let us be wise concerning him, that he not multiply and it come to pass that when war comes, he shall also join with our enemies and fight against us and so leave the land.

Come, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it happen that when any war breaks out, they also join themselves to our enemies, and fight against us, and escape out of the land.”

11 T herefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. And they built the supply cities for Pharaoh: Pithom and Raamses.

Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. They built storage cities for Pharaoh: Pithom and Raamses.

12 B ut the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew, so much that they loathed the sons of Israel.

But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out. They were grieved because of the children of Israel.

13 A nd the Egyptians made the sons of Israel serve with rigor,

The Egyptians ruthlessly made the children of Israel serve,

14 a nd they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, making mortar and brick and in all manner of service in the field; all their service, in which they made them serve, was with rigor.

and they made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and in brick, and in all kinds of service in the field, all their service, in which they ruthlessly made them serve.

15 ¶ And the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and another named Puah;

The king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah,

16 a nd he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women and see the sex, if it is a son, then ye shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.

and he said, “When you perform the duty of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them on the birth stool; if it is a son, then you shall kill him; 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 them but gave the men children their lives.

But the midwives feared God, and didn’t do what the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the baby boys alive.

18 A nd the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing and have given the men children their lives?

The king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said to them, “Why have you done this thing, and have saved the boys alive?”

19 A nd the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women, for they are lively and are delivered before the midwives come in unto them.

The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women aren’t like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous, and give birth before the midwife comes to them.”

20 T herefore God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied and waxed very mighty.

God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied, and grew very mighty.

21 A nd it came to pass because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.

Because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.

22 T hen Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall give them their lives.

Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “You shall cast every son who is born into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive.”