1 T hese are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob. Each one came with those of his house:

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

2 R euben, Simeon, Levi, Judah,

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,

3 I ssachar, Zebulun, Benjamin,

Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,

4 D an, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

5 T here were seventy people in Jacob’s family. But Joseph was already in Egypt.

All the offspring of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt.

6 J oseph and all his brothers died and all their families of that time.

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

7 B ut the sons of Israel had many children, and the people became many in number. There were so many that the land was filled with them.

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

8 T hen a new king came into power over Egypt. He did not know Joseph.

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

9 H e said to his people, “See, the people of Israel are too many and too powerful for us.

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

10 C ome, let us be wise in how we act towards them, or they will become more in number. If there is a war, they might join with those who hate us. They might fight against us and then leave the land.”

Come, 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.

11 S o they put men in power over them to make them work hard. And they built the store-cities Pithom and Raamses for Pharaoh the king.

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

12 B ut the more the Egyptians made them suffer, the more they became until they spread throughout the land. So the Egyptians were afraid of the people of Israel.

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

13 T he Egyptians made the people of Israel work very hard.

And the Egyptians reduced the Israelites to severe slavery.

14 T hey made their lives bitter with hard work building with stones and with all kinds of work in the field. They made them work very hard.

They 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.

15 T hen the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew nurses. The name of one was Shiphrah. The name of the other was Puah.

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

16 H e said, “When you are helping the Hebrew women to give birth, and see the baby before the mother does, if it is a son, kill him. But if it is a daughter, let her live.”

When 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.

17 B ut the nurses feared God. They did not do what the king of Egypt told them. They let the boys live.

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

18 S o the king of Egypt called the nurses and said to them, “Why have you done this, and let the boys live?”

So 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?

19 T he nurses answered Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women. They are strong. They give birth before the nurse comes to them.”

The 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.

20 S o God was good to the nurses. And the people became many and strong.

So God dealt well with the midwives and the people multiplied and became very strong.

21 B ecause the nurses feared God, He gave them families.

And because the midwives revered and feared God, He made them households.

22 T hen Pharaoh told all his people, “Throw every son who is born to the Hebrews into the Nile. But keep every daughter alive.”

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