1:1 These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household:
1:1 These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household:

1:2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,
1:2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,

1:3 Is'sachar, Zeb'ulun, and Benjamin,
1:3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,

1:4 Dan and Naph'tali, Gad and Asher.
1:4 Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

1:5 All the offspring of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt.
1:5 The total number of people born to Jacob was seventy. Joseph was already in Egypt.

1:6 Then Joseph died, and all his brothers, and all that generation.
1:6 Then Joseph died, and all his brothers, and that whole generation.

1:7 But the descendants of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong; so that the land was filled with them.
1:7 But the Israelites were fruitful and prolific; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them.

1:8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.
1:8 Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.

1:9 And he said to his people, "Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us.
1:9 He said to his people, "Look, the Israelite people are more numerous and more powerful than we.

1:10 Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war befall us, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land."
1:10 Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase and, in the event of war, join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land."

1:11 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens; and they built for Pharaoh store-cities, Pithom and Ra-am'ses.
1:11 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to oppress them with forced labor. They built supply cities, Pithom and Rameses, for Pharaoh.

1:12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel.
1:12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread, so that the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites.

1:13 So they made the people of Israel serve with rigor,
1:13 The Egyptians became ruthless in imposing tasks on the Israelites,

1:14 and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field; in all their work they made them serve with rigor.
1:14 and made their lives bitter with hard service in mortar and brick and in every kind of field labor. They were ruthless in all the tasks that they imposed on them.

1:15 Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiph'rah and the other Pu'ah,
1:15 The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah,

1:16 "When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, she shall live."
1:16 "When you act as midwives to the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstool, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, she shall live."

1:17 But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live.
1:17 But the midwives feared God; they did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but they let the boys live.

1:18 So the king of Egypt called the midwives, and said to them, "Why have you done this, and let the male children live?"
1:18 So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and said to them, "Why have you done this, and allowed the boys to live?"

1:19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, "Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and are delivered before the midwife comes to them."
1:19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, "Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them."

1:20 So God dealt well with the midwives; and the people multiplied and grew very strong.
1:20 So God dealt well with the midwives; and the people multiplied and became very strong.

1:21 And because the midwives feared God he gave them families.
1:21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.

1:22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, "Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live."
1:22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, "Every boy that is born to the Hebrews you shall throw into the Nile, but you shall let every girl live."