1:1 These are the names of the children of Israel, that went into Egypt with Jacob: they went in every man with his household:

1:2 Ruben, Simeon, Levi, Juda,

1:3 Issachar, Zabulon, and Benjamin,

1:4 Dan, and Nephthali, Gad and Aser.

1:5 And all the souls that came out of Jacob's thigh, were seventy: but Joseph was in Egypt.

1:6 After he was dead, and all his brethren, and all that generation,

1:7 The children of Israel increased, and sprung up into multitudes, and growing exceedingly strong they filled the land.

1:8 In the mean time there arose a new king over Egypt, that knew not Joseph:

1:9 And he said to his people: Behold the people of the children of Israel are numerous and stronger than we.

1:10 Come let us wisely oppress them, lest they multiply: and if any war shall rise against us, join with our enemies, and having overcome us, depart out of the land.

1:11 Therefore he set over them masters of the works, to afflict them with burdens: and they built for Pharao cities of tabernacles, Phithom, and Ramesses.

1:12 But the more they oppressed them, the more they were multiplied and increased.

1:13 And the Egyptians hated the children of Israel, and afflicted them and mocked them:

1:14 And they made their life bitter with hard works in clay and brick, and with all manner of service, wherewith they were overcharged in the works of the earth.

1:15 And the king of Egypt spoke to the midwives of the Hebrews: of whom one was called Sephora, the other Phua,

1:16 Commanding them: When you shall do the office of midwives to the Hebrew women, and the time of delivery is come: if it be a man child, kill it: if a woman, keep it alive.

1:17 But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded, but saved the men children.

1:18 And the king called for them and said: What is it that you meant to do, that you would save the men children?

1:19 They answered: The Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women: for they themselves are skilful in the office of a midwife; and they are delivered before we come to them.

1:20 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied and grew exceedingly strong.

1:21 And because the midwives feared God, he built them houses.

1:22 Pharao therefore charged all his people, saying: Whatsoever shall be born of the male sex, ye shall cast into the river: whatsoever of the female, ye shall save alive.