1:1These are the names of the sons of Israel who went into Egypt with Jacob: each with their households they went in: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun and Benjamin, Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. 1:5So all the souls of those who came out from the thigh of Jacob were seventy: but Joseph was in Egypt. 1:6He having died, and all his brothers, and all that generation, the sons of Israel grew, and as if sprouting they were multiplied: and having been made exceedingly strong, they filled the land. 1:8Meanwhile there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. 1:9And he says to his people: "Look, the people of the sons of Israel is numerous, and stronger than us.
1:10Come, let us wisely oppress it, lest perhaps it be multiplied: and if war should fall upon us, it be added to our enemies, and, we having been conquered, go out from the land." 1:11And so he set over them masters of the works, so that they might afflict them with burdens: and they built cities of tents for Pharaoh, Pithom and Rameses. 1:12And the more they were oppressing them, the more they were multiplied, and were growing: and the Egyptians hated the sons of Israel, and were afflicting them, mocking them, and were bringing their life to bitterness with hard works of clay and of brick, and with every service by which they were pressed in the works of the land.
1:15But the king of Egypt spoke to the midwives of the Hebrews, of whom one was called Shiphrah, the other Puah, giving them orders: "When you act as midwives to the Hebrew women, and the time of birth has come: if it is a male, kill it: if a female, keep it alive." 1:17But the midwives feared God, and did not do according to the order of the king of Egypt, but were saving the males. 1:18They having been summoned to him, the king said: "What ever is this which you have wanted to do, that you saved the boys?" 1:19And they answered: "The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women: for they themselves have knowledge of midwifery, and before we come to them, they give birth."
1:20Therefore God did well to the midwives: and the people grew, and was strengthened exceedingly. 1:21And because the midwives feared God, he built houses for them. 1:22Therefore Pharaoh gave orders to all his people, saying: "Whatever of the male sex has been born, throw into the river: whatever of the female, keep alive."