New International Version | New International Version |
1These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with his family: | 1These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with his family: |
2Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah; | 2Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah; |
3Issachar, Zebulun and Benjamin; | 3Issachar, Zebulun and Benjamin; |
4Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher. | 4Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher. |
5The descendants of Jacob numbered seventy in all; Joseph was already in Egypt. | 5The descendants of Jacob numbered seventy in all; Joseph was already in Egypt. |
6Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died, | 6Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died, |
7but the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so numerous that the land was filled with them. | 7but the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so numerous that the land was filled with them. |
8Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt. | 8Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt. |
9"Look," he said to his people, "the Israelites have become far too numerous for us. | 9"Look," he said to his people, "the Israelites have become far too numerous for us. |
10Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country." | 10Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country." |
11So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. | 11So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. |
12But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites | 12But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites |
13and worked them ruthlessly. | 13and worked them ruthlessly. |
14They made their lives bitter with harsh labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their harsh labor the Egyptians worked them ruthlessly. | 14They made their lives bitter with harsh labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their harsh labor the Egyptians worked them ruthlessly. |
15The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, | 15The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, |
16"When you are helping the Hebrew women during childbirth on the delivery stool, if you see that the baby is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live." | 16"When you are helping the Hebrew women during childbirth on the delivery stool, if you see that the baby is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live." |
17The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. | 17The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. |
18Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, "Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?" | 18Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, "Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?" |
19The midwives answered Pharaoh, "Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive." | 19The midwives answered Pharaoh, "Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive." |
20So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. | 20So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. |
21And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own. | 21And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own. |
22Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: "Every Hebrew boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live." | 22Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: "Every Hebrew boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live." |
New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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