Exodus 1

Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob.

Here are the names of the Israelite families who journeyed to Egypt, each one, along with their households, following Jacob with hope and trepidation.

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, these four brothers, each unique, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, united by blood and faith.

Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,

Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, these three, each with their own unique strengths and passions, united in faith and purpose.

Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher, each with their own unique spirit and purpose, united in faith and brotherhood.

And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already.

Jacob's lineage, totaling seventy souls, emerged, with Joseph already residing in Egypt.

And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation.

Joseph, along with his brothers and their entire generation, passed away, leaving a profound sense of loss and emptiness.

And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.

The children of Israel thrived, their numbers grew immensely, their strength was unmatched, and they filled the land with their presence.

Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.

A fresh ruler took the throne in Egypt, unaware of Joseph's legacy.

And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:

He warned his people, "Look, the Israelites are stronger and more numerous than us."

Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.

Let's be smart about this, or their numbers will keep growing; and if war breaks out, they might side with our enemies, fight against us, and leave the land.

Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.

So, they were forced under harsh supervisors, burdened with heavy labor. They toiled and sweated, building store cities for Pharaoh, namely Pithom and Raamses.

But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.

Despite their suffering, their numbers only grew stronger, causing distress to those against the children of Israel.

And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour:

The Egyptians harshly enslaved the children of Israel, forcing them into grueling labor.

And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.

Their lives were filled with unbearable hardship, enslaved in harsh labor, building with brick and mortar, toiling in the fields. Every task they were forced to do was carried out under severe cruelty.

And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:

The Egyptian king addressed the Hebrew midwives, known as Shiphrah and Puah, with a stern voice.

And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.

He instructed, "When you assist the Hebrew women in childbirth, observe the newborn. If it's a boy, you must end his life. But if it's a girl, she may live."

But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.

The midwives, in their deep reverence for God, defied the Egyptian king's orders and courageously saved the lives of the baby boys.

And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive?

The Egyptian king summoned the midwives, his voice heavy with confusion and accusation, "Why have you disobeyed and allowed the baby boys to live?"

And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them.

The midwives explained to Pharaoh, "Hebrew women are different from Egyptian women. They're full of life and give birth before we can even reach them."

Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.

God blessed the midwives for their kindness, and the people flourished, growing strong and powerful.

And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.

Because the midwives revered God, he blessed them with families of their own.

And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.

Pharaoh commanded all his people, "Throw every newborn boy into the river, but let every girl live."