¹⁷ But when the time was near for putting into effect the undertaking which God had given to Abraham, the people were increasing in Egypt,

⁶ And God said that his seed would be living in a strange land, and that they would make them servants, and be cruel to them for four hundred years.

¹⁷ The God of this people Israel made selection of our fathers, lifting the people up from their low condition when they were living in the land of Egypt, and with a strong arm took them out of it.

¹³ And he said to Abram, Truly, your seed will be living in a land which is not theirs, as servants to a people who will be cruel to them for four hundred years;

¹⁴ But I will be the judge of that nation whose servants they are, and they will come out from among them with great wealth.

¹⁵ As for you, you will go to your fathers in peace; at the end of a long life you will be put in your last resting-place.

¹⁶ And in the fourth generation they will come back here; for at present the sin of the Amorite is not full.

⁷ And the children of Israel were fertile, increasing very greatly in numbers and in power; and the land was full of them.

⁸ Now a new king came to power in Egypt, who had no knowledge of Joseph.

⁹ And he said to his people, See, the people of Israel are greater in number and in power than we are:

¹⁰ Let us take care for fear that their numbers may become even greater, and if there is a war, they may be joined with those who are against us, and make an attack on us, and go up out of the land.

¹¹ So they put overseers of forced work over them, in order to make their strength less by the weight of their work. And they made store-towns for Pharaoh, Pithom and Raamses.

¹² But the more cruel they were to them, the more their number increased, till all the land was full of them. And the children of Israel were hated by the Egyptians.

²⁰ And the blessing of God was on these women: and the people were increased in number and became very strong.

²⁴ And his people were greatly increased, and became stronger than those who were against them.

²⁵ Their hearts were turned to hate against his people, so that they made secret designs against them.

⁸ But, my loved ones, keep in mind this one thing, that with the Lord one day is the same as a thousand years, and a thousand years are no more than one day.

⁹ The Lord is not slow in keeping his word, as he seems to some, but he is waiting in mercy for you, not desiring the destruction of any, but that all may be turned from their evil ways.