¹⁹ this one, having dealt subtilely with our kindred, did evil to our fathers, causing to expose their babes, that they might not live;

⁹ and he saith unto his people, `Lo, the people of the sons of Israel `is' more numerous and mighty than we;

¹⁰ give help! let us act wisely concerning it, lest it multiply, and it hath come to pass, when war happeneth, that it hath been joined, even it, unto those hating us, and hath fought against us, and hath gone out up of the land.'

¹¹ And they set over it princes of tribute, so as to afflict it with their burdens, and it buildeth store-cities for Pharaoh, Pithom and Raamses;

¹² and as they afflict it, so it multiplieth, and so it breaketh forth, and they are vexed because of the sons of Israel;

¹³ and the Egyptians cause the sons of Israel to serve with rigour,

¹⁴ and make their lives bitter in hard service, in clay, and in brick, and in every `kind' of service in the field; all their service in which they have served `is' with rigour.

¹⁵ And the king of Egypt speaketh to the midwives, the Hebrewesses, (of whom the name of the one `is' Shiphrah, and the name of the second Puah),

¹⁶ and saith, `When ye cause the Hebrew women to bear, and have looked on the children; if it `is' a son -- then ye have put him to death; and if it `is' a daughter -- then she hath lived.'

¹⁷ And the midwives fear God, and have not done as the king of Egypt hath spoken unto them, and keep the lads alive;

¹⁸ and the king of Egypt calleth for the midwives, and saith to them, `Wherefore have ye done this thing, and keep the lads alive?'

¹⁹ And the midwives say unto Pharaoh, `Because the Hebrew women `are' not as the Egyptian women, for they `are' lively; before the midwife cometh in unto them -- they have borne!'

²⁰ And God doth good to the midwives, and the people multiply, and are very mighty;

²¹ and it cometh to pass, because the midwives have feared God, that He maketh for them households;

²² and Pharaoh layeth a charge on all his people, saying, `Every son who is born -- into the River ye do cast him, and every daughter ye do keep alive.'

²⁵ He turned their heart to hate His people, To conspire against His servants.

⁴ They have said, `Come, And we cut them off from `being' a nation, And the name of Israel is not remembered any more.'

⁵ For they consulted in heart together, Against Thee a covenant they make,

¹ A Song of the Ascents. Often they distressed me from my youth, Pray, let Israel say:

² Often they distressed me from my youth, Yet they have not prevailed over me.

³ Over my back have ploughers ploughed, They have made long their furrows.

⁴ and his tail doth draw the third of the stars of the heaven, and he did cast them to the earth; and the dragon did stand before the woman who is about to bring forth, that when she may bring forth, her child he may devour;

⁵ and she brought forth a male child, who is about to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, and caught away was her child unto God and His throne,