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

^{18 Ref} 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 Ref} 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!'