⁵ The descendants of Jacob numbered seventy^[a] in all;^(A) Joseph was already in Egypt.

⁶ Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died,^{(B) 7} but the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers^(C) and became so numerous that the land was filled with them.

⁸ Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt.^{(D) 9} “Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become far too numerous^(E) for us.^{(F) 10} Come, we must deal shrewdly^(G) 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.”^(H)

¹¹ So they put slave masters^(I) over them to oppress them with forced labor,^(J) and they built Pithom and Rameses^(K) as store cities^(L) for Pharaoh. ¹² But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites ¹³ and worked them ruthlessly.^{(M) 14} They made their lives bitter with harsh labor^(N) in brick^(O) and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their harsh labor the Egyptians worked them ruthlessly.^(P)

¹⁵ The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives,^(Q) 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.”^{(R) 17} The midwives, however, feared^(S) God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do;^(T) they let the boys live. ¹⁸ Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?”

¹⁹ The midwives answered Pharaoh, “Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive.”^(U)

²⁰ So God was kind to the midwives^(V) and the people increased and became even more numerous. ²¹ And because the midwives feared^(W) God, he gave them families^(X) of their own.

²² Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: “Every Hebrew boy that is born you must throw into the Nile,^(Y) but let every girl live.”^(Z)

⁷ Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. ⁸ But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed.^(A) In the end it will be burned.

⁹ Even though we speak like this, dear friends,^(B) we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation. ¹⁰ God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.^{(C) 11} We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope^(D) for may be fully realized. ¹² We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate^(E) those who through faith and patience^(F) inherit what has been promised.^(G)