Now a new (A)king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And (B)he said to his people, “Behold, the people of the sons of Israel are [a]too many and too mighty for us. 10 Come, let us (C)deal [b]shrewdly with them, otherwise they will multiply, and [c]in the event of war, they will also join those who hate us, and fight against us and [d]depart from the land.” 11 So they appointed (D)taskmasters over them to oppress them with [e](E)hard labor. And they built for Pharaoh (F)storage cities, Pithom and (G)Raamses. 12 But the more they oppressed them, (H)the more they multiplied and the more they [f]spread out, so that they dreaded the sons of Israel. 13 The Egyptians [g]used violence to compel the sons of Israel (I)to labor; 14 and they made (J)their lives bitter with hard labor in mortar and bricks and at all kinds of labor in the field, all their labors which they violently had them perform as slaves.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 1:9 Or more and mightier than we
  2. Exodus 1:10 Or wisely
  3. Exodus 1:10 Lit it will come about when war occurs that
  4. Exodus 1:10 Lit go up from
  5. Exodus 1:11 Lit their burdens
  6. Exodus 1:12 Lit broke forth
  7. Exodus 1:13 Lit with violence compelled

The Israelis Become Slaves

Eventually a new king who was unacquainted with Joseph came to power in[a] Egypt. He told his people, “Look, the Israeli people are more numerous and more powerful than we are. 10 Come on, let’s be careful how we treat them, so that when they grow numerous, if a war breaks out they won’t join our enemies, fight against us, and leave our land.” 11 So the Egyptians[b] placed supervisors over them, oppressing them with heavy burdens. The Israelis[c] built the supply cities of Pithom and Rameses for Pharaoh. 12 But the more the Egyptians afflicted the Israelis,[d] the more they multiplied and flourished, so that the Egyptians[e] became terrified of[f] the Israelis. 13 The Egyptians ruthlessly forced the Israelis to serve them, 14 making their lives bitter through hard labor with mortar, bricks, and all kinds of outdoor labor. They ruthlessly imposed all this[g] work on them.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 1:8 Lit. arose over
  2. Exodus 1:11 Lit. they
  3. Exodus 1:11 Lit. They
  4. Exodus 1:12 Lit. them
  5. Exodus 1:12 Lit. they
  6. Exodus 1:12 Or came to loathe
  7. Exodus 1:14 Lit. their