12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew, so much that they loathed the sons of Israel.
13 And the Egyptians made the sons of Israel serve with rigor,
14 and they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, making mortar and brick and in all manner of service in the field; all their service, in which they made them serve, was with rigor.
15 And the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and another named Puah;
16 and he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women and see the sex, if it is a son, then ye shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.
17 But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them but gave the men children their lives.
18 And the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing and have given the men children their lives?