Exodus 1:15-22

15There were two Israelite women who helped the other women when they were giving birth. These two women were called Shiphrah and Puah. The king of Egypt said to them,

16‘When you help the Israelite women at the birth of their children, this is what you must do. If she gives birth to a son, kill him. But if the child is a daughter, you may let her live.’

17But the two women respected God. So they did not do what the king of Egypt had told them. They obeyed God and they let the boys live.

18Then the king of Egypt called the two women to come to him. He asked them, ‘Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?’

19The two women said to Pharaoh, ‘Israelite women are not like Egyptian women. Israelite women are very strong. They give birth to their babies very quickly, before we arrive at the house.’

20Because the two women respected God, he was kind to them. The Israelite people continued to grow in number. They became very strong.

21Because the two women obeyed God, he gave them families of their own.

22Then Pharaoh spoke to all the Egyptian people. He said, ‘When an Israelite boy is born, you must throw him in the river Nile. But you can let the baby girls live.’