Exodus 2

¹After these things, a man from the house of Levi went out, and he took a wife from his own stock.

²And she conceived and bore a son. And seeing him to be handsome, she hid him for three months.

³And when she was no longer able to hide him, she took a small basket woven of bulrushes, and she smeared it with pitch as well as tar. And she placed the little infant inside, and she laid him in the sedges by the bank of the river.

⁴His sister was standing at a distance and was wondering what would happen.

⁵Then, behold, the daughter of Pharaoh descended to wash in the river. And her maids walked along the edge of the cove. And when she had seen the small basket among the papyruses, she sent one of her servants for it. And when it was brought,

⁶she opened it; and realizing that within it was a little one crying, she took pity on him, and she said: “This is one of the infants of the Hebrews.”

⁷And the sister of the boy said to her: “If you wish, I will go and call to you a Hebrew woman, who will be able nurse the infant.”

⁸She responded, “Go.” The maid went directly and called her mother.

⁹And the daughter of Pharaoh said to her: “Take this boy and nurse him for me. I will give you your wages.” The woman took and nursed the boy. And when he was mature, she delivered him to the daughter of Pharaoh.

¹⁰And she adopted him in place of a son, and she called his name Moses, saying, “Because I took him from the water.”

¹¹In those days, after Moses had grown up, he went out to his brothers. And he saw their affliction and an Egyptian man striking a certain one of the Hebrews, his brothers.

¹²And when he had looked around this way and that, and had seen no one nearby, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.

¹³And going out the next day, he spotted two Hebrews quarrelling violently. And he said to him who was causing the injury, “Why do you strike your neighbor?”

¹⁴But he responded: “Who appointed you as leader and judge over us? Do you want to kill me, just as yesterday you killed the Egyptian?” Moses was afraid, and he said, “How has this word become known?”

¹⁵And Pharaoh heard this talk, and he sought to kill Moses. But fleeing from his sight, he stayed in the land of Midian, and he sat down next to a well.

¹⁶Now there was a priest of Midian with seven daughters, who came to draw water. And having filled the troughs, they desired to water their father’s flocks.

¹⁷The shepherds overcame them and drove them away. And Moses rose up, and defending the girls, he watered their sheep.

¹⁸And when they had returned to their father, Reuel, he said to them, “Why have you arrived sooner than usual?”

¹⁹They responded: “A man of Egypt freed us from the hands of the shepherds. Moreover, he also drew water with us and gave the sheep to drink.”

²⁰But he said: “Where is he? Why have you dismissed the man? Call him, so that he may eat bread.”

²¹Therefore, Moses swore that he would live with him. And he accepted his daughter Zipporah as a wife.

²²And she bore a son to him, whom he called Gershom, saying, “I have been a newcomer in a foreign land.” In truth, she bore another, whom he called Eliezer, saying, “For the God of my father, my helper, has rescued me from the hand of Pharaoh.”

²³In truth, after a long time, the king of Egypt was dead. And the sons of Israel, groaning, cried out because of the works. And their cry ascended to God from the works.

²⁴And he heard their groaning, and he also remembered the covenant which he formed with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

²⁵And the Lord looked with favor on the sons of Israel, and he knew them.

Exodus 2

¹After this there went a man of the house of Levi; and took a wife of his own kindred.

²And she conceived, and bore a son: and seeing him a goodly child, hid him three months.

³And when she could hide him no longer, she took a basket made of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and pitch: and put the little babe therein, and laid him in the sedges by the river's brink,

⁴His sister standing afar off, and taking notice what would be done.

⁵And behold the daughter of Pharao came down to wash herself in the river: and her maids walked by the river's brink. And when she saw the basket in the sedges she sent one of her maids for it: and when it was brought,

⁶She opened it, and seeing within it an infant crying, having compassion on it, she said: This is one of the babes of the Hebrews.

⁷And the child's sister said to her: Shall I go, and call to thee a Hebrew woman, to nurse the babe?

⁸She answered: Go. The maid went and called her mother.

⁹And Pharao's daughter said to her: Take this child, and nurse him for me: I will give thee thy wages. The woman took and nursed the child: and when he was grown up, she delivered him to Pharao's daughter.

¹⁰And she adopted him for a son, and called him Moses, saying: Because I took him out of the water.

¹¹In those days, after Moses was grown up, he went out to his brethren: and saw their affliction, and an Egyptian striking one of the Hebrews, his brethren.

¹²And when he had looked about this way and that way, and saw no one there, he slew the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.

¹³And going out the next day, he saw two Hebrews quarrelling: and he said to him that did the wrong: Why strikest thou thy neighbour?

¹⁴But he answered: Who hath appointed thee prince and judge over us? wilt thou kill me, as thou didst yesterday kill the Egyptian? Moses feared, and said: How is this come to be known?

¹⁵And Pharao heard of this word, and sought to kill Moses: but he fled from his sight, and abode in the land of Madian, and he sat down by a well.

¹⁶And the priest of Madian had seven daughters, who came to draw water: and when the troughs were filled, desired to water their father's flocks.

¹⁷And the shepherds came and drove them away: and Moses arose, and defending the maids, watered their sheep.

¹⁸And when they returned to Raguel their father, he said to them: Why are ye come sooner than usual?

¹⁹They answered: A man of Egypt delivered us from the hands of the shepherds: and he drew water also with us, and gave the sheep to drink.

²⁰But he said: Where is he? why have you let the man go? call him that he may eat bread.

²¹And Moses swore that he would dwell with him. And he took Sephora his daughter to wife:

²²And she bore him a son, whom he called Gersam, saying: I have been a stranger in a foreign country. And she bore another, whom he called Eliezer, saying: For the God of my father, my helper, hath delivered me out of the hand of Pharao.

²³Now after a long time the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel groaning, cried out because of the works: and their cry went up unto God from the works.

²⁴And he heard their groaning, and remembered the covenant which he made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

²⁵And the Lord looked upon the children of Israel, and he knew them.