16 "When you act as midwives for the Hebrew women, look on the birthstool: [9] if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, she may live."

17 The midwives, however, feared God; they did not do as the king of Egypt had ordered them, but let the boys live.

18 So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, "Why have you done this, allowing the boys to live?"