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?"

19 The midwives answered Pharaoh, "The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women. They are robust and give birth before the midwife arrives."