Exodus 1:17-22

17 But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live.
18 So the king of Egypt called the midwives, and said to them, "Why have you done this, and let the male children live?"
19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, "Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and are delivered before the midwife comes to them."
20 So God dealt well with the midwives; and the people multiplied and grew very strong.
21 And because the midwives feared God he gave them families.
22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, "Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live."
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.