Exodus 1:18

And the King of Egypt called for the midwiues, & said vnto them, Why haue ye done this thing, and haue saued the men children aliue?
- King James Version (1611) - View 1611 Bible Scan

So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, "Why have you done this thing, and let the boys live?"
- New American Standard Version (1995)

And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men-children alive?
- American Standard Version (1901)

And the king of Egypt sent for the women, and said to them, Why have you done this, and let the male children go on living?
- Basic English Bible

And the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, Why have ye done this, and saved the male children alive?
- Darby Bible

And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said to them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the male-children alive?
- Webster's Bible

The king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said to them, "Why have you done this thing, and have saved the boys alive?"
- World English Bible

and the king of Egypt calleth for the midwives, and saith to them, `Wherefore have ye done this thing, and keep the lads alive?'
- Youngs Literal Bible

And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them: 'Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men-children alive?'
- Jewish Publication Society Bible

Wesley's Notes for Exodus 1:18

1:16 The stools - Seats used on that occasion.

1:17 But the midwives feared God - Dreaded his wrath more than Pharaoh's, and therefore saved the men - children alive.

1:19 I see no reason we have to doubt the truth of this; it is plain they were now under an extraordinary blessing of increase, which may well be supposed to have this effect, that the women had quick and easy labour, and the mothers and children being both lively, they seldon needed the help of midwives; this these midwives took notice of, and concluding it to be the finger of God, were thereby emboldened to disobey the king, and with this justify themselves before Pharaoh, when he called them to an account for it.

1:20 Therefore God dealt well with them - That is, built them up in families, and blessed their children.