1 O ra Jetro, sacerdote de Midiã, sogro de Moisés, ouviu todas as coisas que Deus tinha feito a Moisés e a Israel, seu povo, como o Senhor tinha tirado a Israel do Egito.

Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, the religious leader of Midian, heard about all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people. He heard about how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt.

2 E Jetro, sogro de Moisés, tomou a Zípora, a mulher de Moisés, depois que este lha enviara,

Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, had taken Moses’ wife, Zipporah, after Moses had sent her away.

3 e aos seus dois filhos, dos quais um se chamava Gérson; porque disse Moisés: Fui peregrino em terra estrangeira;

And he had taken her two sons. One was given the name Gershom, for he said, “I have been a stranger in a strange land.”

4 e o outro se chamava Eliézer; porque disse: O Deus de meu pai foi minha ajuda, e me livrou da espada de Faraó.

The other was given the name Eliezer, for he said, “The God of my father was my help. And He saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.”

5 V eio, pois, Jetro, o sogro de Moisés, com os filhos e a mulher deste, a Moisés, no deserto onde se tinha acampado, junto ao monte de Deus;

Then Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, came to Moses with his sons and his wife to the desert by the mountain of God where he was staying.

6 e disse a Moisés: Eu, teu sogro Jetro, venho a ti, com tua mulher e seus dois filhos com ela.

He sent the news to Moses, “I, your father-in-law, Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her.”

7 E ntão saiu Moisés ao encontro de seu sogro, inclinou-se diante dele e o beijou; perguntaram um ao outro como estavam, e entraram na tenda.

Then Moses went to meet his father-in-law. He bowed down and kissed him. They asked each other if all was well, and went into the tent.

8 D epois Moisés contou a seu sogro tudo o que o Senhor tinha feito a Faraó e aos egípcios por amor de Israel, todo o trabalho que lhes sobreviera no caminho, e como o Senhor os livrara.

Moses told his father-in-law all the Lord had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians because of Israel. He told him about how they had suffered on the way, and how the Lord had saved them.

9 E alegrou-se Jetro por todo o bem que o Senhor tinha feito a Israel, livrando-o da mão dos egipcios,

Jethro was glad because of all the good things the Lord had done for Israel in saving them from the hand of the Egyptians.

10 e disse: Bendito seja o Senhor, que vos livrou da mão dos egípcios e da mão de Faraó; que livrou o povo de debaixo da mão dos egípcios.

So Jethro said, “Honor and thanks be to the Lord, Who saved you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and Who made you free from the power of Egypt.

11 A gora sei que o Senhor é maior que todos os deuses; até naquilo em que se houveram arrogantemente contra o povo.

Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods. It was proven when they acted in their pride against the people.”

12 E ntão Jetro, o sogro de Moisés, tomou holocausto e sacrifícios para Deus; e veio Arão, e todos os anciãos de Israel, para comerem pão com o sogro de Moisés diante de Deus.

Then Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, gave a burnt gift in worship to God. And Aaron came with all the leaders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God. Men Who Judge

13 N o dia seguinte assentou-se Moisés para julgar o povo; e o povo estava em pé junto de Moisés desde a manhã até a tarde.

The next day Moses sat to judge the people. And the people stood around Moses from morning until evening.

14 V endo, pois, o sogro de Moisés tudo o que ele fazia ao povo, perguntou: Que é isto que tu fazes ao povo? por que te assentas só, permanecendo todo o povo junto de ti desde a manhã até a tarde?

When Moses’ father-in-law saw all he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you do for the people? Why do you sit alone and judge and all the people stand around you from morning until evening?”

15 R espondeu Moisés a seu sogro: É por que o povo vem a mim para consultar a Deus.

Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to learn God’s will.

16 Q uando eles têm alguma questão, vêm a mim; e eu julgo entre um e outro e lhes declaro os estatutos de Deus e as suas leis.

When they argue, they come to me. And I judge between a man and his neighbor. I teach them the Laws of God.”

17 O sogro de Moisés, porém, lhe replicou: Não é bom o que fazes.

Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good.

18 c ertamente desfalecerás, assim tu, como este povo que está contigo; porque isto te é pesado demais; tu só não o podes fazer.

You and the people with you will become tired and weak. For the work is too much for you. You cannot do it alone.

19 O uve agora a minha voz; eu te aconselharei, e seja Deus contigo: sê tu pelo povo diante de Deus, e leva tu as causas a Deus;

Now listen to me. I will tell you what you should do, and God be with you. You speak for the people before God. Bring the troubles to God.

20 e nsinar-lhes-ás os estatutos e as leis, e lhes mostrarás o caminho em que devem andar, e a obra que devem fazer.

Then teach them the Laws. Make them know the way they must walk and the work they must do.

21 A lém disto procurarás dentre todo o povo homens de capacidade, tementes a Deus, homens verazes, que aborreçam a avareza, e os porás sobre eles por chefes de mil, chefes de cem, chefes de cinqüenta e chefes de dez;

Also, you should choose from the people able men who fear God, men of truth who hate to get things by doing wrong. Have these men rule over the people, as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens.

22 e julguem eles o povo em todo o tempo. Que a ti tragam toda causa grave, mas toda causa pequena eles mesmos a julguem; assim a ti mesmo te aliviarás da carga, e eles a levarão contigo.

Let them judge the people at all times. Have all the big troubles brought to you. But have them judge the small troubles. So it will be easier for you. They will share the work with you.

23 S e isto fizeres, e Deus to mandar, poderás então subsistir; assim também todo este povo irá em paz para o seu lugar.

If you do this and God tells you to do it, then you will be able to keep your strength. And all these people will go to their place in peace.”

24 E Moisés deu ouvidos ã voz de seu sogro, e fez tudo quanto este lhe dissera;

Moses listened to his father-in-law, and did all that he had said.

25 e escolheu Moisés homens capazes dentre todo o Israel, e os pôs por cabeças sobre o povo: chefes de mil, chefes de cem, chefes de cinqüenta e chefes de dez.

Moses chose able men out of all Israel. And he made them leaders over the people, leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens.

26 E stes, pois, julgaram o povo em todo o tempo; as causas graves eles as trouxeram a Moisés; mas toda causa pequena, julgaram-na eles mesmos.

They judged the people at all times. They would bring the big troubles to Moses. But they would judge every small trouble themselves.

27 E ntão despediu Moisés a seu sogro, o qual se foi para a sua terra.

Then Moses let his father-in-law return to his own land.