1 W hen Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt;

And Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people—that the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt.

2 t hen Jethro, Moses’ father in law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back,

Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back,

3 a nd her two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land:

with her two sons, of whom the name of one was Gershom (for he said, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land”)

4 a nd the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh:

and the name of the other was Eliezer (for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”);

5 a nd Jethro, Moses’ father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God:

and Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness, where he was encamped at the mountain of God.

6 a nd he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.

Now he had said to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her.”

7 A nd Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent.

So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down, and kissed him. And they asked each other about their well-being, and they went into the tent.

8 A nd Moses told his father in law all that the Lord had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the Lord delivered them.

And Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had come upon them on the way, and how the Lord had delivered them.

9 A nd Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the Lord had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.

Then Jethro rejoiced for all the good which the Lord had done for Israel, whom He had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.

10 A nd Jethro said, Blessed be the Lord, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

And Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

11 N ow I know that the Lord is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.

Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods; for in the very thing in which they behaved proudly, He was above them.”

12 A nd Jethro, Moses’ father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses’ father in law before God.

Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and other sacrifices to offer to God. And Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.

13 A nd it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.

And so it was, on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people; and the people stood before Moses from morning until evening.

14 A nd when Moses’ father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?

So when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit, and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?”

15 A nd Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God:

And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God.

16 w hen they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.

When they have a difficulty, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known the statutes of God and His laws.”

17 A nd Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.

So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good.

18   Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.

Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself.

19 H earken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:

Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God.

20 a nd thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.

And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do.

21 M oreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

22 a nd let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.

And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you.

23 I f thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.

If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace.”

24 S o Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.

So Moses heeded the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said.

25 A nd Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

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

26 A nd they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

So they judged the people at all times; the hard cases they brought to Moses, but they judged every small case themselves.

27 A nd Moses let his father in law depart; and he went his way into his own land.

Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went his way to his own land.