1 A nd Jethro the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done to Moses, and to Israel his people; that Jehovah had brought Israel out of Egypt.

Now 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.

2 A nd 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 Moses had sent her back,

3 a nd her two sons, of whom the name of the one was Gershom—for he said, I have been a sojourner in a foreign land,

And her two sons, of whom the name of the one was Gershom, for Moses said, I have been an alien in a strange land;

4 — and the name of the other, Eliezer—For the God of my father has been my help, and has delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.

And the name of the other was Eliezer, for the God of my father, said Moses, was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.

5 A nd Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came to Moses with his sons and his wife into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mountain of God.

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

6 A nd he sent word to Moses: I, thy father-in-law Jethro, am come to thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.

And he said to Moses, I, your father-in-law Jethro, am come to you and 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 their welfare, and went into the tent.

And Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed in homage and kissed him; and each asked the other of his welfare and they came into the tent.

8 A nd Moses told his father-in-law all that Jehovah had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake; all the trouble that had befallen them on the way, and Jehovah had delivered them.

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

9 A nd Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness that Jehovah had done to Israel; that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.

Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness the Lord had done to Israel in that He had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.

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

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

11 N ow I know that Jehovah is greater than all gods; for in the thing in which they acted haughtily above them.

Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods. Yes, in the thing in which they dealt proudly.

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 in the presence of God.

And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices 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 to the evening.

Next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening.

14 A nd Moses' father-in-law saw all that he did with the people, and said, What is this thing which thou art doing with the people? why dost thou sit alone, and all the people are standing by thee from morning to evening?

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

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

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 to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known the statutes of God, and his laws.

When they have a dispute they come to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor, and I make them know the statutes of God and His laws.

17 A nd Moses' father-in-law said to him, The thing that thou art doing is not good.

Moses’ father-in-law said to him, The thing that you are doing is not good.

18 T hou wilt be quite exhausted, both thou and this people that is with thee; for the thing is too heavy for thee: thou canst not perform it alone.

You will surely wear out both yourself and this people with you, for the thing is too heavy for you; you are not able to perform it all by yourself.

19 H earken now to my voice: I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee. Be thou for the people with God, and bring the matters before God;

Listen now to; I will counsel you, and God will be with you. You shall represent the people before God, bringing their cases and causes to Him,

20 a nd teach them the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they must walk, and the work that they must do.

Teaching them the decrees and laws, showing them the way they must walk and the work they must do.

21 B ut do thou provide among all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place over them, chiefs of thousands, chiefs of hundreds, chiefs of fifties, and chiefs of tens,

Moreover, you shall choose able men from all the people—God-fearing men of truth who hate unjust gain—and place them over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, to be their rulers.

22 t hat they may judge the people at all times; and it shall be they shall bring to thee every great matter, and that they shall judge every small matter, and they shall lighten on thee, and they shall bear with thee.

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

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

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

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

So Moses listened to and 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, chiefs of thousands, chiefs of hundreds, chiefs of fifties, and chiefs of tens.

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

26 A nd they judged the people at all times: the hard matters they brought to Moses, but every small matter they judged.

And they judged the people at all times; the hard cases they brought to Moses, but every small matter they decided themselves.

27 A nd Moses sent away his father-in-law, and he departed into his land.

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