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, how 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,

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

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 one was named Gershom, for Moses said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign 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.

The other was named 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 to Moses with his sons and his wife into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mountain of God.

Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was camped, 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.

He sent word 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 their welfare, and went into the tent.

Then Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and he bowed down and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare and went 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 that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had befallen them on the journey, and how the Lord had 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 over all the goodness which the Lord had done to Israel, in delivering them from 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.

So Jethro said, “ Blessed be the Lord who delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who 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 the gods; indeed, it was proven when they dealt proudly against the people.”

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.

Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal 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.

It came about the next day that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood about Moses from the morning until the 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?

Now when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge and all the people stand about you from morning until 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, it comes to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor and make known the statutes of God and His laws.” Jethro Counsels Moses

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 these people who are with you, for the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone.

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;

Now listen to me: I will give you counsel, and God be with you. You be the people’s representative before God, and you bring the disputes to God,

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.

then teach them the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to 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,

Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens.

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.

Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be that every major dispute they will bring to you, but every minor dispute they themselves will 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 do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people also will go to their place 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 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, leaders 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.

They judged the people at all times; the difficult dispute they would bring to Moses, but every minor dispute they themselves would judge.

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

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