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.

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 A nd Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her back,

Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, had taken Moses’ wife, Zipporah, after Moses 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 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 — 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 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 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 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 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 the news 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 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 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 because of Israel. He told him about how they had suffered on the way, and how the Lord had saved 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 was glad because of all the good things the Lord had done for Israel in saving 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, “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 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. It was proven when they acted in their pride 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 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 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.

The next day Moses sat to judge the people. And the people stood around Moses from morning until 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 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 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 learn God’s will.

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

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, “What 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 and the people with you will become tired and weak. For the work is too much 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 tell you what you should do, and God be with you. You speak for the people before God. Bring the troubles 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 Laws. Make them know 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,

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

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 he made them leaders 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. They would bring the big troubles to Moses. But they would judge every small trouble themselves.

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

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