1 N ow 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.

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

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

3 a nd her two sons, of whom one was named Gershom, for Moses 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 T he other was named Eliezer, for he said, “ The God of my father was my help, and 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 T hen 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.

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 H e sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your 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 T hen 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.

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 M oses 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.

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 J ethro rejoiced over all the goodness which the Lord had done to Israel, in delivering them from 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 S o 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.

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 the Lord is greater than all the gods; indeed, it was proven when they dealt proudly against the people.”

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

12 T hen 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.

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 I t came about the next day that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood about Moses from the morning until the evening.

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

14 N ow 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?”

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 M oses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire 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 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

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

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

18 Y ou 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.

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 N ow 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,

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 t hen 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.

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

21 F urthermore, 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.

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 L et 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.

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 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.”

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 S o Moses listened to 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 M oses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and 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 T hey judged the people at all times; the difficult dispute they would bring to Moses, but every minor dispute they themselves would judge.

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

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

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