1 A nd 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.

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 T hen 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 w ith her two sons, of whom the name of one was Gershom (for he said, “I have been a stranger 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 a nd 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”);

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 with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness, where he was 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 N ow he had said to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your 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 S o 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.

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 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.

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 T hen Jethro rejoiced for all the good which the Lord had done for Israel, whom He had delivered 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 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.

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 the Lord is greater than all the gods; for in the very thing in which they behaved proudly, He was 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 T hen 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.

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 so it was, on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people; and the people stood before Moses from morning until 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 S o 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?”

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

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

18 B oth 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.

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 L isten 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.

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 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.

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 M oreover 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.

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 A nd 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.

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 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.”

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 S o Moses heeded 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: rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers 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 S o they judged the people at all times; the hard cases they brought to Moses, but they judged every small case themselves.

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

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

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