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.

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 T hen 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 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 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 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 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 with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness, where he was 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 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 the news 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 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 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 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 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 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 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, “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 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. It was proven when they acted in their pride 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 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 so it was, on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people; and the people stood before Moses from morning until evening.

The next day Moses sat to judge the people. And the people stood around Moses from morning until 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?”

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

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, “What 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 and the people with you will become tired and weak. For the work is too much 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 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 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 Laws. Make them know the way they must walk and the work they must 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.

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 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. 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 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 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 S o Moses heeded 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: rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers 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 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. They would bring the big troubles to Moses. But they would judge every small trouble themselves.

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

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