1 M oses’ 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.

Ora Jetro, sacerdote de Midiã, sogro de Moisés, ouviu todas as coisas que Deus tinha feito a Moisés e a Israel, seu povo, como o Senhor tinha tirado a Israel do Egito.

2 M oses’ father-in-law, Jethro, had taken Moses’ wife, Zipporah, after Moses had sent her away.

E Jetro, sogro de Moisés, tomou a Zípora, a mulher de Moisés, depois que este lha enviara,

3 A nd he had taken her two sons. One was given the name Gershom, for he said, “I have been a stranger in a strange land.”

e aos seus dois filhos, dos quais um se chamava Gérson; porque disse Moisés: Fui peregrino em terra estrangeira;

4 T he 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.”

e o outro se chamava Eliézer; porque disse: O Deus de meu pai foi minha ajuda, e me livrou da espada de Faraó.

5 T hen 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.

Veio, pois, Jetro, o sogro de Moisés, com os filhos e a mulher deste, a Moisés, no deserto onde se tinha acampado, junto ao monte de Deus;

6 H e sent the news to Moses, “I, your father-in-law, Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her.”

e disse a Moisés: Eu, teu sogro Jetro, venho a ti, com tua mulher e seus dois filhos com ela.

7 T hen 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.

Então saiu Moisés ao encontro de seu sogro, inclinou-se diante dele e o beijou; perguntaram um ao outro como estavam, e entraram na tenda.

8 M oses 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.

Depois Moisés contou a seu sogro tudo o que o Senhor tinha feito a Faraó e aos egípcios por amor de Israel, todo o trabalho que lhes sobreviera no caminho, e como o Senhor os livrara.

9 J ethro was glad because of all the good things the Lord had done for Israel in saving them from the hand of the Egyptians.

E alegrou-se Jetro por todo o bem que o Senhor tinha feito a Israel, livrando-o da mão dos egipcios,

10 S o 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.

e disse: Bendito seja o Senhor, que vos livrou da mão dos egípcios e da mão de Faraó; que livrou o povo de debaixo da mão dos egípcios.

11 N ow I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods. It was proven when they acted in their pride against the people.”

Agora sei que o Senhor é maior que todos os deuses; até naquilo em que se houveram arrogantemente contra o povo.

12 T hen 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

Então Jetro, o sogro de Moisés, tomou holocausto e sacrifícios para Deus; e veio Arão, e todos os anciãos de Israel, para comerem pão com o sogro de Moisés diante de Deus.

13 T he next day Moses sat to judge the people. And the people stood around Moses from morning until evening.

No dia seguinte assentou-se Moisés para julgar o povo; e o povo estava em pé junto de Moisés desde a manhã até a tarde.

14 W hen 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?”

Vendo, pois, o sogro de Moisés tudo o que ele fazia ao povo, perguntou: Que é isto que tu fazes ao povo? por que te assentas só, permanecendo todo o povo junto de ti desde a manhã até a tarde?

15 M oses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to learn God’s will.

Respondeu Moisés a seu sogro: É por que o povo vem a mim para consultar a Deus.

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

Quando eles têm alguma questão, vêm a mim; e eu julgo entre um e outro e lhes declaro os estatutos de Deus e as suas leis.

17 M oses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good.

O sogro de Moisés, porém, lhe replicou: Não é bom o que fazes.

18 Y ou and the people with you will become tired and weak. For the work is too much for you. You cannot do it alone.

certamente desfalecerás, assim tu, como este povo que está contigo; porque isto te é pesado demais; tu só não o podes fazer.

19 N ow 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.

Ouve agora a minha voz; eu te aconselharei, e seja Deus contigo: sê tu pelo povo diante de Deus, e leva tu as causas a Deus;

20 T hen teach them the Laws. Make them know the way they must walk and the work they must do.

ensinar-lhes-ás os estatutos e as leis, e lhes mostrarás o caminho em que devem andar, e a obra que devem fazer.

21 A lso, 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.

Além disto procurarás dentre todo o povo homens de capacidade, tementes a Deus, homens verazes, que aborreçam a avareza, e os porás sobre eles por chefes de mil, chefes de cem, chefes de cinqüenta e chefes de dez;

22 L et 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.

e julguem eles o povo em todo o tempo. Que a ti tragam toda causa grave, mas toda causa pequena eles mesmos a julguem; assim a ti mesmo te aliviarás da carga, e eles a levarão contigo.

23 I f 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.”

Se isto fizeres, e Deus to mandar, poderás então subsistir; assim também todo este povo irá em paz para o seu lugar.

24 M oses listened to his father-in-law, and did all that he had said.

E Moisés deu ouvidos ã voz de seu sogro, e fez tudo quanto este lhe dissera;

25 M oses 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.

e escolheu Moisés homens capazes dentre todo o Israel, e os pôs por cabeças sobre o povo: chefes de mil, chefes de cem, chefes de cinqüenta e chefes de dez.

26 T hey judged the people at all times. They would bring the big troubles to Moses. But they would judge every small trouble themselves.

Estes, pois, julgaram o povo em todo o tempo; as causas graves eles as trouxeram a Moisés; mas toda causa pequena, julgaram-na eles mesmos.

27 T hen Moses let his father-in-law return to his own land.

Então despediu Moisés a seu sogro, o qual se foi para a sua terra.