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.

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

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

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.”

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 given the name Eliezer, for he said, “The God of my father was my help. And He saved 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 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.

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 the news 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 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.

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 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.

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 was glad because of all the good things the Lord had done for Israel in saving 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, “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.

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. It was proven when they acted in their pride 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 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

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

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

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?”

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 learn God’s will.

Moses said to his father-in-law, Because the people come to me to inquire of God.

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.”

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

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

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.

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. 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.

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 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.”

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

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

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