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.

¶ When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done with Moses and with Israel his people and how 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 he 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 which the name of the one was Gershon, for he 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 he, helped me 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 his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he was camped next to 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 unto Moses, I, thy father-in-law Jethro, am come unto thee and thy 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 did obeisance and kissed him; and they asked each other of their peace; 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.

And Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake and all the travail that had come upon them in 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.

And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered 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.

And 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; for in the thing in which they dealt proudly he prevailed against them.

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 burnt offerings and sacrifices for God; and Aaron came, and 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.

¶ And it came to pass another day that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood before Moses from the morning unto the 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?”

And when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this that thou doest to the people? Why sittest thou thyself alone and all the people stand before thee from morning unto evening?

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

And Moses said unto his father-in-law, Because the people come unto me to enquire 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 matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I declare unto them the statutes of God and his laws.

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

Then Moses’ father-in-law said unto him, The thing that thou doest 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.

Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou and this people that is with thee; for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.

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.

Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people before God that thou may submit the causes unto God.

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

And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws and shalt show them the way in which they must walk and the work that 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 thou shalt consider out of all the people men of virtue, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness, and place princes over them, of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

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 seasons; and it shall be that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge, so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.

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 thou shalt do this thing and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.

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

So Moses hearkened to 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.

And Moses chose men of virtue out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, princes over thousands, over hundreds, over fifties, and over 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 seasons; the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

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

And Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went to his own land.