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, 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.

Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Moses’ wife Zipporah, after he had sent her away,

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 one was named Gershom, for Moses said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign 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.”

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 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.

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 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.”

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 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.

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 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 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 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 over all the goodness which the Lord had done to Israel, in delivering them from 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.

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. It was proven when they acted in their pride against the people.”

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 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

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 T he next day Moses sat to judge the people. And the people stood around 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 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?”

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 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, 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 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 these people who are with you, for the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it 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.

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 T hen teach them the Laws. Make them know the way 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 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.

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 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.

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 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 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 M oses listened to 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 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, leaders 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.

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 return to his own land.

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