1 N ow Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, how that Yahweh 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 J ethro, Moses’ father-in-law, received Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her away,

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

3 a nd her two sons. The name of one son was Gershom, for Moses said, “I have lived as a foreigner in a foreign 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 name of the other was Eliezer, for he said, “My father’s God was my help and delivered me from Pharaoh’s sword.”

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 J ethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses into the wilderness where he was encamped, at the Mountain of God.

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 said to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, have come 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 M oses went out to meet his father-in-law, and bowed and kissed him. They asked each other of their welfare, and they came 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 that Yahweh had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardships that had come on them on the way, and how Yahweh delivered 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 rejoiced for all the goodness which Yahweh had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of 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 J ethro said, “Blessed be Yahweh, 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.

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 Yahweh is greater than all gods because of the thing in which they dealt arrogantly against them.”

Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods; indeed, it was proven when they dealt proudly against the people.”

12 J ethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God. Aaron came with all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.

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 O n the next day, Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from the morning to the 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 that he did to the people, he said, “What is this thing that you do for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning to 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 inquire of God.

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

16 W hen they have a matter, 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.”

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, “The thing that you do is not good.

Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good.

18 Y ou will surely wear away, both you, and this people that is with you; for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to perform it yourself 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 L isten now to my voice. I will give you counsel, and God be with you. You represent the people before God, and bring the causes 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 Y ou shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and shall show them the way in which they must walk, and the work that 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 M oreover you shall provide out of all the people able men which fear God: men of truth, hating unjust gain; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers 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. It shall be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they shall judge themselves. So shall it be easier for you, and they shall share the load 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 will do this thing, and God commands you so, then you will be able to endure, and all these people also 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 S o Moses listened to the voice of 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 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 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 brought the hard causes to Moses, but every small matter they judged 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 M oses let his father-in-law depart, and he went his way into his own land.

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