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.

Moses’ 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.

2 J ethro, Moses’ father-in-law, received Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her away,

Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, had taken Moses’ wife, Zipporah, after Moses 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 he had taken her two sons. One was given the name Gershom, for he said, “I have been a stranger in a strange 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 given the name Eliezer, for he said, “The God of my father was my help. And He saved 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 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.

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 the news 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 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.

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 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.

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

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. It was proven when they acted in their pride 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 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

13 O n the next day, Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from the morning to the evening.

The next day Moses sat to judge the people. And the people stood around Moses from morning until 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?”

When 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?”

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 learn God’s will.

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

17 M oses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good.

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

Also, 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.

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. 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.

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 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.”

24 S o Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said.

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

27 M oses let his father-in-law depart, and he went his way into his own land.

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