1 A nd Jethro priest of Midian, father-in-law of Moses, heareth all that God hath done for Moses, and for Israel his people, that Jehovah hath brought out Israel from 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 a nd Jethro, father-in-law of Moses, taketh Zipporah, wife of Moses, besides her parents,

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

3 a nd her two sons, of whom the name of the one Gershom, for he said, `a sojourner I have been 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 a nd the name of the other Eliezer, for, `the God of my father for my help, and doth deliver 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 A nd Jethro, father-in-law of Moses, cometh, and his sons, and his wife, unto Moses, unto the wilderness where he is encamping -- the mount 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 a nd he saith unto Moses, `I, thy father-in-law, Jethro, am coming unto thee, and thy 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 A nd Moses goeth out to meet his father-in-law, and boweth himself, and kisseth him, and they ask one at another of welfare, and come 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 a nd Moses recounteth to his father-in-law all that Jehovah hath done to Pharaoh, and to the Egyptians, on account of Israel, all the travail which hath found them in the way, and Jehovah doth deliver 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 A nd Jethro rejoiceth for all the good which Jehovah hath done to Israel, whom He hath delivered 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 a nd Jethro saith, `Blessed Jehovah, who hath delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians, and from the hand of Pharaoh -- who hath delivered this 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 have known that Jehovah greater than all the gods, for in the thing they have acted proudly -- above 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 A nd Jethro, father-in-law of Moses, taketh a burnt-offering and sacrifices for God; and Aaron cometh in, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with the father-in-law of Moses, 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 A nd it cometh to pass on the morrow, that Moses sitteth to judge the people, and the people stand before Moses, from the morning unto 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 a nd the father-in-law of Moses seeth all that he is doing to the people, and saith, `What this thing which thou art doing to the people? wherefore art thou sitting by thyself, and all the people standing by thee from morning till 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 A nd Moses saith to his father-in-law, `Because the people come unto me to seek 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, it hath come unto me, and I have judged between a man and his neighbour, and made known 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 A nd the father-in-law of Moses saith unto him, `The thing which thou art doing not good;

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

18 t hou dost surely wear away, both thou, and this people which with thee, for the thing is too heavy for thee, thou art not able to do it by thyself.

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 ` Now, hearken to my voice, I counsel thee, and God is with thee: be thou for the people over-against God, and thou hast brought in the things unto 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 a nd thou hast warned them the statutes and the laws, and hast made known to them the way in which they go, and the work which they 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 ` And thou -- thou dost provide out of all the people men of ability, fearing God, men of truth, hating dishonest gain, and hast placed over them, heads of thousands, heads of hundreds, heads of fifties, and heads 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 a nd they have judged the people at all times; and it hath come to pass, every great matter they bring in unto thee, and every small matter they judge themselves; and lighten it from off thyself, and they have borne with thee.

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 thou dost this thing, and God hath commanded thee, then thou hast been able to stand, and all this people also goeth in unto its 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 A nd Moses hearkeneth to the voice of his father-in-law, and doth all that he said,

So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did all that he had said.

25 a nd Moses chooseth men of ability out of all Israel, and maketh them chiefs over the people, heads of thousands, heads of hundreds, heads of fifties, and heads 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 a nd they have judged the people at all times; the hard matter they bring in unto Moses, and every small matter they judge 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 A nd Moses sendeth his father-in-law away, and he goeth away unto his own land.

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