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,

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 a nd Jethro, father-in-law of Moses, taketh Zipporah, wife of Moses, besides her parents,

Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, had taken Moses’ wife, Zipporah, after Moses 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 the news 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 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 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 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 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 was glad because of all the good things the Lord had done for Israel in saving 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, “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 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. It was proven when they acted in their pride 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 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 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;

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

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 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 learn God’s will.

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

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

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 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. 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 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 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 A nd Moses hearkeneth to the voice of his father-in-law, and doth all that he said,

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

27 A nd Moses sendeth his father-in-law away, and he goeth away unto his own land.

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