18 The father of Moses' wife was called Jethro. He was the priest for the Midian people. He heard about all the things that God had done for Moses and for the Israelites. He also heard how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt.
2 Moses had sent his wife, Zipporah, back to her home. He also sent his two sons with her. Jethro took care of them. 3 Moses' older son was called Gershom. [ a ] Moses said about him, ‘I have become a stranger in a foreign country.’ 4 The other son was called Eliezer. [ b ] Moses said about him, ‘My ancestors' God gave me help. He saved me from Pharaoh, when Pharaoh wanted to kill me.’
5 Jethro came to visit Moses in the wilderness. He brought with him Moses' wife and two sons. The Israelites had put up their tents near the mountain of God. 6 Jethro had already sent a message to Moses. He said, ‘I am coming with your wife and her two sons to see you.’
7 So Moses went out to meet his wife's father. He bent down and he kissed Jethro. They said ‘hello’ and they spoke together. Then they went into Moses' tent. 8 Moses told Jethro about all the things that the Lord had done to help the Israelites. He told him what the Lord had done against Pharaoh and against the Egyptians. He told Jethro about the troubles that had happened to the Israelites during their journey. And Moses told him how the Lord had saved his people.
9 When Jethro heard what Moses said, he was very happy. He realized that the Lord had saved the Israelites from the power of the Egyptians.
10 Jethro said, ‘Praise the Lord ! He has saved you from the power of the Egyptians and their king, Pharaoh. Yes! He has saved the Israelites from the powerful Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all other gods. He destroyed the proud Egyptians when they were cruel to his people.’
12 Then Jethro brought an animal to burn as a sacrifice to God. He also brought other sacrifices. Aaron came, with all the leaders of the Israelites. They ate a special meal together with Jethro, to worship God.
13 The next day, Moses sat down to judge people who had quarrels against each other. From morning until evening, people were coming to him with their quarrels.
14 Jethro saw all these things that Moses did to help the people. So he said, ‘You are trying to do too much! Why do you sit there alone to judge all these people during the whole day?’
15 Moses answered Jethro, ‘The people come to me to discover what God says. 16 When they quarrel, they come to me to decide who is right. I tell them what God's laws and commands teach.’
17 Jethro replied, ‘The thing that you are doing is not good. 18 You will become too tired. The people who come to you will also become tired. You cannot do all this work alone. 19 Now listen to me! I will tell you what I think will help you. God will take care of you. When people have quarrels, you must continue to speak to God on their behalf. 20 You are the person who must teach them God's laws and commands. You must show them how they should live and what they must do.
21 But you must also choose some other clever men to help you. They must be honest men who respect God. They must not want to take money from people. Choose these men to be officers with authority over groups of the people. They will be leaders of 1,000 people, or 100 people, or 50 people, or 10 people. 22 They will be able to work as judges for the people, every day. They can decide the small quarrels. But if there is a difficult problem, they must bring it to you. That will make your work easier, because they will help you with the work. 23 If you agree with my idea, and if God commands you to do it, it will help you. The work will not be too hard for you. And all these people will go home happily.’
24 Moses listened to Jethro and he did everything that Jethro had said.
25 Moses chose wise men from all the Israelites. He made them officers to lead 1,000 people, or 100 people, or 50 people, or 10 people. 26 They worked as judges for the people at all times. If there was a difficult problem, they took it to Moses for him to decide. But they themselves decided the small problems.
27 Then Moses said ‘goodbye’ to his wife's father, Jethro. Jethro returned to his own country.
18 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, was a priest in Midian. He heard about the many ways that God helped Moses and the Israelites. He heard about the Lord leading the Israelites out of Egypt. 2 So Jethro went to Moses while Moses was camped near the mountain of God. [ a ] Jethro brought Moses’ wife, Zipporah, with him. (Zipporah was not with Moses, because Moses had sent her home.) 3 Jethro also brought Moses’ two sons with him. The first son was named Gershom, [ b ] because when he was born, Moses said, “I am a stranger in a foreign country.” 4 The other son was named Eliezer, [ c ] because when he was born, Moses said, “The God of my father helped me and saved me from the king of Egypt.” 5 So Jethro went to Moses while Moses was camped in the desert near the mountain of God. Moses’ wife and his two sons were with Jethro.
6 Jethro sent a message to Moses that said, “This is your father-in-law Jethro. I am bringing your wife and her two sons to you.”
7 So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law. Moses bowed down before him and kissed him. The two men asked about each other’s health. Then they went into Moses’ tent to talk more. 8 Moses told Jethro everything the Lord had done for the Israelites. He told what the Lord did to Pharaoh and the people of Egypt. He told about all the problems they had along the way. And he told his father-in-law how the Lord saved the Israelites every time there was trouble.
9 Jethro was happy when he heard all the good things the Lord had done for Israel. He was glad that the Lord had freed the Israelites from the Egyptians. 10 He said, “Praise the Lord ! He freed you from the power of Egypt. He saved you from Pharaoh. 11 Now I know the Lord is greater than all the gods. They thought they were in control, but look what God did!”
12 Jethro got some sacrifices and offerings to honor God. Then Aaron and all the elders of Israel came to eat with Moses’ father-in-law Jethro. They all ate together there with God.
13 The next day, Moses had the special job of judging the people. There were so many people that they had to stand before him all day.
14 Jethro saw Moses judging the people. He asked, “Why are you doing this? Why are you the only judge? And why do people come to you all day?”
15 Then Moses said to his father-in-law, “The people come to me and ask me to ask for God’s decision for their problem. 16 If people have an argument, they come to me, and I decide which person is right. In this way I teach the people God’s laws and teachings.”
17 But Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “This isn’t the right way to do this. 18 It is too much work for you to do alone. You cannot do this job by yourself. It wears you out. And it makes the people tired too. 19 Now, listen to me. Let me give you some advice. And I pray God will be with you. You should continue listening to the problems of the people. And you should continue to speak to God about these things. 20 You should explain God’s laws and teachings to the people. Warn them not to break the laws. Tell them the right way to live and what they should do. 21 But you should also choose some of the people to be judges and leaders.
“Choose good men you can trust—men who respect God. Choose men who will not change their decisions for money. Make these men rulers over the people. There should be rulers over 1000 people, 100 people, 50 people, and even over ten people. 22 Let these rulers judge the people. If there is a very important case, then they can come to you and let you decide what to do. But they can decide the other cases themselves. In this way these men will share your work with you, and it will be easier for you to lead the people. 23 If you do this as God directs you, then you will be able to do your job without tiring yourself out. And the people can still have all their problems solved before they return home.”
24 So Moses did what Jethro told him. 25 Moses chose good men from among the Israelites. He made them leaders over the people. There were rulers over 1000 people, 100 people, 50 people, and ten people. 26 These rulers were judges for the people. The people could always bring their arguments to these rulers, and Moses had to decide only the most important cases.
27 After a short time Moses said goodbye to his father-in-law Jethro, and Jethro went back to his own home.
18 When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt;
2 Then Jethro, Moses' father in law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her back,
3 And her two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land:
4 And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh:
5 And Jethro, Moses' father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God:
6 And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.
7 And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent.
8 And Moses told his father in law all that the Lord had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the Lord delivered them.
9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the Lord had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.
10 And Jethro said, Blessed be the Lord , who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.
11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.
12 And Jethro, Moses' father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father in law before God.
13 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.
14 And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?
15 And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God:
16 When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.
17 And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.
18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.
19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:
20 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.
21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:
22 And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.
23 If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.
24 So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.
25 And Moses 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.
26 And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.
27 And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went his way into his own land.
18 Now ( A ) Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard about everything that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2 And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took in Moses’ wife ( B ) Zipporah, after he had sent her away, 3 and her ( C ) two sons, [ a ] one of whom was named Gershom, for Moses said, “I have been ( D ) a stranger in a foreign land.” 4 And [ b ] the other was named [ c ] ( E ) Eliezer, for he said , “ ( F ) The God of my father was my help, and saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.”
5 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses [ d ] in the wilderness where he was camped, at ( G ) the mountain of God. 6 And he [ e ] sent word to Moses: “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her.” 7 Then Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and ( H ) he bowed down and ( I ) kissed him; and they ( J ) asked each other about their welfare, and went into the tent. 8 Moses told his father-in-law everything that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians ( K ) for Israel’s sake, all the ( L ) hardship that had confronted them on the journey, and how ( M ) the Lord had rescued them. 9 And Jethro rejoiced over all ( N ) the goodness which the Lord had done for Israel, [ f ] in rescuing [ g ] them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10 So Jethro said, “ ( O ) Blessed be the Lord who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who rescued the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that ( P ) the Lord is greater than all the gods; indeed, [ h ] ( Q ) it was proven when they acted insolently against [ i ] the people.” 12 ( R ) 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 [ j ] a meal with Moses’ father-in-law before God.
13 And it came about the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood before Moses from the morning until the evening. 14 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 before you from morning until evening?” 15 Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me ( S ) to inquire of God. 16 When they have a [ k ] ( T ) dispute, it comes to me, and I judge between someone and his neighbor and make known the statutes of God and His laws.” 17 Moses’ father-in-law then said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good. 18 ( U ) You will surely wear out, both yourself and [ l ] these people who are with you, because the [ m ] task is too heavy for you; ( V ) you cannot do it alone. 19 Now listen to [ n ] me: I will give you counsel, and God be with you. [ o ] You be the people’s representative before God, and you ( W ) bring the [ p ] disputes to God, 20 ( X ) then admonish them about the statutes and the laws, and make known to them ( Y ) the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do. 21 Furthermore, you shall [ q ] select out of all the people ( Z ) able men ( AA ) who fear God, men of truth, those who ( AB ) hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, [ r ] of hundreds, [ s ] of fifties, and [ t ] of tens. 22 Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be ( AC ) that they will bring to you every major matter, but they will judge every minor matter themselves. So it will be easier for you, and ( AD ) they will carry the burden with you. 23 If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to [ u ] endure, and all [ v ] these people also will go to [ w ] their places in peace.”
24 So Moses listened [ x ] to his father-in-law and did everything that he had said. 25 Moses chose ( AE ) able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, [ y ] of hundreds, [ z ] of fifties, and [ aa ] of tens. 26 Then they judged the people at all times; ( AF ) they would bring the difficult matter to Moses, but they would judge every minor matter themselves. 27 Then Moses [ ab ] ( AG ) said goodbye to his father-in-law, and [ ac ] Jethro went his way to his own land.
18 Now Jethro, ( A ) the priest of Midian ( B ) and father-in-law of Moses, heard of everything God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, and how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. ( C )
2 After Moses had sent away his wife Zipporah, ( D ) his father-in-law Jethro received her 3 and her two sons. ( E ) One son was named Gershom, [ a ] for Moses said, “I have become a foreigner in a foreign land”; ( F ) 4 and the other was named Eliezer, [ b ] ( G ) for he said, “My father’s God was my helper; ( H ) he saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.”
5 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, together with Moses’ sons and wife, came to him in the wilderness, where he was camped near the mountain ( I ) of God. 6 Jethro had sent word to him, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”
7 So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down ( J ) and kissed ( K ) him. They greeted each other and then went into the tent. 8 Moses told his father-in-law about everything the Lord had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake and about all the hardships ( L ) they had met along the way and how the Lord had saved ( M ) them.
9 Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things ( N ) the Lord had done for Israel in rescuing them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10 He said, “Praise be to the Lord , ( O ) who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who rescued the people from the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all other gods, ( P ) for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly.” ( Q ) 12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, ( R ) brought a burnt offering ( S ) and other sacrifices ( T ) to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal ( U ) with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence ( V ) of God.
13 The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. 14 When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?”
15 Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will. ( W ) 16 Whenever they have a dispute, ( X ) it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.” ( Y )
17 Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. ( Z ) 19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. ( AA ) You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes ( AB ) to him. 20 Teach them his decrees and instructions, ( AC ) and show them the way they are to live ( AD ) and how they are to behave. ( AE ) 21 But select capable men ( AF ) from all the people—men who fear ( AG ) God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain ( AH ) —and appoint them as officials ( AI ) over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case ( AJ ) to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share ( AK ) it with you. 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”
24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders ( AL ) of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. ( AM ) 26 They served as judges ( AN ) for the people at all times. The difficult cases ( AO ) they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves. ( AP )
27 Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own country. ( AQ )
