Exodus 18

1Now 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 Jehovah had brought Israel out of Egypt.

1Jethro, the priest of Midian and Moses’ father-in-law, heard about everything God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, and how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.

2And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her away,

2After Moses had sent his wife Zipporah back home, his father-in-law Jethro took her in,

3and her two sons; of whom the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been a sojourner in a foreign land:

3along with her two sons. The name of one son was Gershom, because Moses had said, 'I have been a resident in a foreign land.'

4and the name of the other was Eliezer; forhe said, The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.

4The name of the other son was Eliezer, because he had said, 'The God of my father was my helper and saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.'

5And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness where he was encamped, at the mount of God:

5Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with Moses’ sons and his wife to where Moses was camped in the wilderness near the mountain of God.

6and he said unto Moses, I, thy father-in-law Jethro, am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.

6Jethro sent word to Moses, saying, 'I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to see you with your wife and her two sons.'

7And 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.

7So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down, and kissed him. They asked each other how they were doing and then went into the tent.

8And Moses told his father-in-law all that Jehovah had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how Jehovah delivered them.

8Moses told his father-in-law everything the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardships they had faced on the journey, and how the LORD had rescued them.

9And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which Jehovah had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.

9Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things the LORD had done for Israel in rescuing them from the power of the Egyptians.

10And Jethro said, Blessed be Jehovah, 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.

10Jethro said, 'Praise the LORD, who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and from Pharaoh, and who rescued the people from the power of Egypt.

11Now I know that Jehovah is greater than all gods; yea, in the thing wherein they dealt proudly against them.

11Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, because he did this when the Egyptians treated the Israelites with such arrogance.'

12And 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.

12Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God. Aaron and all the elders of Israel came to eat a meal with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence of God.

13And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood about Moses from the morning unto the evening.

13The next day, Moses sat down to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning until evening.

14And 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 about thee from morning unto even?

14When Moses’ father-in-law saw everything he was doing for the people, he asked, 'What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone as judge while all these people stand around you from morning until evening?'

15And Moses said unto his father-in-law, Because the people come unto me to inquire of God:

15Moses answered his father-in-law, 'Because the people come to me to ask for God’s will.

16when they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between a man and his neighbor, and I make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.

16When they have a dispute, they come to me, and I decide between one person and another and make known to them God’s decrees and laws.'

17And Moses’ father-in-law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.

17Moses’ father-in-law replied, 'What you are doing is not good.

18Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for the thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.

18You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.

19Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God be with thee: be thou for the people to God-ward, and bring thou the causes unto God:

19Listen to me now and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him.

20and thou shalt teach them the statutes and the laws, and shalt show them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.

20Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way they should live and the work they must do.

21Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as 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:

21But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate a bribe—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.

22and 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 themselves: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.

22Have them serve as judges for the people at all times. They can bring the difficult cases to you, but they can decide all the simple cases themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you.

23If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people also shall go to their place in peace.

23If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.'

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

24Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he suggested.

25And 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.

25He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders over the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.

26And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

26They served as judges for the people at all times. They brought the difficult cases to Moses, but they settled every simple case themselves.

27And Moses let his father-in-law depart; and he went his way into his own land.

27Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own country.