出埃及记 18
1 摩西的岳父，米甸祭司叶忒罗，听见 神为摩西和 神的百姓以色列所行的一切事，就是耶和华将以色列从埃及领出来的事，
Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people. He heard that Yahweh had brought Israel out of Egypt.
2 便带着摩西的妻子西坡拉，就是摩西从前打发回去的，
Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her home,
3 又带着西坡拉的两个儿子，一个名叫革舜，因为摩西说：“我在外邦作了寄居的”；
and her two sons; the name of the one son was Gershom, for Moses had said, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.”
4 一个名叫以利以谢，因为他说：“我父亲的 神帮助了我，救我脱离法老的刀。”
The name of the other was Eliezer, for Moses had said, “My ancestor's God was my help. He rescued me from Pharaoh's sword.”
5 摩西的岳父叶忒罗带着摩西的妻子和两个儿子来到 神的山，就是摩西在旷野安营的地方。
Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with Moses' sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was camped at the mountain of God.
6 他对摩西说：“我是你岳父叶忒罗，带着你的妻子和两个儿子来到你这里。”
He said to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”
7 摩西迎接他的岳父，向他下拜，与他亲嘴，彼此问安，都进了帐棚。
Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down, and kissed him. They asked about each other's welfare and then went into the tent.
8 摩西将耶和华为以色列的缘故向法老和埃及人所行的一切事，以及路上所遭遇的一切艰难，并耶和华怎样搭救他们，都述说与他岳父听。
Moses told his father-in-law all that Yahweh had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel's sake, about all the hardships that had come to them along the way, and how Yahweh had rescued them.
9 叶忒罗因耶和华待以色列的一切好处，就是拯救他们脱离埃及人的手，便甚欢喜。
Jethro rejoiced over all the good that Yahweh had done for Israel, in that he had rescued them from the hand of the Egyptians.
10 叶忒罗说：“耶和华是应当称颂的；他救了你们脱离埃及人和法老的手，将这百姓从埃及人的手下救出来。
Jethro said, “May Yahweh be praised, for he has rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and delivered the people from the hand of the Egyptians.
11 我现今在埃及人向这百姓发狂傲的事上得知，耶和华比万神都大。”
Now I know that Yahweh is greater than all the gods, because when the Egyptians treated the Israelites arrogantly, God rescued his people.”
12 摩西的岳父叶忒罗把燔祭和平安祭献给 神。亚伦和以色列的众长老都来了，与摩西的岳父在 神面前吃饭。
Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices for God. Aaron and all the elders of Israel came to eat a meal before God with Moses' father-in-law.
13 第二天，摩西坐着审判百姓，百姓从早到晚都站在摩西的左右。
On the next day Moses sat down to judge the people. The people stood around him from morning until evening.
14 摩西的岳父看见他向百姓所做的一切事，就说：“你向百姓做的是什么事呢？你为什么独自坐着，众百姓从早到晚都站在你的左右呢？”
When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing with the people? Why is it that you sit alone and all the people stand about you from morning until evening?”
15 摩西对岳父说：“这是因百姓到我这里来求问 神。
Moses said to his father-in-law, “The people come to me to ask for God's direction.
16 他们有事的时候就到我这里来，我便在两造之间施行审判；我又叫他们知道 神的律例和法度。”
When they have a dispute, they come to me. I decide between one person and another, and I teach them God's statutes and laws.”
17 摩西的岳父说：“你这做的不好。
Moses' father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not very good.
18 你和这些百姓必都疲惫；因为这事太重，你独自一人办理不了。
You will surely wear yourselves out, you and the people who are with you. This burden is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it by yourself.
19 现在你要听我的话。我为你出个主意，愿 神与你同在。你要替百姓到 神面前，将案件奏告 神；
Listen to me. I will give you advice, and God will be with you, because you are the people's representative to God, and you bring their disputes to him.
20 又要将律例和法度教训他们，指示他们当行的道，当做的事；
You must teach them his statutes and laws. You must show them the way to walk and the work to do.
21 并要从百姓中拣选有才能的人，就是敬畏 神、诚实无妄、恨不义之财的人，派他们作千夫长、百夫长、五十夫长、十夫长，管理百姓，
Furthermore, you must choose capable men from all the people, men who honor God, men of truth who hate unjust gain. You must put them over people, to be leaders in charge of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and of tens.
22 叫他们随时审判百姓，大事都要呈到你这里，小事他们自己可以审判。这样，你就轻省些，他们也可以同当此任。
They will judge the people in all routine cases, but the difficult cases they will bring to you. As for all the small cases, they can judge those themselves. In that way it will be easier for you, and they will carry the burden with you.
23 你若这样行， 神也这样吩咐你，你就能受得住，这百姓也都平平安安归回他们的住处。”
If you do this, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure, and the entire people will be able to go home satisfied.”
24 于是，摩西听从他岳父的话，按着他所说的去行。
So Moses listened to his father-in-law's words and did everything that he had said.
25 摩西从以色列人中拣选了有才能的人，立他们为百姓的首领，作千夫长、百夫长、五十夫长、十夫长。
Moses chose capable men from all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders in charge of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.
26 他们随时审判百姓，有难断的案件就呈到摩西那里，但各样小事他们自己审判。
They judged the people in normal circumstances. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but they themselves judged all the small cases.
27 此后，摩西让他的岳父去，他就往本地去了。
Then Moses let his father-in-law leave, and Jethro went back into his own land.
