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，
And 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,
2 便带着摩西的妻子西坡拉，就是摩西从前打发回去的，
and Jethro, father-in-law of Moses, taketh Zipporah, wife of Moses, besides her parents,
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, of whom the name of the one [is] Gershom, for he said, 'a sojourner I have been in a strange 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。”
and the name of the other [is] Eliezer, for, 'the God of my father [is] for my help, and doth deliver me from the sword of Pharaoh.'
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。
And 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;
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。”
and he saith unto Moses, 'I, thy father-in-law, Jethro, am coming unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.'
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。
And 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;
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。
and 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.
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。
And Jethro rejoiceth for all the good which Jehovah hath done to Israel, whom He hath delivered 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。
and Jethro saith, 'Blessed [is] 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;
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 have known that Jehovah [is] greater than all the gods, for in the thing they have acted proudly — [He is] above them!'
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。
And 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.
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。
And 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;
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？”
and the father-in-law of Moses seeth all that he is doing to the people, and saith, 'What [is] 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?'
15 摩西对岳父说：“这是因百姓到我这里来求问 神。
And Moses saith to his father-in-law, 'Because the people come unto me to seek God;
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 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.'
17 摩西的岳父说：“你这做的不好。
And the father-in-law of Moses saith unto him, 'The thing which thou art doing [is] not 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。
thou dost surely wear away, both thou, and this people which [is] with thee, for the thing is too heavy for thee, thou art not able to do it by thyself.
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；
'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;
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；
and thou hast warned them [concerning] the statutes and the laws, and hast made known to them the way in which they go, and the work which they 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，
'And thou — thou dost provide out of all the people men of ability, fearing God, men of truth, hating dishonest gain, and hast placed [these] over them, heads of thousands, heads of hundreds, heads of fifties, and heads 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。
and 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.
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 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.'
24 于是，摩西听从他岳父的话，按着他所说的去行。
And Moses hearkeneth to the voice of his father-in-law, and doth all that he 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。
and 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,
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。
and they have judged the people at all times; the hard matter they bring in unto Moses, and every small matter they judge themselves.
27 此后，摩西让他的岳父去，他就往本地去了。
And Moses sendeth his father-in-law away, and he goeth away unto his own land.
