出埃及記 18
1 摩西的岳父，米甸祭司葉忒羅，聽見上帝為摩西和上帝的百姓以色列所行的一切事，就是耶和華將以色列從埃及領出來的事，
Now Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about all that God had done for Moses and His people Israel, and how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.
2 便帶着摩西的妻子西坡拉，就是摩西從前打發回去的，
After Moses had sent back his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro had received her,
3 又帶着西坡拉的兩個兒子，一個名叫革舜，因為摩西說：「我在外邦作了寄居的」；
along with her two sons. One son was named Gershom, for Moses had said, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.”
4 一個名叫以利以謝，因為他說：「我父親的上帝幫助了我，救我脫離法老的刀。」
The other son was named Eliezer, for Moses had said, “The God of my father was my helper and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.”
5 摩西的岳父葉忒羅帶着摩西的妻子和兩個兒子來到上帝的山，就是摩西在曠野安營的地方。
Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, along with Moses’ wife and sons, came to him in the desert, where he was encamped at the mountain of God.
6 他對摩西說：「我是你岳父葉忒羅，帶着你的妻子和兩個兒子來到你這裏。」
He sent word 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，與他親嘴，彼此問安，都進了帳棚。
So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other and went into the tent.
8 摩西將耶和華為以色列的緣故向法老和埃及人所行的一切事，以及路上所遭遇的一切艱難，並耶和華怎樣搭救他們，都述說與他岳父聽。
Then Moses recounted to his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardships they had encountered along the way, and how the LORD had delivered them.
9 葉忒羅因耶和華待以色列的一切好處，就是拯救他們脫離埃及人的手，便甚歡喜。
And Jethro rejoiced over all the good things the LORD had done for Israel, whom He had rescued from the hand of the Egyptians.
10 葉忒羅說：「耶和華是應當稱頌的；他救了你們脫離埃及人和法老的手，將這百姓從埃及人的手下救出來。
Jethro declared, “Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from the hand of the Egyptians.
11 我現今在埃及人向這百姓發狂傲的事上得知，耶和華比萬神都大。」
Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, for He did this when they treated Israel with arrogance.”
12 摩西的岳父葉忒羅把燔祭和平安祭獻給上帝。亞倫和以色列的眾長老都來了，與摩西的岳父在上帝面前吃飯。
Then Moses’ father-in-law Jethro brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence of God.
13 第二天，摩西坐着審判百姓，百姓從早到晚都站在摩西的左右。
The next day Moses took his seat to judge the people, and they stood around him from morning until evening.
14 摩西的岳父看見他向百姓所做的一切事，就說：「你向百姓做的是甚麼事呢？你為甚麼獨自坐着，眾百姓從早到晚都站在你的左右呢？」
When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone as judge, with all the people standing around you from morning till evening?”
15 摩西對岳父說：「這是因百姓到我這裏來求問上帝。
“Because the people come to me to inquire of God,” Moses replied.
16 他們有事的時候就到我這裏來，我便在兩造之間施行審判；我又叫他們知道上帝的律例和法度。」
“Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me to judge between one man and another, and I make known to them the statutes and laws of God.”
17 摩西的岳父說：「你這做的不好。
But Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good.
18 你和這些百姓必都疲憊；因為這事太重，你獨自一人辦理不了。
Surely you and these people with you will wear yourselves out, because the task is too heavy for you. You cannot handle it alone.
19 現在你要聽我的話。我為你出個主意，願上帝與你同在。你要替百姓到上帝面前，將案件奏告上帝；
Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their causes to Him.
20 又要將律例和法度教訓他們，指示他們當行的道，當做的事；
Teach them the statutes and laws, and show them the way to live and the work they must do.
21 並要從百姓中揀選有才能的人，就是敬畏上帝、誠實無妄、恨不義之財的人，派他們作千夫長、百夫長、五十夫長、十夫長，管理百姓，
Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
22 叫他們隨時審判百姓，大事都要呈到你這裏，小事他們自己可以審判。這樣，你就輕省些，他們也可以同當此任。
Have these men judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you any major issue, but all minor cases they can judge on their own, so that your load may be lightened as they share it with you.
23 你若這樣行，上帝也這樣吩咐你，你就能受得住，這百姓也都平平安安歸回他們的住處。」
If you follow this advice and God so directs you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people can go home in peace.”
24 於是，摩西聽從他岳父的話，按着他所說的去行。
Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.
25 摩西從以色列人中揀選了有才能的人，立他們為百姓的首領，作千夫長、百夫長、五十夫長、十夫長。
So Moses chose capable men from all Israel and made them heads over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
26 他們隨時審判百姓，有難斷的案件就呈到摩西那裏，但各樣小事他們自己審判。
And they judged the people at all times; they would bring the difficult cases to Moses, but any minor issue they would judge themselves.
27 此後，摩西讓他的岳父去，他就往本地去了。
Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own land.
