Exodus 18

1 Now 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.

Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all 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 Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her away,

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

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

and her two sons. The name of one son was Gershom, for Moses said, “I have lived as a foreigner in a foreign land”.

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

The name of the other was Eliezer, for he said, “My father’s God was my help and delivered me from Pharaoh’s sword.”

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

Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with Moses’ sons and his wife to Moses into the wilderness where he was encamped, at the Mountain of God.

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

He said to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, have come to you with your 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.

Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and bowed and kissed him. They asked each other of their welfare, and they came into the tent.

8 And Moses told his father-in-law all that Jehovah had done to 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.

Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardships that had come on them on the way, and how the LORD delivered them.

9 And 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.

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

10 And Jethro said, Blessed be Jehovah, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

Jethro said, “Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh; who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

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

Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods because of the way that they treated people arrogantly.”

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.

Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God. Aaron came with 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 about Moses from the morning to the evening.

On the next day, Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from the morning to 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 do to the people? Why do thou sit by thyself, and all the people stand about thee from morning to evening?

When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did to the people, he said, “What is this thing that you do for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning to evening?”

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

Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God.

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

When they have a matter, they come to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor, and I make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.”

17 And Moses' father-in-law said to him, The thing that thou do is not good.

Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good.

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

You will surely wear away, both you, and this people that is with you; for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to perform it yourself alone.

19 Hearken now to my voice. I will give thee counsel, and God be with thee. Be thou for the people toward God, and bring thou the cases to God.

Listen now to my voice. I will give you counsel, and God be with you. You represent the people before God, and bring the causes to God.

20 And thou shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and shall show them the way in which they must walk, and the work that they must do.

You shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and shall show them the way in which they must walk, and the work that they must do.

21 Moreover thou shall 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,

Moreover you shall provide out of all the people able men which 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.

22 and let them judge the people at all seasons. And it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring to thee, but every small matter they shall judge themselves. So shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.

Let them judge the people at all times. It shall be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they shall judge themselves. So shall it be easier for you, and they shall share the load with you.

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

If you will do this thing, and God commands you so, then you will be able to endure, and all these people also will 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.

So Moses listened 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,

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 cases they brought to Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

They judged the people at all times. They brought the hard cases to 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.

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