Exodus 18
1 And when Jethro, the priest of Midian, the kinsman of Moses, had heard all that God had done for Moses, and for his people Israel, and that the Lord had led Israel away from Egypt,
E ouviu Jetro, sacerdote de Midiã, sogro de Moisés, todas as coisas que Deus havia feito com Moisés, e com Israel seu povo, e como o SENHOR havia tirado a Israel do Egito:
2 he brought Zipporah, the wife of Moses, whom he was to return to him,
E tomou Jetro, sogro de Moisés a Zípora a mulher de Moisés, depois que ele a enviou,
3 and her two sons, of whom one was called Gershom, (for his father said, “I have been a newcomer in a foreign land,”)
E a seus dois filhos; um se chamava Gérson, porque disse: Peregrino fui em terra alheia;
4 and the other in truth was Eliezer, (“For the God of my father,” he said, “is my helper, and has rescued me from the sword of Pharaoh.”)
E o outro se chamava Eliézer, porque disse, O Deus de meu pai me ajudou, e me livrou da espada de Faraó.
5 And so Jethro, the kinsman of Moses, with his sons and his wife, came to Moses in the desert, where he was encamped next to the mountain of God.
E Jetro o sogro de Moisés, com seus filhos e sua mulher, chegou a Moisés no deserto, onde tinha o acampamento junto ao monte de Deus;
6 And he sent word to Moses, saying: “I, Jethro, your kinsman, have come to you, with your wife, and your two sons with her.”
E disse a Moisés: Eu teu sogro Jetro venho a ti, com tua mulher, e seus dois filhos com ela.
7 And going out to meet his kinsman, he reverenced and kissed him. And they saluted each other with peaceful words. And when he had arrived at the tent,
E Moisés saiu a receber a seu sogro, e inclinou-se, e beijou-o: e perguntaram-se um ao outro como estavam, e vieram à tenda.
8 Moses explained to his kinsman all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians on behalf of Israel, and all the hardships which had befallen them on the journey, and how the Lord had freed them.
E Moisés contou a seu sogro todas as coisas que o SENHOR havia feito a Faraó e aos egípcios por causa de Israel, e todo o trabalho que haviam passado no caminho, e como os havia livrado o SENHOR.
9 And Jethro was gladdened over all the good that the Lord had done for Israel, because he had rescued them from the hand of the Egyptians.
E alegrou-se Jetro de todo o bem que o SENHOR havia feito a Israel, que o havia livrado da mão dos egípcios.
10 And he said: “Blessed is the Lord, who has freed his people from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh; he has rescued his people from the hand of Egypt.
E Jetro disse: Bendito seja o SENHOR, que vos livrou da mão dos egípcios, e da mão de Faraó, e que livrou ao povo da mão dos egípcios.
11 Now I know that the great Lord is above all gods. This is why they acted arrogantly against them.”
Agora conheço que o SENHOR é maior que todos os deuses, até naquilo em que se vangloriavam contra o povo.
12 And so Jethro, the kinsman of Moses, offered holocausts and sacrifices to God. And Aaron arrived with all the elders of Israel, in order to eat bread with him in the sight of God.
E tomou Jetro, sogro de Moisés, holocaustos e sacrifícios para Deus: e veio Arão e todos os anciãos de Israel a comer pão com o sogro de Moisés diante de Deus.
13 Then, the next day, Moses sat down in order to judge the people, and they stood beside Moses from morning, even until evening.
E aconteceu que outro dia se sentou Moisés a julgar ao povo; e o povo esteve diante de Moisés desde a manhã até à tarde.
14 And when, of course, his kinsman saw all that he did among the people, he said: “What is this that you do among the people? Why do you sit alone, while all the people stand before you, from morning, even until evening?”
E vendo o sogro de Moisés tudo o que ele fazia com o povo, disse: Que é isto que fazes tu com o povo? por que te sentas tu sozinho, e todo o povo está diante de ti desde a manhã até à tarde?
15 And Moses answered him: “The people come to me seeking the verdict of God.
E Moisés respondeu a seu sogro: Porque o povo vem a mim para consultar a Deus:
16 And when any kind of dispute occurs among them, they come to me to judge between them, and to reveal the precepts of God and of his laws.”
Quando têm negócios, vem a mim; e eu julgo entre o um e o outro, e declaro as ordenanças de Deus e suas leis.
17 But he said, “This is not good, what you are doing.
Então o sogro de Moisés lhe disse: Não fazes bem:
18 You will be consumed by foolish efforts, both you and this people who are with you. The task is beyond your strength; you will not be able bear it alone.
Desfalecerás de todo, tu, e também este povo que está contigo; porque o negócio é demasiado pesado para ti; não poderás fazê-lo tu sozinho.
19 But listen to my words and counsels, and then God will be with you. Be available to the people in that which pertains to God, so as to refer what they say to him,
Ouve agora minha voz; eu te aconselharei, e Deus será contigo. Está tu pelo povo diante de Deus, e traze tu os negócios a Deus.
20 and to reveal to the people the ceremonies, and the rituals of worship, and the way by which they should progress, and the work that they should do.
E ensina a eles as ordenanças e as leis, e mostra-lhes o caminho por onde andem, e o que hão de fazer.
21 Then provide, from all of the people, men capable and fearing God, in whom there is truth and who hate avarice, and appoint from them tribunes, and leaders of hundreds, and of fifties, and of tens,
Ademais busca dentre todo o povo homens de virtude, temerosos de Deus, homens de verdade, que odeiem a ganância; e constituirás a estes sobre eles líderes sobre mil, sobre cem, sobre cinquenta e sobre dez.
22 who may judge the people at all times. Then, when anything greater will have occurred, they may refer it to you, and let them judge the lesser matters only. And so it may be lighter for you, the burden being divided among others.
Os quais julgarão ao povo ao todo tempo; e será que todo negócio grave o trarão a ti, e eles julgarão todo negócio pequeno: alivia assim a carga de sobre ti, e eles a levarão contigo.
23 If you will do this, you will fulfill the orders of God, and you will be able to uphold his precepts. And this entire people will return to their places in peace.”
Se isto fizeres, e Deus te o mandar, tu poderás persistir, e todo este povo se irá também em paz a seu lugar.
24 Having heard this, Moses did everything that he had suggested to him.
E ouviu Moisés a voz de seu sogro, e fez tudo o que disse.
25 And choosing virtuous men from all of Israel, he appointed them as leaders of the people: tribunes, and leaders of hundreds, and of fifties, and of tens.
E escolheu Moisés homens de virtude de todo Israel, e os pôs por chefes sobre o povo, líderes sobre mil, sobre cem, sobre cinquenta, e sobre dez.
26 And they judged the people at all times. But whatever was more serious, they referred to him, and they judged easier matters only.
E julgavam ao povo ao todo tempo; o negócio árduo traziam-no a Moisés, e eles julgavam todo negócio pequeno.
27 And he dismissed his kinsman, who, turning back, went to his own land.
E despediu Moisés a seu sogro, e foi-se à sua terra.
