Exodus 18
1 And Jethro the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done to Moses, and to Israel his people; that Jehovah had brought Israel out of Egypt.
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，
2 And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her back,
便带着摩西的妻子西坡拉，就是摩西从前打发回去的，
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,
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”；
4 — and the name of the other, Eliezer — For the God of my father has been my help, and has delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.
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。”
5 And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came to Moses with his sons and his wife into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mountain of God.
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。
6 And he sent word to Moses: I, thy father-in-law Jethro, am come to thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.
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。”
7 And Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other [after] their welfare, and went into the tent.
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。
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 trouble that had befallen them on the way, and [how] Jehovah had delivered them.
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。
9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness that Jehovah had done to Israel; that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.
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。
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.
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。
11 Now I know that Jehovah is greater than all gods; for in the thing in which they acted haughtily [he was] above them.
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。”
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 in the presence of God.
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。
13 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people; and the people stood by Moses from the morning to the evening.
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。
14 And Moses' father-in-law saw all that he did with the people, and said, What is this thing which thou art doing with the people? why dost thou sit alone, and all the people are standing by thee from morning to evening?
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？”
15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, Because the people come to me to enquire of God.
摩西对岳父说：“这是因百姓到我这里来求问 神。
16 When they have a matter, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known [to them] the statutes of God, and his laws.
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。”
17 And Moses' father-in-law said to him, The thing that thou art doing is not good.
摩西的岳父说：“你这做的不好。
18 Thou wilt be quite exhausted, both thou and this people that is with thee; for the thing is too heavy for thee: thou canst not perform it alone.
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。
19 Hearken now to my voice: I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee. Be thou for the people with God, and bring the matters before God;
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；
20 and teach them the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they must walk, and the work that they must do.
又要将律例和法度教训他们，指示他们当行的道，当做的事；
21 But do thou provide among all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place [them] over them, chiefs of thousands, chiefs of hundreds, chiefs of fifties, and chiefs of tens,
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，
22 that they may judge the people at all times; and it shall be [that] they shall bring to thee every great matter, and that they shall judge every small matter, and they shall lighten [the task] on thee, and they shall bear [it] with thee.
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。
23 If thou do this thing, and God command thee [so], thou wilt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.
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。”
24 And Moses hearkened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said.
于是，摩西听从他岳父的话，按着他所说的去行。
25 And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, chiefs of hundreds, chiefs of fifties, and chiefs of tens.
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。
26 And they judged the people at all times: the hard matters they brought to Moses, but every small matter they judged.
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。
27 And Moses sent away his father-in-law, and he departed into his land.
此后，摩西让他的岳父去，他就往本地去了。
