Exodus 18
1 And when Jethro the priest of Madian, the kinsman of Moses, had heard all the things that God had done to Moses, and to Israel his people, and that the Lord had brought forth Israel out of Egypt,
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，
2 He took Sephora the wife of Moses whom he had sent back:
便帶着摩西的妻子西坡拉，就是摩西從前打發回去的，
3 And her two sons, of whom one was called Gersam, his father saying: I have been a stranger in a foreign country.
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」；
4 And the other Eliezer: For the God of my father, said he, is my helper, and hath delivered me from the sword of Pharao.
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。」
5 And Jethro the kinsman of Moses came with his sons and his wife, to Moses into the desert, where he was camped by the mountain of God.
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。
6 And he sent word to Moses, saying: I Jethro thy kinsman come to thee, and thy wife, and thy two sons with her.
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。」
7 And he went out to meet his kinsman, and worshipped and kissed him: and they saluted one another with words of peace. And when he was come into the tent,
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。
8 Moses told his kinsman all that the Lord had done to Pharao, and the Egyptians, in favour of Israel: and all the labour which had befallen them in the journey, and that the Lord had delivered them.
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。
9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the good things that the Lord had done to Israel, because he had delivered them out of the hands of the Egyptians.
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。
10 And he said: Blessed is the Lord, who hath delivered you out of the hand of Pharao, and out of the hand of the Egyptians, who hath delivered his people out of the hand of Egypt.
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。
11 Now I know that the Lord is great above all gods: because they dealt proudly against them.
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。」
12 So Jethro the kinsman of Moses offered holocausts and sacrifices to God: and Aaron and all the ancients of Israel came, to eat bread with them before God.
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。
13 And the next day Moses sat, to judge the people, who stood by Moses from morning until night.
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。
14 And when his kinsman had seen all things that he did among the people, he said: What is it that thou dost among the people? Why sittest thou alone, and all the people wait from morning till night.
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？」
15 And Moses answered him: The people come to me to seek the judgment of God.
摩西對岳父說：「這是因百姓到我這裏來求問上帝。
16 And when any controversy falleth out among them, they come to me to judge between them, and to shew the precepts of God, and his laws.
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。」
17 But he said: The thing thou dost is not good.
摩西的岳父說：「你這做的不好。
18 Thou are spent with foolish labour, both thou and this people that is with thee: the business is above thy strength, thou alone canst not bear it.
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。
19 But hear my words and counsels, and God shall be with thee. Be thou to the people in those things that pertain to God, to bring their words to him:
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；
20 And to shew the people the ceremonies and the manner of worshipping, and the way wherein they ought to walk, and the work that they ought to do.
又要將律例和法度教訓他們，指示他們當行的道，當做的事；
21 And provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, in whom there is truth, and that hate avarice, and appoint of them rulers of thousands, and of hundreds, and of fifties, and of tens.
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，
22 Who may judge the people at all times: and when any great matter soever shall fall out, let them refer it to thee, and let them judge the lesser matters only: that so it may be lighter for thee, the burden being shared out unto others.
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。
23 If thou dost this, thou shalt fulfill the commandment of God, and shalt be able to bear his precepts: and all this people shall return to their places with peace.
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。」
24 And when Moses heard this, he did all things that he had suggested unto him.
於是，摩西聽從他岳父的話，按着他所說的去行。
25 And choosing able men out of all Israel, he appointed them rulers of the people, rulers over thousands, and over hundreds, and over fifties, and over tens.
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。
26 And they judged the people at all times: and whatsoever was of greater difficulty they referred to him, and they judged the easier cases only.
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。
27 And he let his kinsman depart: and he returned and went into his own country.
此後，摩西讓他的岳父去，他就往本地去了。
