Exodus 18
1 Moses' father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about everything God had done for Moses and his people the Israelites, and how the Lord had led them out of Egypt.
Pada waktu Musa masih sering berurusan dengan raja Mesir untuk menuntut dia membebaskan umat Israel, Musa menyuruh orang mengantar Sipora dan kedua anaknya kembali kepada mertuanya, Yitro, seorang imam di Midian. Anak laki-laki Musa yang pertama dinamai Gersom, karena saat dia lahir Musa berkata, “Aku sudah menjadi pendatang di negeri asing.” Anaknya yang kedua diberi nama Eliezer, karena Musa berkata, “Allah ayahku adalah Penolongku dan Dia menyelamatkanku dari ancaman hukuman mati raja Mesir.” Setelah sekian waktu lamanya, Yitro mendengar semua yang sudah Allah lakukan bagi umat Israel dan bagi Musa, serta cara TUHAN membawa mereka keluar dari Mesir.
2 When Moses had sent home his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro had welcomed her,
3 together with her two sons. One son was named Gershom, for Moses had said, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.”
4 The other son was named Eliezer, because Moses had said, “The God of my father was my helper, and saved me from death at Pharaoh's hand.”
5 Moses' father-in-law Jethro, together with Moses' wife and sons, came to see him in the desert at the camp near the mountain of God.
Maka saat umat Israel berkemah di padang belantara dekat kaki gunung Allah, yaitu gunung Sinai, datanglah Yitro kepada Musa mengantarkan istri dan kedua anaknya.
6 Moses was told beforehand, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to see you together with your wife and her two sons.”
Sebelum tiba, Yitro sudah mengirim pesan, “Aku, Yitro, ayah mertuamu, sedang dalam perjalanan untuk menjumpaimu bersama anak-anak dan istrimu.”
7 Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. They asked each other how they were and then went into the tent.
Ketika Yitro tiba, Musa pergi keluar perkemahan untuk menemui mertuanya itu. Dia bersujud untuk menghormati Yitro, lalu memeluknya. Setelah menanyakan kabar masing-masing, mereka masuk ke kemah Musa.
8 Moses told his father-in-law about everything the Lord had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians on behalf of the Israelites, about all the troubles they had experienced on the way, and about how the Lord had saved them.
Musa menceritakan kepada mertuanya semua yang sudah TUHAN lakukan terhadap raja dan orang Mesir untuk menolong Israel, juga semua kesulitan yang mereka hadapi sepanjang perjalanan, dan bagaimana TUHAN sudah menyelamatkan mereka.
9 Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things the Lord had done for Israel when he'd saved them from the Egyptians.
Yitro sangat senang mendengar semua kebaikan yang sudah TUHAN lakukan bagi Israel, yaitu segala cara-Nya menyelamatkan mereka dari tangan orang Mesir.
10 Jethro announced, “May the Lord be blessed, who saved you from the Egyptians and from Pharaoh.
Kata Yitro, “Puji TUHAN. Dia sudah menyelamatkan kalian dari kuasa raja Mesir dan penindasan bangsanya!
11 This is so convincing to me that the Lord is greater than all other gods, for he saved the people from the Egyptians when they acted so arrogantly towards the Israelites.”
Sekarang saya tahu bahwa TUHAN lebih besar daripada segala dewa, karena Dia menghancurkan pasukan Mesir yang membesarkan diri terhadap umat Israel.”
12 Then Jethro presented a burnt offering and sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with him in God's presence.
Lalu Yitro memberikan persembahan kurban bagi Allah. Pertama, dia mempersembahkan kurban yang dibakar habis, sesudah itu kurban yang sebagian dagingnya boleh dimakan. Harun dan semua tua-tua Israel berkumpul untuk makan bersama ayah mertua Musa di hadapan Allah.
13 The following day Moses sat as a judge for the people, and they presented their cases to him from morning to evening.
Keesokan harinya, Musa duduk untuk mengadili perselisihan-perselisihan di antara orang Israel, dan umat itu berdiri di sekeliling Musa dari pagi hingga petang.
14 When his father-in-law saw everything that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What's all this you're doing for the people? Why are you sitting alone as judge, with everyone presenting their cases to you from morning to evening?”
Saat Yitro melihat semua yang Musa lakukan, dia berkata, “Apa yang sedang kamu kerjakan untuk umatmu? Mengapa hanya kamu sendiri yang duduk mengadili, sementara mereka semua berdiri di sekelilingmu dari pagi sampai petang?”
15 “Because the people come to me to ask God for his decision,” Moses replied.
Musa menjawab, “Karena umat itu datang kepada saya untuk meminta petunjuk dari Allah.
16 “When they argue over something, the case is brought before me to decide between one them, and I explain to them the God's laws and regulations.”
Saat ada perselisihan di antara mereka, mereka menjelaskan perkaranya kepada saya, lalu saya memberikan keputusan bagi mereka. Saya juga mengajar mereka perintah dan ketetapan Allah.”
17 Jethro told him, “What you're doing is not the best.
Kata mertua Musa kepadanya, “Caramu ini tidak baik!
18 You, and these people who come to you, are all going to wear yourselves out, because the workload is far too heavy. You can't handle it alone.
Kamu dan umatmu akan sama-sama terlalu lelah. Hal itu terlalu berat untukmu. Kamu tidak bisa melakukannya seorang diri.
19 So please listen to me. I'm going to give you some advice, and God will be with you. Yes, you must continue to be the people's representative before God, and take their cases to him.
Dengarkanlah nasihatku, dan semoga Allah besertamu: Jadilah perantara antara Allah dengan umatmu dan sampaikanlah perkara mereka kepada Allah.
20 Go on teaching them the laws and regulations. Show them how to live and the work they are to do.
Ajarilah mereka tentang semua ketetapan dan perintah Allah. Beritahukanlah kepada mereka cara hidup yang baik dan hal-hal yang harus mereka lakukan.
21 But now you should choose men who are competent from among the people, men who respect God and who are trustworthy and not corrupt. Put them in charge of the people as leaders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.
Tetapi pilihlah dari antara umat ini orang-orang yang cakap, yaitu yang takut dan hormat kepada Allah, yang bisa dipercaya, dan tidak menerima suap. Angkatlah mereka menjadi pemimpin atas seribu orang, seratus orang, lima puluh orang, dan atas sepuluh orang.
22 These men are to judge the people on a continuing basis. Major issues they can bring to you, but they can decide all the small matters themselves. In this way your burden will be made lighter as they share it with you.
Mereka akan mengadili perkara-perkara umat ini. Bila ada perkara yang sulit, mereka bisa membawanya kepadamu, tetapi perkara yang lebih mudah biarlah mereka adili. Dengan begitu, mereka menanggung beban ini bersama denganmu sehingga meringankan pekerjaanmu.
23 If you follow my advice, and if it's what God tells you to do, then you will be able to survive, and all these people can go home satisfied that their cases have been heard.”
Jika kamu melakukannya, dan Allah menyuruhmu demikian, maka kamu akan dapat menanggung beban pekerjaan ini, dan seluruh umat ini akan pulang ke rumah masing-masing dengan tenang.”
24 Moses listened to what his father-in-law said and followed all his advice.
Musa mengikuti nasihat mertuanya itu.
25 So Moses chose competent men from all of Israel and put them in charge of the people as leaders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.
Musa memilih orang-orang yang cakap dari seluruh Israel, lalu mengangkat mereka menjadi pemimpin atas bangsa itu, yakni pemimpin atas seribu orang, seratus orang, lima puluh orang, dan sepuluh orang.
26 They acted as judges for the people on a continuing basis. They brought the difficult cases to Moses, but they would judge the small matters themselves.
Merekalah yang kemudian mengadili perkara-perkara umat Israel. Hanya perkara-perkara sulit yang mereka bawa kepada Musa, sedangkan perkara-perkara yang mudah mereka selesaikan sendiri.
27 Then Moses sent Jethro on his way, and he went back to his own country.
Sesudah itu, mertua Musa pamit pulang ke negerinya, dan Musa melepasnya pergi.
