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.
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 When Moses had sent home his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro had welcomed her,
E tomou Jetro, sogro de Moisés a Zípora a mulher de Moisés, depois que ele a enviou,
3 together with her two sons. One son was named Gershom, for Moses had said, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.”
E a seus dois filhos; um se chamava Gérson, porque disse: Peregrino fui em terra alheia;
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.”
E o outro se chamava Eliézer, porque disse, O Deus de meu pai me ajudou, e me livrou da espada de Faraó.
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.
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 Moses was told beforehand, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to see you together with your wife and her two sons.”
E disse a Moisés: Eu teu sogro Jetro venho a ti, com tua mulher, e seus dois filhos com ela.
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.
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 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.
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 Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things the Lord had done for Israel when he'd saved them from 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 Jethro announced, “May the Lord be blessed, who saved you from the Egyptians and from Pharaoh.
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 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.”
Agora conheço que o SENHOR é maior que todos os deuses, até naquilo em que se vangloriavam contra o povo.
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.
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 The following day Moses sat as a judge for the people, and they presented their cases to him from morning to 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 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?”
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 “Because the people come to me to ask God for his decision,” Moses replied.
E Moisés respondeu a seu sogro: Porque o povo vem a mim para consultar a Deus:
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.”
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 Jethro told him, “What you're doing is not the best.
Então o sogro de Moisés lhe disse: Não fazes bem:
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.
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 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.
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 Go on teaching them the laws and regulations. Show them how to live and the work they are to 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 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.
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 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.
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 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.”
Se isto fizeres, e Deus te o mandar, tu poderás persistir, e todo este povo se irá também em paz a seu lugar.
24 Moses listened to what his father-in-law said and followed all his advice.
E ouviu Moisés a voz de seu sogro, e fez tudo o que disse.
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.
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 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.
E julgavam ao povo ao todo tempo; o negócio árduo traziam-no a Moisés, e eles julgavam todo negócio pequeno.
27 Then Moses sent Jethro on his way, and he went back to his own country.
E despediu Moisés a seu sogro, e foi-se à sua terra.
