Exodus 18

1 Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, how that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.

Now Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about all that God had done for Moses and His people Israel, and how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.

2 Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, received Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her away,

After Moses had sent back his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro had received her,

3 and her two sons. The name of one son was Gershom, for Moses said, "I have lived as a foreigner in a foreign land".

along with her two sons. One son was named Gershom, for Moses had said, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.”

4 The name of the other was Eliezer, for he said, "My father's God was my help and delivered me from Pharaoh's sword."

The other son was named Eliezer, for Moses had said, “The God of my father was my helper and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.”

5 Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses into the wilderness where he was camped, at the Mountain of God.

Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, along with Moses’ wife and sons, came to him in the desert, where he was encamped at the mountain of God.

6 And he said to Moses, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her."

He sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”

7 Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and bowed and kissed him. They asked each other of their welfare, and they came into the tent.

So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other and went into the tent.

8 Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the hardships that had come on them on the way, and how the LORD delivered them.

Then Moses recounted to his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardships they had encountered along the way, and how the LORD had delivered them.

9 Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.

And Jethro rejoiced over all the good things the LORD had done for Israel, whom He had rescued from the hand of the Egyptians.

10 Jethro said, "Blessed be the LORD, 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.

Jethro declared, “Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from the hand of the Egyptians.

11 Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods because of the thing in which they dealt arrogantly against them."

Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, for He did this when they treated Israel with arrogance.”

12 Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God. Aaron came with all of the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law before God.

Then Moses’ father-in-law Jethro brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence of God.

13 It happened on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from the morning to the evening.

The next day Moses took his seat to judge the people, and they stood around him from morning until evening.

14 When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he did to the people, he said, "What is this thing that you do for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning to evening?"

When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone as judge, with all the people standing around you from morning till evening?”

15 Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God.

“Because the people come to me to inquire of God,” Moses replied.

16 When they have a matter, they come to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor, and I make them know the statutes of God, and his laws."

“Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me to judge between one man and another, and I make known to them the statutes and laws of God.”

17 Moses' father-in-law said to him, "The thing that you do is not good.

But Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good.

18 You will surely wear away, both you, and this people that is with you; for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to perform it yourself alone.

Surely you and these people with you will wear yourselves out, because the task is too heavy for you. You cannot handle it alone.

19 Listen now to my voice. I will give you counsel, and God be with you. You represent the people before God, and bring the causes to God.

Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their causes to Him.

20 You shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and shall show them the way in which they must walk, and the work that they must do.

Teach them the statutes and laws, and show them the way to live and the work they must do.

21 Moreover you shall provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God: men of truth, hating unjust gain; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

22 Let them judge the people at all times. It shall be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they shall judge themselves. So shall it be easier for you, and they shall share the load with you.

Have these men judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you any major issue, but all minor cases they can judge on their own, so that your load may be lightened as they share it with you.

23 If you will do this thing, and God commands you so, then you will be able to endure, and all of these people also will go to their place in peace."

If you follow this advice and God so directs you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people can go home in peace.”

24 So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said.

Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.

25 Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

So Moses chose capable men from all Israel and made them heads over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

26 They judged the people at all times. They brought the hard causes to Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

And they judged the people at all times; they would bring the difficult cases to Moses, but any minor issue they would judge themselves.

27 Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went his way into his own land.

Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own land.