Exodus 18

1 Jethro, who was the priest for the Midian people-group, and who was also Moses’/my father-in-law, heard about all that God had done for the Israeli people. He heard about how Yahweh had brought them out of Egypt.

And he heard Jethro [the] priest of Midian [the] father-in-law of Moses all that he had done God for Moses and for Israel people his that he had brought out Yahweh Israel from Egypt.

2 Moses/I had [previously] sent his/my wife Zipporah [back home when he/I was returning to Egypt]. But now Jethro came to him/me,

And he had taken Jethro [the] father-in-law of Moses Zipporah [the] wife of Moses after dismissal her.

3 bringing Zipporah and their/our two sons. One son was named Gershom, [which sounds like the Hebrew word that means ‘foreigner’], because he/I had said, “I have been a foreigner living in another land.”

And [the] two sons her who [the] name of the one [was] Gershom for he had said a sojourner I have become in a land foreign.

4 Her other son was named Eliezer, [which sounds like the Hebrew words that mean ‘God helps me’], because [he/I] had said “God, whom my father [worshiped], has helped me and saved [me] from being killed [MTY] by the king [of Egypt].”

And [the] name of the one [was] Eliezer for [the] God of father my [has been] help my and he has delivered me from [the] sword of Pharaoh.

5 While Moses/I was camped [with the Israeli people] in the desert [near Sinai], God’s sacred/holy mountain, Jethro came to him/me, bringing along Moses’/my wife and our [two] sons.

And he came Jethro [the] father-in-law of Moses and sons his and wife his to Moses into the wilderness where he [was] encamped there [the] mountain of God.

6 Jethro had sent a message to Moses/me, “I, your father-in-law, Jethro, am coming to see you, bringing along your wife and your two sons!”

And he said to Moses I father-in-law your Jethro [am] coming to you and wife your and [the] two sons her with her.

7 So Moses/I went out of the campsite to meet his/my father-in-law. He/I bowed before him, and kissed him [on the cheek]. (They both/We) asked each other, “Have you been healthy?” Then they/we went into [Moses’/my] tent.

And he went out Moses to meet father-in-law his and he bowed down and he kissed him and they asked each of neighbor his to welfare and they went the tent towards.

8 Moses/I told Jethro everything that Yahweh had done to the king and all the [other] people in Egypt for the sake of the Israeli people. He/I also told him about the troubles/problems they/we had experienced on the way, and how Yahweh had helped them/us.

And he recounted Moses to father-in-law his all that he had done Yahweh to Pharaoh and to Egypt on [the] causes of Israel all the hardship which it had come upon them on the journey and he had delivered them Yahweh.

9 Jethro rejoiced when he heard all that Yahweh had done for the Israeli people.

And he rejoiced Jethro on all the good which he had done Yahweh to Israel whom he had delivered it from [the] hand of Egypt.

10 He said, “Praise Yahweh, who has rescued you from the powerful [MTY] Egyptian king and his army!

And he said Jethro [be] blessed Yahweh who he has delivered you from [the] hand of Egypt and from [the] hand of Pharaoh who he has delivered the people from under [the] hand of Egypt.

11 Now I realize that Yahweh is greater than all other gods, because he rescued you all from the power [MTY] of the proud Egyptians when [they] were causing you [to suffer].”

Now I know that [is] great Yahweh more than all the gods for in the matter which they have acted presumptuously on them.

12 Then Jethro sacrificed an animal by burning it completely on the altar [as an offering], and he also offered other sacrifices to God. Aaron and the Israeli elders/leaders went with them/us to eat a sacred meal with Jethro.

And he took Jethro [the] father-in-law of Moses a burnt offering and sacrifices to God and he came Aaron and all - [the] elders of Israel to eat food with [the] father-in-law of Moses before God.

13 The next day, Moses/I sat down at the place where he/I settled disputes among the people. The people were continually bringing their disputes to Moses/me, from morning until evening.

And it was from [the] next day and he sat Moses to judge the people and it stood the people at Moses from the morning until the evening.

14 When Jethro saw everything that Moses/I was doing for the people, he said, “(Why are you doing all this for the people?/You should not be doing all this for the people!) [RHQ] Why are you doing this by yourself, and all the people are crowding around you, from morning until evening, [asking you to make decisions for them] [RHQ]?”

And he saw [the] father-in-law of Moses all that he [was] doing for the people and he said what? [is] the thing this which you [are] doing for the people why? [are] you sitting to alone you and all the people [is] standing at you from morning until evening.

15 Moses/I replied, “[I am doing this] because the people keep coming to me to find out what God desires.

And he said Moses to father-in-law his thatr it comes to me the people to consult God.

16 When they have a dispute about something, they come to me, and they ask me to decide which of them is right. I also tell them all of God’s laws and instructions.”

For it will be[long] to them a matter [it is] coming to me and I judge between each and between neighbor his and I make known [the] statutes of God and laws his.

17 Jethro said to him/me, “What you are doing is not good [for you or for the people].

And he said [the] father-in-law of Moses to him not [is] good the thing which you [are] doing.

18 You and these people will (wear yourselves out/become exhausted)! This work is too much for one person. You are not able to do it by yourself.

Certainly you will wear yourself out both you as well as the people this which [is] with you for [is too] heavy for you the thing not you are able to do it to alone you.

19 Now listen to some good advice [MTY] I will give to you. [If you do what I suggest], God will help you. You should continue to speak to God and tell him about the people’s disputes.

Now listen to voice my let me advise you and may he be God with you be you for the people in front of God and you will bring you the matters to God.

20 You should [also] teach the people what God has commanded and instructed you. You should also explain to them how they should conduct their lives, and the things that they should do.

And you will warn them the statutes and the laws and you will make known to them the way [which] they will walk in it and the work which they will do!

21 But in addition, you should choose some [other men to help you]. Choose men who have reverence for God and who will not accept bribes. Appoint some of them to make decisions [for groups of] ten people, [some for groups of] 50 [people], [some for groups of] 100 [people], [and some for groups of] 1,000 [people].

And you you will provide from all the people men of ability [those] fearing God men of faithfulness [who] hate unjust gain and you will appoint over them officials of thousands officials of hundreds officials of fifties and officials of tens.

22 Allow them to serve permanently to settle disputes for the people. The difficult matters the people can bring to you; but the matters that are not difficult, they can decide themselves. That will make the work easier for you, as they help you do that work.

And they will judge the people at every time and it will be every matter great they will bring to you and every matter small they will judge they and lighten from on yourself and they will bear with you.

23 If you do that, and [I think that] God is telling you to do it (OR, if God tells you to do it), you will not become exhausted, and all the people will be able to go home feeling satisfied about the decisions, [with their disputes settled quickly”].

If the thing this you will do and he will command you God and you will be able to endure and also all the people this to place its it will go in peace.

24 Moses/I accepted what his/my father-in-law [Jethro] suggested.

And he listened Moses to [the] voice father-in-law his and he did all that he had said.

25 Moses/I chose capable men from among the Israeli people.

And he chose Moses men of ability from all Israel and he appointed them chiefs over the people of icials of thousands officials of hundreds officials of fifties and officials of tens.

26 They were appointed permanently to make decisions about the people’s disputes. They brought the difficult cases to Moses/me, but they decided the matters that were not difficult by themselves.

And they judged the people at every time the matter difficult they brought! to Moses and every matter small they judged they.

27 Then Moses/I said goodbye to his/my father-in-law, and Jethro returned home.

And he sent off Moses father-in-law his and he went himself to land his.