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.
Jetro, sacerdote de Madián, suegro de Moisés, oyó todo lo que ʼElohim hizo por Moisés y por su pueblo Israel, y cómo Yavé sacó a Israel de Egipto.
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,
Jetro, suegro de Moisés, tomó a Séfora, esposa de Moisés (después que éste la envió [a su casa]),
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.”
y a sus dos hijos. El nombre de uno de ellos era Gersón, porque dijo: Forastero soy en tierra extranjera.
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].”
El nombre del otro era Eliezer, porque dijo: el ʼElohim de mis antepasados es mi ayuda y me libró de la espada de Faraón.
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.
Jetro, suegro de Moisés, llegó al desierto con los hijos y la esposa de Moisés. Acampó junto a la Montaña de ʼElohim
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!”
y envió palabra a Moisés: Yo, tu suegro Jetro, vengo a ti con tu esposa y tus dos hijos.
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.
Entonces Moisés salió a recibir a su suegro, se inclinó y lo besó. Se preguntaron el uno al otro por su salud y entraron en la tienda.
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.
Entonces Moisés relató a su suegro todo lo que Yavé hizo a Faraón y a los egipcios por amor a Israel y todas las adversidades que tuvieron en el camino, y cómo Yavé los libró.
9 Jethro rejoiced when he heard all that Yahweh had done for the Israeli people.
Jetro se regocijó por todo el bien que Yavé hizo a Israel, Quien libró al pueblo de la mano de los egipcios.
10 He said, “Praise Yahweh, who has rescued you from the powerful [MTY] Egyptian king and his army!
Jetro exclamó: ¡Bendito sea Yavé, Quien los libró de la mano de los egipcios y de la mano de Faraón! ¡Él libró al pueblo de la mano de Egipto!
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].”
Ahora sé que Yavé es mayor que todos los ʼelohim, pues quedó probado que en aquello en lo cual se ensoberbecieron, Él prevaleció contra ellos.
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.
Entonces Jetro, suegro de Moisés, ofreció un holocausto y sacrificios a ʼElohim. Y Aarón llegó con todos los ancianos de Israel a comer pan con el suegro de Moisés delante de ʼElohim.
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.
Sucedió al día siguiente que Moisés se sentó a juzgar al pueblo, porque el pueblo se presentaba delante de Moisés desde la mañana hasta llegar la noche.
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]?”
Al ver el suegro de Moisés todo lo que él hacía para el pueblo, dijo: ¿Qué es esto que haces con el pueblo? ¿Por qué te sientas tú solo, y todo el pueblo se presenta ante ti desde la mañana hasta [llegar] la noche?
15 Moses/I replied, “[I am doing this] because the people keep coming to me to find out what God desires.
Moisés respondió a su suegro: Porque el pueblo viene a mí para consultar a ʼElohim.
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.”
Cuando tienen una disputa, la traen a mí. Yo juzgo entre un hombre y su prójimo, y les informo los Estatutos de ʼElohim y sus Leyes.
17 Jethro said to him/me, “What you are doing is not good [for you or for the people].
Entonces el suegro de Moisés le dijo: No es bueno lo que tú haces.
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.
Desfallecerás tanto tú como este pueblo que está contigo, porque la tarea es demasiado pesada para ti. No puedes hacerla tú solo.
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.
Escúchame ahora, te aconsejaré, y ʼElohim sea contigo. Representa tú al pueblo ante ʼElohim y lleva tú las disputas ante ʼElohim
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.
Amonéstalos con los Estatutos y las Leyes, y enséñales el camino en el cual deben andar y la obra que deben hacer.
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].
Además, escoge tú mismo entre todo el pueblo a hombres capaces, temerosos de ʼElohim, hombres veraces, aborrecedores del lucro, y desígnalos como jefes de miles, jefes de cientos, jefes de cincuenta y jefes de diez.
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.
Que ellos juzguen al pueblo en todo tiempo y que traigan a ti todo asunto grave, pero todo asunto sencillo lo juzguen ellos. Aligera así la carga de sobre ti, y que la compartan contigo.
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”].
Si haces tal cosa, y ʼElohim así te lo ordena, entonces podrás estar firme, y todo este pueblo también podrá ir en paz a su lugar.
24 Moses/I accepted what his/my father-in-law [Jethro] suggested.
Moisés obedeció a su suegro e hizo todo lo que le dijo.
25 Moses/I chose capable men from among the Israeli people.
Moisés escogió hombres capaces de todo Israel y los constituyó como jefes sobre el pueblo, jefes de miles, de cientos, de cincuenta, y de decena.
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.
Ellos juzgaban al pueblo en todo tiempo. Todo asunto sencillo lo juzgaban ellos mismos y el asunto difícil lo llevaban a Moisés.
27 Then Moses/I said goodbye to his/my father-in-law, and Jethro returned home.
Moisés despidió a su suegro, y éste salió a su tierra.
