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.
Y oyó Jetro sacerdote de Madián, suegro de Moisés, todas las cosas que Dios había hecho con Moisés, y con Israel su pueblo, como Jehová había sacado 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,
Y tomó Jetro, suegro de Moisés, a Séfora la mujer de Moisés, después que él la envió:
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 uno se llamaba Gersom; porque dijo: Peregrino he sido en tierra ajena;
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].”
Y el otro se llamaba Eliezer, porque dijo: El Dios de mi padre me ayudó; y me escapó 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.
Y llegó Jetro, el suegro de Moisés, y sus hijos, y su mujer, a Moisés en el desierto, donde tenía el campo, al monte de Dios.
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 dijo a Moisés: Yo tu suegro Jetro vengo a ti, y tu mujer, y sus dos hijos con ella.
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.
Y Moisés salió a recibir a su suegro, e inclinóse, y besóle: y preguntáronse el uno al otro como estaban; y vinieron a 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.
Y Moisés contó a su suegro todas las cosas que Jehová había hecho a Faraón y a los Egipcios por causa de Israel; y todo el trabajo que habían pasado en el camino, y como los había librado Jehová.
9 Jethro rejoiced when he heard all that Yahweh had done for the Israeli people.
Y alegróse Jetro de todo el bien, que Jehová había hecho a Israel, que le había escapado de mano de los Egipcios.
10 He said, “Praise Yahweh, who has rescued you from the powerful [MTY] Egyptian king and his army!
Y Jetro dijo: Bendito sea Jehová, que os escapó de mano de los Egipcios, y de la mano de Faraón, que escapó al pueblo de la mano de los Egipcios.
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 conozco que Jehová es grande más que todos los dioses; porque en lo que se ensoberbecieron contra ellos, los castigó.
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.
Y tomó Jetro, el suegro de Moisés, holocausto y sacrificios para Dios: y vino Aarón, y todos los ancianos de Israel a comer pan con el suegro de Moisés delante de Dios.
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.
Y aconteció, que otro día Moisés se asentó a juzgar al pueblo; y el pueblo estuvo sobre Moisés desde la mañana hasta la tarde.
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]?”
Y viendo el suegro de Moisés todo lo que él hacía con el pueblo, dijo: ¿Qué es esto que haces tú con el pueblo? ¿Por qué te sientas tú solo, y todo el pueblo está sobre ti desde la mañana hasta la tarde?
15 Moses/I replied, “[I am doing this] because the people keep coming to me to find out what God desires.
Y Moisés respondió a su suegro: Porque el pueblo viene a mí para consultar a Dios:
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 negocios, y vienen a mí, y yo juzgo entre el uno y el otro, y declaro las ordenanzas de Dios, 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 haces bien:
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 del todo tú y también este pueblo que está contigo; porque el negocio es más pesado que tú; no podrás hacerlo 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.
Oye ahora mi voz, yo te aconsejaré, y Dios será contigo. Está tú por el pueblo delante de Dios, y trata tú los negocios con Dios:
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.
Y enséñales las ordenanzas y las leyes, y muéstrales el camino por donde anden, y lo que han de 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].
Y tú proveerás de todo el pueblo varones de virtud, temerosos de Dios, varones de verdad, que aborrezcan la avaricia; y pondrás sobre ellos príncipes sobre mil, sobre ciento, sobre cincuenta, y sobre 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.
Los cuales juzgarán al pueblo en todo tiempo: y será, que todo negocio grave te traerán a ti, y todo negocio pequeño juzgarán ellos; y alivia la carga de sobre ti, y llevarla han 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 esto hicieres, y lo que Dios te mandare, tú podrás estar, y todo este pueblo también se irá en paz a su lugar.
24 Moses/I accepted what his/my father-in-law [Jethro] suggested.
Entonces Moisés oyó la voz de su suegro, e hizo todo lo que él dijo.
25 Moses/I chose capable men from among the Israeli people.
Y escogió Moisés varones de virtud de todo Israel, y púsolos por cabezas sobre el pueblo, príncipes sobre mil, sobre ciento, sobre cincuenta, y sobre diez;
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.
Los cuales juzgaban al pueblo en todo tiempo: el negocio arduo traíanlo a Moisés, y todo negocio pequeño juzgaban ellos.
27 Then Moses/I said goodbye to his/my father-in-law, and Jethro returned home.
Y despidió Moisés a su suegro, y fuése a su tierra.
