Exodus 18

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

When Iethro the Priest of Midian Moses father in lawe heard all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and howe the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt,

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

Then Iethro the father in lawe of Moses, tooke Zipporah Moses wife, (after he had sent her away)

3 and her two sons; the name of the one son was Gershom, for Moses had said, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.”

And her two sonnes, (whereof the one was called Gershom: for he sayd, I haue bene an aliant in a strange land:

4 The name of the other was Eliezer, for Moses had said, “My ancestor's God was my help. He rescued me from Pharaoh's sword.”

And the name of the other was Eliezer: for the God of my father, said he, was mine helpe, and deliuered me from the sword of Pharaoh)

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

And Iethro Moses father in law came with his two sonnes, and his wife vnto Moses into the wildernes, where he camped by ye mout of God.

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

And he said to Moses, I thy father in law Iethro am come to thee, and thy wife and her two sonnes with her.

7 Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down, and kissed him. They asked about each other's welfare and then went into the tent.

And Moses went out to meete his father in law, and did obeisance and kissed him, and eche asked other of his welfare: and they came into the tent.

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

Then Moses told his father in law all that the Lord had done vnto Pharaoh, and to the Egyptians for Israels sake, and all the trauaile that had come vnto them by the way, and howe the Lord deliuered them.

9 Jethro rejoiced over all the good that Yahweh had done for Israel, in that he had rescued them from the hand of the Egyptians.

And Iethro reioyced at all the goodnesse, which the Lord had shewed to Israel, and because he had deliuered them out of the hande of the Egyptians.

10 Jethro said, “May Yahweh be praised, for he has rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and delivered the people from the hand of the Egyptians.

Therfore Iethro sayd, Blessed be the Lord who hath deliuered you out of the hande of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh: who hath also deliuered the people from vnder the hand of the Egyptians.

11 Now I know that Yahweh is greater than all the gods, because when the Egyptians treated the Israelites arrogantly, God rescued his people.”

Now I know that the Lord is greater then all the gods: for as they haue dealt proudly with them, so are they recompensed.

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

Then Iethro Moses father in lawe tooke burnt offerings and sacrifices to offer vnto God. And Aaron and all the Elders of Israel came to eat bread with Moses father in law before God.

13 On the next day Moses sat down to judge the people. The people stood around him from morning until evening.

Now on the morow, when Moses sate to iudge the people, the people stoode about Moses from morning vnto euen.

14 When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing with the people? Why is it that you sit alone and all the people stand about you from morning until evening?”

And when Moses father in law saw all that he did to the people, he sayde, What is this that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thy selfe alone, and all the people stande about thee from morning vnto euen?

15 Moses said to his father-in-law, “The people come to me to ask for God's direction.

And Moses sayd vnto his father in law, Because the people come vnto me to seeke God.

16 When they have a dispute, they come to me. I decide between one person and another, and I teach them God's statutes and laws.”

When they haue a matter, they come vnto me, and I iudge betweene one and another, and declare the ordinances of God, and his lawes.

17 Moses' father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not very good.

But Moses father in law said vnto him, The thing which thou doest, is not well.

18 You will surely wear yourselves out, you and the people who are with you. This burden is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it by yourself.

Thou both weariest thy selfe greatly, and this people that is with thee: for the thing is too heauie for thee: thou art not able to doe it thy selfe alone.

19 Listen to me. I will give you advice, and God will be with you, because you are the people's representative to God, and you bring their disputes to him.

Heare nowe my voyce, (I will giue thee counsell, and God shalbe with thee) be thou for the people to Godwarde, and report thou the causes vnto God,

20 You must teach them his statutes and laws. You must show them the way to walk and the work to do.

And admonish them of the ordinances, and of the lawes, and shew them the way, wherein they must walke, and the worke that they must do.

21 Furthermore, you must choose capable men from all the people, men who honor God, men of truth who hate unjust gain. You must put them over people, to be leaders in charge of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and of tens.

Moreouer, prouide thou among al the people men of courage, fearing God, men dealing truely, hating couetousnesse: and appoynt such ouer them to be rulers ouer thousandes, rulers ouer hundreths, rulers ouer fifties, and rulers ouer tennes.

22 They will judge the people in all routine cases, but the difficult cases they will bring to you. As for all the small cases, they can judge those themselves. In that way it will be easier for you, and they will carry the burden with you.

And let them iudge the people at all seasons: but euery great matter let them bring vnto thee, and let them iudge all small causes: so shall it be easier for thee, when they shall beare the burden with thee.

23 If you do this, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure, and the entire people will be able to go home satisfied.”

If thou do this thing, (and God so command thee) both thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go quietly to their place.

24 So Moses listened to his father-in-law's words and did everything that he had said.

So Moses obeyed the voyce of his father in law, and did all that he had sayd:

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

And Moses chose men of courage out of all Israel, and made them heads ouer the people, rulers ouer thousandes, rulers ouer hundreths, rulers ouer fifties, and rulers ouer tennes.

26 They judged the people in normal circumstances. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but they themselves judged all the small cases.

And they iudged the people at all seasons, but they brought the hard causes vnto Moses: for they iudged all small matters themselues.

27 Then Moses let his father-in-law leave, and Jethro went back into his own land.

Afterward Moses let his father in law depart, and he went into his countrey.