2 Mose 18
1 Midians Priester Jetro aber, Mosis Schwiegervater, hörte alles, was Gott an Moses und seinem Volk Israel gewirkt, daß der Herr Israel aus Ägypten geführt hatte.
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.
2 Da nahm Jetro, Mosis Schwiegervater, die Sippora, Mosis Weib, das er heimgeschickt hatte,
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,
3 und ihre beiden Söhne. Der eine hieß Gersom, weil er gesagt: "Ich ward in fremdem Lande Fremdling."
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.”
4 Der andere hieß: Eliezer. Denn: "Meines Vaters Gott war meine Hilfe, und er befreite mich vor Pharaos Schwert".
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].”
5 So kam Mosis Schwiegervater Jetro mit seinen Söhnen und seinem Weibe zu Moses in die Wüste; er aber lagerte am Gottesberge.
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.
6 Da ließ er Moses sagen: "Ich, Jetro, dein Schwiegervater, komme zu dir mit deinem Weibe und ihren beiden Söhnen."
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!”
7 Da ging Moses seinem Schwiegervater entgegen, neigte sich und küßte ihn. Dann fragten sie einander nach dem Befinden. Hierauf gingen sie in das Zelt.
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.
8 Da erzählte Moses seinem Schwiegervater alles, was der Herr an Pharao und Ägypten getan um Israels willen, alles Ungemach, das sie unterwegs getroffen, und wie sie der Herr gerettet hatte.
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.
9 Und Jetro freute sich all des Guten, das der Herr an Israel getan, als er es aus Ägyptens Gewalt erlöst.
Jethro rejoiced when he heard all that Yahweh had done for the Israeli people.
10 Und Jetro sprach: "Gepriesen sei der Herr, der euch befreit aus Ägyptens und Pharaos Hand und der das Volk aus Ägyptens Hand befreit hat!
He said, “Praise Yahweh, who has rescued you from the powerful [MTY] Egyptian king and his army!
11 Nun sehe ich, daß der Herr größer ist als alle Götter; denn merkwürdig ist es, wie man sie verspottet hat."
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].”
12 Dann weihte Mosis Schwiegervater Jetro Gott Brand- und Schlachtopfer. Und Aaron kam mit allen Ältesten Israels, mit Mosis Schwiegervater ein Mahl vor Gott zu halten.
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.
13 Am anderen Morgen setzte sich Moses, das Volk zu richten, und das Volk stand vor Moses vom Morgen bis zum Abend.
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.
14 Als Mosis Schwiegervater sah, wieviel er dem Volke tat, sprach er: "Was ist das, wie du es mit dem Volke machst? Warum sitzest du allein, und alles Volk steht vom Morgen bis zum Abend vor dir?"
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]?”
15 Da sprach Moses zu seinem Schwiegervater: "Das Volk kommt zu mir, Gott zu fragen.
Moses/I replied, “[I am doing this] because the people keep coming to me to find out what God desires.
16 Haben sie eine Rechtssache, so kommt sie vor mich, und ich richte zwischen ihnen und künde Gottes Rechtssprüche und seine Weisungen."
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.”
17 Da sprach Mosis Schwiegervater zu ihm: "Nicht gut ist's, wie du es treibst.
Jethro said to him/me, “What you are doing is not good [for you or for the people].
18 Du reibst dich auf und das Volk bei dir. Es ist zu schwer für dich. Du kannst es allein nicht machen.
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.
19 Hör auf mich! Ich rate dir, und Gott sei mit dir! Vertritt du das Volk gegenüber Gott! Und bring du die Sachen vor Gott!
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.
20 Erkläre ihnen die Gesetze und Weisungen! Zeig ihnen den Weg, den sie gehen, und das Werk, das sie tun sollen!
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.
21 Aber du selbst sollst dir aus dem ganzen Volke Männer ersehen, tüchtig, gottesfürchtig, Männer, vertrauenswürdig, vorteilhassend! Setze sie über sie als Führer von Tausendschaften, Hundertschaften, Fünfzigschaften und Zehnschaften!
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].
22 Sie sollen jederzeit das Volk richten! Alle wichtigen Sachen sollen sie vor dich bringen! Die geringeren aber sollen sie alle selber entscheiden! Entlaste dich und laß sie mit dir tragen!
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.
23 Tust du so, dann kannst du bestehen bei dem, was Gott dir befiehlt. Und dies ganze Volk geht befriedigt heim."
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”].
24 Und Moses hörte auf seines Schwiegervaters Rat und tat ganz so, wie er gesagt hatte.
Moses/I accepted what his/my father-in-law [Jethro] suggested.
25 Moses wählte aus ganz Israel tüchtige Männer aus und stellte sie an die Spitze des Volkes, als Führer von Tausendschaften, Hundertschaften, Fünfzigschaften und Zehnschaften.
Moses/I chose capable men from among the Israeli people.
26 Sie sprachen dem Volke jederzeit Recht. Die schwierigen Sachen aber brachten sie vor Moses; die geringfügigen entschieden sie alle selbst.
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.
27 Dann ließ Moses seinen Schwiegervater heimziehen, und er ging heim in sein Land.
Then Moses/I said goodbye to his/my father-in-law, and Jethro returned home.
