Êxodo 18
1 Ora Jethro, sacerdote de Midian, sogro de Moisés, ouviu todas as coisas que Deus tinha feito a Moisés e a Israel seu povo: como o Senhor tinha tirado a Israel do Egito.
And when Jethro, the priest of Midian, the kinsman of Moses, had heard all that God had done for Moses, and for his people Israel, and that the Lord had led Israel away from Egypt,
2 E Jethro, sogro de Moisés, tomou a Zippora, a mulher de Moisés, depois que ele lha enviara,
he brought Zipporah, the wife of Moses, whom he was to return to him,
3 Com seus dois filhos, dos quais um se chamava Gerson; porque disse: Eu fui peregrino em terra estranha;
and her two sons, of whom one was called Gershom, (for his father said, “I have been a newcomer in a foreign land,”)
4 E o outro se chamava Eliezer; porque disse: O Deus de meu pai foi por minha ajuda, e me livrou da espada de faraó.
and the other in truth was Eliezer, (“For the God of my father,” he said, “is my helper, and has rescued me from the sword of Pharaoh.”)
5 Vindo pois Jethro, o sogro de Moisés, com seus filhos e com sua mulher, a Moisés no deserto, ao monte de Deus, onde se tinha acampado,
And so Jethro, the kinsman of Moses, with his sons and his wife, came to Moses in the desert, where he was encamped next to the mountain of God.
6 Disse a Moisés: Eu, teu sogro Jethro, venho a ti, com tua mulher, e seus dois filhos com ela.
And he sent word to Moses, saying: “I, Jethro, your kinsman, have come to you, with your wife, and your two sons with her.”
7 Então saiu Moisés ao encontro de seu sogro, e inclinou-se, e beijou-o, e perguntaram um ao outro como estavam, e entraram na tenda.
And going out to meet his kinsman, he reverenced and kissed him. And they saluted each other with peaceful words. And when he had arrived at the tent,
8 E Moisés contou a seu sogro todas as coisas que o Senhor tinha feito a faraó e aos egípcios por amor de Israel, e todo o trabalho que passaram no caminho, e como o Senhor os livrara.
Moses explained to his kinsman all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians on behalf of Israel, and all the hardships which had befallen them on the journey, and how the Lord had freed them.
9 E alegrou-se Jethro de todo o bem que o Senhor tinha feito a Israel, livrando-o da mão dos egípcios.
And Jethro was gladdened over all the good that the Lord had done for Israel, because he had rescued them from the hand of the Egyptians.
10 E Jethro disse: bendito seja o Senhor, que vos livrou das mãos dos egípcios e da mão de faraó; que livrou a este povo de debaixo da mão dos egípcios.
And he said: “Blessed is the Lord, who has freed his people from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh; he has rescued his people from the hand of Egypt.
11 Agora sei que o Senhor é maior que todos os deuses: porque na coisa, em que se ensoberbeceram, os sobrepujou.
Now I know that the great Lord is above all gods. This is why they acted arrogantly against them.”
12 Então tomou Jethro, o sogro de Moisés, holocausto e sacrifícios para Deus: e veio Aarão, e todos os anciãos de Israel, para comerem pão com o sogro de Moisés diante de Deus.
And so Jethro, the kinsman of Moses, offered holocausts and sacrifices to God. And Aaron arrived with all the elders of Israel, in order to eat bread with him in the sight of God.
13 E aconteceu que, ao outro dia, Moisés assentou-se para julgar o povo; e o povo estava em pé diante de Moisés desde a manhã até à tarde
Then, the next day, Moses sat down in order to judge the people, and they stood beside Moses from morning, even until evening.
14 Vendo pois o sogro de Moisés tudo o que ele fazia ao povo, disse: Que é isto, que tu fazes as povo? porque te assentas só, e todo o povo está em pé diante de ti, desde a manhã até à tarde?
And when, of course, his kinsman saw all that he did among the people, he said: “What is this that you do among the people? Why do you sit alone, while all the people stand before you, from morning, even until evening?”
15 Então disse Moisés a seu sogro: É porque este povo vem a mim, para consultar a Deus:
And Moses answered him: “The people come to me seeking the verdict of God.
16 Quando tem algum negócio vem a mim, para que eu julgue entre um e outro, e lhes declare os estatutos de Deus, e as suas leis.
And when any kind of dispute occurs among them, they come to me to judge between them, and to reveal the precepts of God and of his laws.”
17 O sogro de Moisés porém lhe disse: Não é bom o que fazes.
But he said, “This is not good, what you are doing.
18 Totalmente desfalecerás, assim tu, como este povo que está contigo: porque este negócio é mui difícil para ti; tu só não o podes fazer.
You will be consumed by foolish efforts, both you and this people who are with you. The task is beyond your strength; you will not be able bear it alone.
19 Ouve agora minha voz, eu te aconselharei, e Deus será contigo: Sê tu pelo povo diante de Deus, e leva tu as coisas a Deus;
But listen to my words and counsels, and then God will be with you. Be available to the people in that which pertains to God, so as to refer what they say to him,
20 E declara-lhes os estatutos e as leis, e faze-lhes saber o caminho em que devem andar, e a obra que devem fazer.
and to reveal to the people the ceremonies, and the rituals of worship, and the way by which they should progress, and the work that they should do.
21 E tu dentre todo o povo procura homens capazes, tementes a Deus, homens de verdade, que aborrecem a avareza; e põe-nos sobre eles por maiorais de mil, maiorais de cento, maiorais de cincoênta, e maiorais de dez;
Then provide, from all of the people, men capable and fearing God, in whom there is truth and who hate avarice, and appoint from them tribunes, and leaders of hundreds, and of fifties, and of tens,
22 Para que julguem este povo em tempo; e seja que todo o negócio pequeno eles o julguem: assim a ti mesmo te aliviarás da carga, e eles a levarão contigo.
who may judge the people at all times. Then, when anything greater will have occurred, they may refer it to you, and let them judge the lesser matters only. And so it may be lighter for you, the burden being divided among others.
23 Se isto fizeres, e Deus to mandar, poderás então subsistir: assim também todo este povo em paz virá ao seu lugar.
If you will do this, you will fulfill the orders of God, and you will be able to uphold his precepts. And this entire people will return to their places in peace.”
24 E Moisés deu ouvidos à voz de seu sogro, e fez tudo quanto tinha dito;
Having heard this, Moses did everything that he had suggested to him.
25 E escolheu Moisés homens capazes, de todo o Israel, e os pôs por cabeças sobre o povo: maiorais de mil, maiorais de cento, maiorais de cincoênta, e maiorais de dez.
And choosing virtuous men from all of Israel, he appointed them as leaders of the people: tribunes, and leaders of hundreds, and of fifties, and of tens.
26 E eles julgaram o povo em todo o tempo; o negócio árduo trouxeram a Moisés, e todo o negócio pequeno julgaram eles.
And they judged the people at all times. But whatever was more serious, they referred to him, and they judged easier matters only.
27 Então despediu Moisés o seu sogro, o qual se foi à sua terra.
And he dismissed his kinsman, who, turning back, went to his own land.
