Éxodo 18

1 Jetro, el sacerdote de Madián, suegro de Moisés, se enteró de todo lo que Dios había hecho por Moisés y por su pueblo Israel, de cómo Yahvé había sacado a Israel de Egipto.

Now news came to Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, of all God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, and how the Lord had taken Israel out of Egypt.

2 Jetro, suegro de Moisés, recibió a Séfora, la esposa de Moisés, después de haberla despedido,

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

3 y a sus dos hijos. El nombre de un hijo era Gershom, porque Moisés dijo: “He vivido como extranjero en tierra extranjera”.

And her two sons, one of whom was named Gershom, for he said, I have been living in a strange land:

4 El nombre del otro fue Eliezer, pues dijo: “El Dios de mi padre fue mi ayuda y me libró de la espada del Faraón”.

And the name of the other was Eliezer, for he said, The God of my father was my help, and kept me safe from the sword of Pharaoh:

5 Jetro, el suegro de Moisés, vino con los hijos de Moisés y su esposa a Moisés al desierto, donde estaba acampado, en la Montaña de Dios.

And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to where Moses had put up his tent in the waste land, by the mountain of God.

6 Le dijo a Moisés: “Yo, tu suegro Jetro, he venido a ti con tu mujer y sus dos hijos con ella.”

And he said to Moses, I, your father-in-law, have come to you, with your wife and your two sons.

7 Moisés salió al encuentro de su suegro, se inclinó y lo besó. Se preguntaron mutuamente por su bienestar, y entraron en la tienda.

And Moses went out to his father-in-law, and went down on his face before him and gave him a kiss; and they said to one another, Are you well? and they came into the tent.

8 Moisés le contó a su suegro todo lo que Yahvé había hecho al faraón y a los egipcios por causa de Israel, todas las dificultades que les habían sobrevenido en el camino, y cómo Yahvé los había librado.

And Moses gave his father-in-law an account of all the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians because of Israel, and of all the troubles which had come on them by the way, and how the Lord had given them salvation.

9 Jetro se alegró de toda la bondad que Yahvé había hecho con Israel, al librarlo de la mano de los egipcios.

And Jethro was glad because the Lord had been good to Israel, freeing them from the power of the Egyptians.

10 Jetro dijo: “Bendito sea Yahvé, que te ha librado de la mano de los egipcios y de la mano del faraón; que ha librado al pueblo de la mano de los egipcios.

And Jethro said, Praise be to the Lord, who has taken you out of the hand of Pharaoh and out of the hand of the Egyptians; freeing the people from the yoke of the Egyptians.

11 Ahora sé que Yahvé es más grande que todos los dioses, por la forma en que trataron al pueblo con arrogancia.”

Now I am certain that the Lord is greater than all gods, for he has overcome them in their pride.

12 Jetro, suegro de Moisés, llevó un holocausto y sacrificios para Dios. Aarón vino con todos los ancianos de Israel, para comer el pan con el suegro de Moisés ante Dios.

Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, made a burned offering to God: and Aaron came, with the chiefs of Israel, and had a meal with Moses' father-in-law, before God.

13 Al día siguiente, Moisés se sentó a juzgar al pueblo, y el pueblo estuvo de pie alrededor de Moisés desde la mañana hasta la noche.

Now on the day after, Moses took his seat to give decisions for the people: and the people were waiting before Moses from morning till evening.

14 Cuando el suegro de Moisés vio todo lo que hacía con el pueblo, le dijo: “¿Qué es esto que haces por el pueblo? ¿Por qué te sientas solo, y todo el pueblo está de pie a tu alrededor desde la mañana hasta la noche?”

And when Moses' father-in-law saw all he was doing, he said, What is this you are doing for the people? why are you seated here by yourself, with all the people waiting before you from morning till evening?

15 Moisés dijo a su suegro: “Porque el pueblo viene a mí para consultar a Dios.

And Moses said to his father-in-law, Because the people come to me to get directions from God:

16 Cuando tienen un asunto, vienen a mí, y yo juzgo entre el hombre y su prójimo, y les hago conocer los estatutos de Dios y sus leyes.”

And if they have any question between themselves, they come to me, and I am judge between a man and his neighbour, and I give them the orders and laws of God.

17 El suegro de Moisés le dijo: “Lo que haces no es bueno.

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

18 Seguramente te desgastarás, tanto tú como este pueblo que está contigo, porque la cosa es demasiado pesada para ti. No eres capaz de realizarlo tú solo.

Your strength and that of the people will be completely used up: this work is more than you are able to do by yourself.

19 Escucha ahora mi voz. Yo te aconsejaré, y Dios estará contigo. Tú representas al pueblo ante Dios, y llevas las causas a Dios.

Give ear now to my suggestion, and may God be with you: you are to be the people's representative before God, taking their causes to him:

20 Les enseñarás los estatutos y las leyes, y les mostrarás el camino por el que deben andar y el trabajo que deben hacer.

Teaching them his rules and his laws, guiding them in the way they have to go, and making clear to them the work they have to do.

21 Además, proveerás de todo el pueblo hombres capaces y temerosos de Dios; hombres de verdad, que odien la ganancia injusta; y los pondrás al frente de ellos, para que sean jefes de millares, jefes de centenas, jefes de cincuenta y jefes de decenas.

But for the rest, take from among the people able men, such as have the fear of God, true men hating profits wrongly made; and put such men over them, to be captains of thousands, captains of hundreds and of fifties and of tens;

22 Que juzguen al pueblo en todo momento. Todo asunto grande te lo traerán a ti, pero todo asunto pequeño lo juzgarán ellos mismos. Así te será más fácil, y ellos compartirán la carga contigo.

And let them be judges in the causes of the people at all times: and let them put before you all important questions, but in small things let them give decisions themselves: in this way, it will be less hard for you, and they will take the weight off you.

23 Si haces esto, y Dios te lo ordena, entonces podrás sostenerte, y toda esta gente también irá a su lugar en paz.”

If you do this, and God gives approval, then you will be able to go on without weariness, and all this people will go to their tents in peace.

24 Entonces Moisés escuchó la voz de su suegro, e hizo todo lo que él había dicho.

So Moses took note of the words of his father-in-law, and did as he had said.

25 Moisés eligió a hombres capaces de todo Israel, y los nombró jefes del pueblo, jefes de millares, jefes de centenas, jefes de cincuenta y jefes de decenas.

And he made selection of able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, captains of thousands, captains of hundreds and of fifties and of tens.

26 Ellos juzgaban al pueblo en todo momento. Traían los casos difíciles a Moisés, pero todo asunto menor lo juzgaban ellos mismos.

And they were judges in the causes of the people at all times: the hard questions they put before Moses; but on every small point they gave decisions themselves.

27 Moisés dejó partir a su suegro y se fue a su tierra.

And Moses let his father-in-law go away, and he went back to his land.