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.
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 Jetro, suegro de Moisés, recibió a Séfora, la esposa de Moisés, después de haberla despedido,
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 y a sus dos hijos. El nombre de un hijo era Gershom, porque Moisés dijo: “He vivido como extranjero en tierra extranjera”.
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 El nombre del otro fue Eliezer, pues dijo: “El Dios de mi padre fue mi ayuda y me libró de la espada del Faraón”.
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 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.
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 Le dijo a Moisés: “Yo, tu suegro Jetro, he venido a ti con tu mujer y sus dos hijos con ella.”
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 Moisés salió al encuentro de su suegro, se inclinó y lo besó. Se preguntaron mutuamente por su bienestar, y entraron en la tienda.
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 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.
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 Jetro se alegró de toda la bondad que Yahvé había hecho con Israel, al librarlo de la mano de los egipcios.
Jethro rejoiced when he heard all that Yahweh had done for the Israeli people.
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.
He said, “Praise Yahweh, who has rescued you from the powerful [MTY] Egyptian king and his army!
11 Ahora sé que Yahvé es más grande que todos los dioses, por la forma en que trataron al pueblo con arrogancia.”
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 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 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 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.
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 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?”
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 Moisés dijo a su suegro: “Porque el pueblo viene a mí para consultar a Dios.
Moses/I replied, “[I am doing this] because the people keep coming to me to find out what God desires.
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.”
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 El suegro de Moisés le dijo: “Lo que haces no es bueno.
Jethro said to him/me, “What you are doing is not good [for you or for the people].
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.
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 Escucha ahora mi voz. Yo te aconsejaré, y Dios estará contigo. Tú representas al pueblo ante Dios, y llevas las causas a Dios.
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 Les enseñarás los estatutos y las leyes, y les mostrarás el camino por el que deben andar y el trabajo que deben hacer.
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 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 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 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.
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 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 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 Entonces Moisés escuchó la voz de su suegro, e hizo todo lo que él había dicho.
Moses/I accepted what his/my father-in-law [Jethro] suggested.
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.
Moses/I chose capable men from among the Israeli people.
26 Ellos juzgaban al pueblo en todo momento. Traían los casos difíciles a Moisés, pero todo asunto menor lo juzgaban ellos mismos.
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 Moisés dejó partir a su suegro y se fue a su tierra.
Then Moses/I said goodbye to his/my father-in-law, and Jethro returned home.
