| English Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt. | 1Moses' father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about everything that God had done for Moses and His people Israel, and how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt. |
| 2Now Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, had taken Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her home, | 2Now Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, had taken in Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her back, |
| 3along with her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom (for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land”), | 3along with her two sons, one of whom was named Gershom (because Moses had said, "I have been a foreigner in a foreign land") |
| 4and the name of the other, Eliezer (for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”). | 4and the other Eliezer (because he had said, "The God of my father was my helper and delivered me from Pharaoh's sword"). |
| 5Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was encamped at the mountain of God. | 5Moses' father-in-law Jethro, along with Moses' wife and sons, came to him in the wilderness where he was camped at the mountain of God. |
| 6And when he sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her,” | 6He sent word to Moses, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons." |
| 7Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. And they asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent. | 7So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down, and then kissed him. They asked each other how they had been and went into the tent. |
| 8Then Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had come upon them in the way, and how the LORD had delivered them. | 8Moses recounted to his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the hardships that confronted them on the way, and how the LORD delivered them. |
| 9And Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the LORD had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians. | 9Jethro rejoiced over all the good things the LORD had done for Israel when He rescued them from the power of the Egyptians. " |
| 10Jethro said, “Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh and has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. | 10Praise the LORD," Jethro exclaimed, "who rescued you from Pharaoh and the power of the Egyptians and snatched the people from the power of the Egyptians. |
| 11Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods, because in this affair they dealt arrogantly with the people.” | 11Now I know that Yahweh is greater than all gods, because He did wonders when the Egyptians acted arrogantly against Israel." |
| 12And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God; and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God. | 12Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses' father-in-law in God's presence. |
| 13The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. | 13The next day Moses sat down to judge the people, and they stood around Moses from morning until evening. |
| 14When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?” | 14When Moses' father-in-law saw everything he was doing for them he asked, "What is this thing you're doing for the people? Why are you alone sitting as judge, while all the people stand around you from morning until evening?" |
| 15And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; | 15Moses replied to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God. |
| 16when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.” | 16Whenever they have a dispute, it comes to me, and I make a decision between one man and another. I teach them God's statutes and laws."" |
| 17Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. | 17What you're doing is not good," Moses' father-in-law said to him. " |
| 18You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone. | 18You will certainly wear out both yourself and these people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for you. You can't do it alone. |
| 19Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, | 19Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and God be with you. You be the one to represent the people before God and bring their cases to Him. |
| 20and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do. | 20Instruct them about the statutes and laws, and teach them the way to live and what they must do. |
| 21Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. | 21But you should select from all the people able men, God-fearing, trustworthy, and hating bribes. Place them over the people as commanders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. |
| 22And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. | 22They should judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you every important case but judge every minor case themselves. In this way you will lighten your load, and they will bear it with you. |
| 23If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.” | 23If you do this, and God so directs you, you will be able to endure, and also all these people will be able to go home satisfied." |
| 24So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. | 24Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. |
| 25Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. | 25So Moses chose able men from all Israel and made them leaders over the people as commanders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. |
| 26And they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves. | 26They judged the people at all times; they would bring the hard cases to Moses, but they would judge every minor case themselves. |
| 27Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went away to his own country. | 27Then Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law, and he journeyed to his own land. |
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