| Holman Christian Standard Bible | Berean Study Bible |
| 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. | 1Now Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about all 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 in Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her back, | 2After Moses had sent back his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro had received her, |
| 3along with her two sons, one of whom was named Gershom (because Moses had said, "I have been a foreigner in a foreign land") | 3along with her two sons. One son was named Gershom, for Moses had said, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.” |
| 4and the other Eliezer (because he had said, "The God of my father was my helper and delivered me from Pharaoh's sword"). | 4The other son was named Eliezer, for Moses had said, “The God of my father was my helper and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.” |
| 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. | 5Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, along with Moses’ wife and sons, came to him in the desert, where he was encamped at the mountain of God. |
| 6He sent word to Moses, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons." | 6He sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.” |
| 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. | 7So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other and went into the tent. |
| 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. | 8Then Moses recounted to his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardships they had encountered along the way, and how the LORD had delivered them. |
| 9Jethro rejoiced over all the good things the LORD had done for Israel when He rescued them from the power of the Egyptians. " | 9And Jethro rejoiced over all the good things the LORD had done for Israel, whom He had rescued from 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. | 10Jethro declared, “Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from the hand of the Egyptians. |
| 11Now I know that Yahweh is greater than all gods, because He did wonders when the Egyptians acted arrogantly against Israel." | 11Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, for He did this when they treated Israel with arrogance.” |
| 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. | 12Then Moses’ father-in-law Jethro 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 in the presence of God. |
| 13The next day Moses sat down to judge the people, and they stood around Moses from morning until evening. | 13The next day Moses took his seat to judge the people, and they stood around him from morning until 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?" | 14When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone as judge, with all the people standing around you from morning till evening?” |
| 15Moses replied to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God. | 15“Because the people come to me to inquire of God,” Moses replied. |
| 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."" | 16“Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me to judge between one man and another, and I make known to them the statutes and laws of God.” |
| 17What you're doing is not good," Moses' father-in-law said to him. " | 17But Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. |
| 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. | 18Surely you and these people with you will wear yourselves out, because the task is too heavy for you. You cannot handle it alone. |
| 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. | 19Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their causes to Him. |
| 20Instruct them about the statutes and laws, and teach them the way to live and what they must do. | 20Teach them the statutes and laws, and show them the way to live and the work they must do. |
| 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. | 21Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. |
| 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. | 22Have these men judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you any major issue, but all minor cases they can judge on their own, so that your load may be lightened as they share it with you. |
| 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." | 23If you follow this advice and God so directs you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people can go home in peace.” |
| 24Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. | 24Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. |
| 25So Moses chose able men from all Israel and made them leaders over the people as commanders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. | 25So Moses chose capable men from all Israel and made them heads over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. |
| 26They judged the people at all times; they would bring the hard cases to Moses, but they would judge every minor case themselves. | 26And they judged the people at all times; they would bring the difficult cases to Moses, but any minor issue they would judge themselves. |
| 27Then Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law, and he journeyed to his own land. | 27Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own land. |
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