| Holman Christian Standard Bible | New International Version |
| 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 Jethro, the priest of Midian and father-in-law of Moses, heard of everything God had done for Moses and for 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 away his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro 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") | 3and her two sons. One son was named Gershom, for Moses said, "I have become 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"). | 4and the other was named Eliezer, for he said, "My father's God was my helper; he saved 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. | 5Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, together with Moses' sons and wife, came to him in the wilderness, where he was camped near 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." | 6Jethro had sent word to him, "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 then 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. | 8Moses told his father-in-law about everything the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel's sake and about all the hardships they had met along the way and how the LORD had saved them. |
| 9Jethro rejoiced over all the good things the LORD had done for Israel when He rescued them from the power of the Egyptians. " | 9Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things the LORD had done for Israel in rescuing them 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. | 10He said, "Praise be to the LORD, who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who rescued 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 to those who had treated Israel arrogantly." |
| 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 Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal 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 serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him 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?" | 14When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, "What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?" |
| 15Moses replied to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God. | 15Moses answered him, "Because the people come to me to seek God's will. |
| 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."" | 16Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God's decrees and instructions." |
| 17What you're doing is not good," Moses' father-in-law said to him. " | 17Moses' father-in-law replied, "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. | 18You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work 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. | 19Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people's representative before God and bring their disputes to him. |
| 20Instruct them about the statutes and laws, and teach them the way to live and what they must do. | 20Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. |
| 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. | 21But select capable men from all the people--men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain--and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and 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 them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will 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 do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied." |
| 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. | 25He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. |
| 26They judged the people at all times; they would bring the hard cases to Moses, but they would judge every minor case themselves. | 26They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided 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 country. |
| Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
|
