| International Standard Version | English Standard Version |
| 1Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard all that God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, and how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt. | 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. |
| 2Now Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, had taken back Moses' wife Zipporah after she had been sent away, | 2Now Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, had taken Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her home, |
| 3along with her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom, because he used to say, "I was an alien in a foreign land," | 3along with her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom (for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land”), |
| 4while the name of the other was Eliezer, because he used to say, "My father's God helped me and delivered me from Pharaoh's sword." | 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”). |
| 5Moses' father-in-law Jethro, together with Moses' two sons and his wife, came to Moses in the desert where he was camped at the mountain of God. | 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. |
| 6He told Moses, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you along with your wife and her two sons." | 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,” |
| 7When Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, he bowed low and kissed him, and they greeted one another. Then they went into the tent. | 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. |
| 8Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians on Israel's behalf, all the hardships that they had encountered along the way, and how the LORD had delivered them. | 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. |
| 9Jethro rejoiced over all the good that the LORD had done for Israel in delivering them from the hand of the Egyptians. | 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. |
| 10Jethro said, "Blessed be the LORD, who delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who delivered the people from the oppression 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. |
| 11Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, because of what happened to the Egyptians when they acted arrogantly against Israel." | 11Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods, because in this affair they dealt arrogantly with the people.” |
| 12Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron and all the elders of Israel came to dine with Moses' father-in-law in the presence of God. | 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. |
| 13The next day Moses sat down to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning until evening. | 13The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till 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 alone sit as judge, with all the people standing around you 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?” |
| 15Moses told his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to seek God's will. | 15And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; |
| 16When they have a dispute, it comes to me and I decide between a person and his neighbor, and make known the statutes of God and his instructions." | 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.” |
| 17Moses' father-in-law told him, "What you are doing is not good. | 17Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. |
| 18You will certainly wear yourself out, both you and these people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for you. You cannot do it by yourself. | 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. |
| 19Now listen to me. I'll advise you, and may God be with you. You are to represent the people before God and bring the disputes to God. | 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, |
| 20You are to teach them the statutes and instructions and make known to them the way they're to go and the things they're to do. | 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. |
| 21You are to look for capable men among the people, men who fear God, men of integrity who hate dishonest gain. You are to set these men over them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. | 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. |
| 22They are to judge the people at all times. Let them bring every major matter to you, but let them judge every minor matter. It will lighten your burden, and they'll bear it with you. | 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. |
| 23If you do this, and God so commands you, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will also go to their homes in peace." | 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.” |
| 24Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. | 24So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. |
| 25Moses chose capable men from all Israel and appointed them as heads over the people, as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. | 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. |
| 26They judged the people at all times; the difficult matters they brought to Moses, but every minor matter they judged. | 26And they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves. |
| 27Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and he went to his own land. | 27Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went away to his own country. |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. |
|
