| New American Standard Bible 1995 | New Living Translation |
| 1Now Jethro, 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 God had done for Moses and his people, the Israelites. He heard especially about how the LORD had rescued them from Egypt. |
| 2Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took Moses' wife Zipporah, after he had sent her away, | 2Earlier, Moses had sent his wife, Zipporah, and his two sons back to Jethro, who had taken them in. |
| 3and her two sons, of whom one was named Gershom, for Moses said, "I have been a sojourner in a foreign land." | 3(Moses’ first son was named Gershom, for Moses had said when the boy was born, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.” |
| 4The other was named Eliezer, for he said, "The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh." | 4His second son was named Eliezer, for Moses had said, “The God of my ancestors was my helper; he rescued me from the sword of Pharaoh.”) |
| 5Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was camped, at the mount of God. | 5Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, now came to visit Moses in the wilderness. He brought Moses’ wife and two sons with him, and they arrived while Moses and the people were 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 with her." | 6Jethro had sent a message to Moses, saying, “I, Jethro, your father-in-law, am coming to see you with your wife and your two sons.” |
| 7Then Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and he 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. He bowed low and kissed him. They asked about each other’s welfare and then went into Moses’ tent. |
| 8Moses 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 befallen them on the journey, and how the LORD had delivered them. | 8Moses told his father-in-law everything the LORD had done to Pharaoh and Egypt on behalf of Israel. He also told about all the hardships they had experienced along the way and how the LORD had rescued his people from all their troubles. |
| 9Jethro rejoiced over all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, in delivering them from the hand of the Egyptians. | 9Jethro was delighted when he heard about all the good things the LORD had done for Israel as he rescued them from the hand of the Egyptians. |
| 10So Jethro 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 under the hand of the Egyptians. | 10“Praise the LORD,” Jethro said, “for he has rescued you from the Egyptians and from Pharaoh. Yes, he has rescued Israel from the powerful hand of Egypt! |
| 11"Now I know that the LORD is greater than all the gods; indeed, it was proven when they dealt proudly against the people." | 11I know now that the LORD is greater than all other gods, because he rescued his people from the oppression of the proud Egyptians.” |
| 12Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses' father-in-law before God. | 12Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God. Aaron and all the elders of Israel came out and joined him in a sacrificial meal in God’s presence. Jethro’s Wise Advice |
| 13It came about the next day that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood about Moses from the morning until the evening. | 13The next day, Moses took his seat to hear the people’s disputes against each other. They waited before him from morning till evening. |
| 14Now when Moses' father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, "What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge and all the people stand about you from morning until evening?" | 14When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What are you really accomplishing here? Why are you trying to do all this alone while everyone stands around you from morning till evening?” |
| 15Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God. | 15Moses replied, “Because the people come to me to get a ruling from God. |
| 16"When they have a dispute, it comes to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor and make known the statutes of God and His laws." | 16When a dispute arises, they come to me, and I am the one who settles the case between the quarreling parties. I inform the people of God’s decrees and give them his instructions.” |
| 17Moses' father-in-law said to him, "The thing that you are doing is not good. | 17“This is not good!” Moses’ father-in-law exclaimed. |
| 18"You will surely wear out, both yourself and these people who are with you, for the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone. | 18“You’re going to wear yourself out—and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself. |
| 19"Now listen to me: I will give you counsel, and God be with you. You be the people's representative before God, and you bring the disputes to God, | 19Now listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. You should continue to be the people’s representative before God, bringing their disputes to him. |
| 20then teach them the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do. | 20Teach them God’s decrees, and give them his instructions. Show them how to conduct their lives. |
| 21"Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. | 21But select from all the people some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as leaders over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. |
| 22"Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be that every major dispute they will bring to you, but every minor dispute they themselves will judge. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. | 22They should always be available to solve the people’s common disputes, but have them bring the major cases to you. Let the leaders decide the smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you. |
| 23"If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people also will go to their place in peace." | 23If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace.” |
| 24So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did all that he had said. | 24Moses listened to his father-in-law’s advice and followed his suggestions. |
| 25Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. | 25He chose capable men from all over Israel and appointed them as leaders over the people. He put them in charge of groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. |
| 26They judged the people at all times; the difficult dispute they would bring to Moses, but every minor dispute they themselves would judge. | 26These men were always available to solve the people’s common disputes. They brought the major cases to Moses, but they took care of the smaller matters themselves. |
| 27Then Moses bade his father-in-law farewell, and he went his way into his own land. | 27Soon after this, Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law, who returned to his own land. |
| New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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