| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1And Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people—that 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. |
| 2Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took 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, |
| 3with her two sons, of whom the name of one was Gershom (for he said, “I have been a stranger 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 name of the other was Eliezer (for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”); | 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.” |
| 5and Jethro, 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 desert, where he was encamped at the mountain of God. |
| 6Now he had said 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.” |
| 7So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down, and kissed him. And they asked each other about their well-being, and they 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. |
| 8And 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 on the way, and how the LORD had 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. |
| 9Then Jethro rejoiced for all the good which the LORD had done for Israel, whom He had delivered out of the hand 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. |
| 10And Jethro said, “Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from under the hand 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 the LORD is greater than all the gods; for in the very thing in which they behaved proudly, He was above them.” | 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, took a burnt offering and other sacrifices to offer to God. And Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God. | 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. |
| 13And so it was, on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people; and the people stood before 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. |
| 14So when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit, and all the people stand before 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?” |
| 15And Moses said 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. |
| 16When they have a difficulty, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known the statutes of God and His 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.” |
| 17So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. | 17But Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. |
| 18Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself. | 18Surely you and these people with you will wear yourselves out, because the task is too heavy for you. You cannot handle it alone. |
| 19Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. | 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. |
| 20And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. | 20Teach them the statutes and laws, and show them the way to live and the work they must do. |
| 21Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of 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. |
| 22And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden 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 thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace.” | 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.” |
| 24So Moses heeded 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. |
| 25And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people: rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of 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. |
| 26So they judged the people at all times; the hard cases they brought to Moses, but they judged every small 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 let his father-in-law depart, and he went his way 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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