1When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, for Israel, His people, and that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt; 2After Moses had earlier sent his wife, Zipporah, and his two sons, back to Jethro, who had taken them in. 3And the name of the first son was Gershom; for Moses said, “I have been an alien in a strange land”; 4And the name of the other was Eliezer; because Moses had said “the God of my father was my help, and rescued me from the sword of Pharaoh.” 5And Jethro came to Moses in the wilderness, and he camped there at the mount of God, with Moses’ wife and sons; 6And Jethro said to Moses, “I, your father-in-law, have come to you with your wife, and two sons.” 7And Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and greeted and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent. 8And Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel's sake, and all the hardships that they had come through along the way, and how the LORD delivered them. 9And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done for Israel, when He had rescued them from the Egyptians. 10And Jethro said, “Blessed be the LORD, Who has rescued you from the Egyptians, and from Pharaoh. 11Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods; for He has dealt with the Egyptians who treated Israel so arrogantly.” 12And Jethro brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices for God; and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat a meal with Moses' father-in-law before God.

13And the next day, Moses took his seat to serve as judge in disputes between people; and the people stood and waited before Moses from morning until evening. 14And when Moses' father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit and judge, while all the people stand around from morning until evening?” 15And Moses answered, “Because the people come to me to seek the will of God. 16Whenever they have a dispute, they come to me; and I judge between one and another, and I inform them of the statutes and laws of God.” 17And Jethro said to him, “What you are doing is not good. 18You will surely wear yourselves out - both you, and the people that are with you; for this burden is too much for you; you are not able to handle it yourself alone. 19Listen to me, and I will give you some advice, and God shall be with you: you must be the people’s representative before God, that you may bring their causes to God. 20And you must teach them His ordinances and laws, and show them how they must conduct their lives and behave. 21But you must select from among all the people able men - that fear God, men of truth, who hate covetousness (dishonest gain) - and place such over them, to oversee thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens: 22And let them judge the mundane issues; and when a great matter arises, they should bring it to you; but every small matter they should judge; so that it is easier on you, as they share the burden with you. 23If you do this, and God so commands you, then you shall be able to endure, and all these people shall go home satisfied.”

24So Moses took the advice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said. 25He chose able men out of all Israel, and set them over the people, over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. 26And they judged the people’s routine issues. The hard causes they brought to Moses, but they resolved small matters themselves. 27And Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law; and he returned to his own country.