Exodus 18
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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.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.
2After Moses had sent away his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro received her2Now Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, had taken back Moses' wife Zipporah after she had been sent away,
3and her two sons. One son was named Gershom, for Moses said, "I have become a foreigner in a foreign land";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,"
4and the other was named Eliezer, for he said, "My father's God was my helper; he saved me from the sword of Pharaoh."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."
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.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.
6Jethro had sent word to him, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons."6He told Moses, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you along with your wife and her two sons."
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.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.
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.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.
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.9Jethro rejoiced over all the good that the LORD had done for Israel in delivering them from the hand 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.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.
11Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly."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."
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.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.
13The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening.13The next day Moses sat down to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses 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?"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?"
15Moses answered him, "Because the people come to me to seek God's will.15Moses told his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to seek God's will.
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."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."
17Moses' father-in-law replied, "What you are doing is not good.17Moses' father-in-law told him, "What you are doing is not good.
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.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.
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.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.
20Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave.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.
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.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.
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.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.
23If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied."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."
24Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.24Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.
25He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.25Moses chose capable men from all Israel and appointed them as heads over the people, as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.
26They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.26They judged the people at all times; the difficult matters they brought to Moses, but every minor matter they judged.
27Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own country.27Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and he went to his own land.
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Exodus 17
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