New Living Translation

English Standard Version

Jethro’s Visit to Moses

Moses’ 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.

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Jethro’s Advice

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.

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Earlier, Moses had sent his wife, Zipporah, and his two sons back to Jethro, who had taken them in.

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Now Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, had taken Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her home,

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(Moses’ first son was named Gershom,a for Moses had said when the boy was born, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.”

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along with her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom (for he said, “I have been a sojournera in a foreign land”),

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His second son was named Eliezer,b for Moses had said, “The God of my ancestors was my helper; he rescued me from the sword of Pharaoh.”)

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and the name of the other, Eliezerb (for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”).

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Jethro, 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.

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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.

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Jethro 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.”

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And when he sent word to Moses, “I,c your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her,”

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So 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.

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Moses 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.

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Moses 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.

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Then 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.

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Jethro 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.

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And 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.

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“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!

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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 has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

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I know now that the LORD is greater than all other gods, because he rescued his people from the oppression of the proud Egyptians.”

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Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods, because in this affair they dealt arrogantly with the people.”d

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Then 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.

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And 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.

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Jethro’s Wise Advice

The next day, Moses took his seat to hear the people’s disputes against each other. They waited before him from morning till evening.

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The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening.

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When 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?”

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When 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?”

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Moses replied, “Because the people come to me to get a ruling from God.

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And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God;

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When 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.”

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when 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.”

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“This is not good!” Moses’ father-in-law exclaimed.

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Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good.

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“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.

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You 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.

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Now 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.

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Now 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,

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Teach them God’s decrees, and give them his instructions. Show them how to conduct their lives.

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and 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.

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But 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.

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Moreover, 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.

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They 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.

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And 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.

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If 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.”

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If 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.”

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Moses listened to his father-in-law’s advice and followed his suggestions.

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So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said.

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He 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.

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Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

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These 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.

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And they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves.

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Soon after this, Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law, who returned to his own land.

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Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went away to his own country.

Parallel

New Living Translation

English Standard Version

Exodus 18

Exodus 18