Exodus 18

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
1 Now Moses' father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for his people Israel: how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.	1 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.
2 So his father-in-law Jethro took along Zipporah, Moses' wife, whom Moses had sent back to him,	2 Now Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, had taken Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her away,
3 and her two sons. One of these was called Gershom; for he said, "I am a stranger in a foreign land."	3 and her two sons, of whom the name of the one was Gershom (for he said, "I have been a sojourner in a foreign land"),
4 The other was called Eliezer; for he said, "My father's God is my helper; he has rescued me from Pharaoh's sword."	4 and the name of the other, Eliezer (for he said, "The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh").
5 Together with Moses' wife and sons, then, his father-in-law Jethro came to him in the desert where he was encamped near the mountain of God,	5 And 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.
6 and he sent word to Moses, "I, Jethro, your father-in-law, am coming to you, along with your wife and her two sons."	6 And when one told Moses, "Lo, your father-in-law Jethro is coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her,"
7 Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down before him, and kissed him. Having greeted each other, they went into the tent.	7 Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and did obeisance and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare, and went into the tent.
8 Moses then told his father-in-law of all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for the sake of Israel, and of all the hardships they had had to endure on their journey, and how the LORD had come to their rescue.	8 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.
9 Jethro rejoiced over all the goodness that the LORD had shown Israel in rescuing them from the hands of the Egyptians.	9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the good which the LORD had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.
10 "Blessed be the LORD," he said, "who has rescued his people from the hands of Pharaoh and the Egyptians.	10 And Jethro said, "Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh.
11 Now I know that the LORD is a deity great beyond any other; for he took occasion of their being dealt with insolently to deliver the people from the power of the Egyptians."	11 Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods, because he delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians, when they dealt arrogantly with them."
12 Then Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, brought a holocaust and other sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to participate with Moses' father-in-law in the meal before God.	12 And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, offered 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.
13 The next day Moses sat in judgment for the people, who waited about him from morning until evening.	13 On the morrow Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood about Moses from morning till evening.
14 When his father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he inquired, "What sort of thing is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone while all the people have to stand about you from morning till evening?"	14 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 about you from morning till evening?"
15 Moses answered his father-in-law, "The people come to me to consult God.	15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God;
16 Whenever they have a disagreement, they come to me to have me settle the matter between them and make known to them God's decisions and regulations."	16 when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between a man and his neighbor, and I make them know the statutes of God and his decisions."
17 "You are not acting wisely," his father-in-law replied.	17 Moses' father-in-law said to him, "What you are doing is not good.
18 "You will surely wear yourself out, and not only yourself but also these people with you. The task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone.	18 You and the people with you will wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you; you are not able to perform it alone.
19 Now, listen to me, and I will give you some advice, that God may be with you. Act as the people's representative before God, bringing to him whatever they have to say.	19 Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God, and bring their cases to God;
20 Enlighten them in regard to the decisions and regulations, showing them how they are to live and what they are to do.	20 and you shall teach them the statutes and the decisions, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do.
21 But you should also look among all the people for able and God-fearing men, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain, and set them as officers over groups of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.	21 Moreover choose able men from all the people, such as fear God, men who are trustworthy and who hate a bribe; and place such men over the people as rulers of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
22 Let these men render decisions for the people in all ordinary cases. More important cases they should refer to you, but all the lesser cases they can settle themselves. Thus, your burden will be lightened, since they will bear it with you.	22 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.
23 If you do this, when God gives you orders you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied."	23 If you do this, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace."
24 Moses followed the advice of his father-in-law and did all that he had suggested.	24 So Moses gave heed to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said.
25 He picked out able men from all Israel and put them in charge of the people as officers over groups of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.	25 Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
26 They rendered decisions for the people in all ordinary cases. The more difficult cases they referred to Moses, but all the lesser cases they settled themselves.	26 And they judged the people at all times; hard cases they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves.
27 Then Moses bade farewell to his father-in-law, who went off to his own country.	27 Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went his way to his own country.