Exodus 18

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Jethro, priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, had heard al about what God had done for Moses andfor Israel his people: how Yahweh had brought Israel out of Egypt.	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.
2 Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, then took back Zipporah, Moses' wife, whom Moses had sent home,	2 So his father-in-law Jethro took along Zipporah, Moses' wife, whom Moses had sent back to him,
3 with her two sons; one of them was cal ed Gershom because, he had said, 'I am an alien in a foreignland,'	3 and her two sons. One of these was called Gershom; for he said, "I am a stranger in a foreign land."
4 and the other cal ed Eliezer because 'My father's God is my help and has delivered me from Pharaoh'ssword.'	4 The other was called Eliezer; for he said, "My father's God is my helper; he has rescued me from Pharaoh's sword."
5 Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, with Moses' sons and wife, came to Moses in the desert where hewas encamped, at the mountain of God.	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,
6 'Here is your father-in-law Jethro approaching', Moses was told, 'with your wife and her two sons.'	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."
7 So Moses went out to greet his father-in-law, bowed low to him and kissed him; and when each hadasked how the other was they went into the tent.	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.
8 Moses then told his father-in-law al about what Yahweh had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians forIsrael's sake, and about al the hardships that they had encountered on the way, and how Yahweh had rescuedthem.	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.
9 And Jethro was delighted at al Yahweh's goodness to Israel in having rescued them from the clutchesof the Egyptians.	9 Jethro rejoiced over all the goodness that the LORD had shown Israel in rescuing them from the hands of the Egyptians.
10 'Blessed be Yahweh', Jethro exclaimed, 'for having rescued you from the clutches of the Egyptiansand the clutches of Pharaoh, for having rescued the people from the grasp of the Egyptians!	10 "Blessed be the LORD," he said, "who has rescued his people from the hands of Pharaoh and the Egyptians.
11 Now I know that Yahweh is greater than al other gods. . .'	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."
12 Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, then offered a burnt offering and other sacrifices to God; and Aaron and al the elders of Israel came and ate with Moses' father-in-law in the presence of God.	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.
13 On the fol owing day, Moses took his seat to administer justice for the people, and the people werestanding round him from morning til evening.	13 The next day Moses sat in judgment for the people, who waited about him from morning until evening.
14 Seeing all he did for the people, Moses' father-in-law said to him, 'Why do you do this for the people,why sit here alone with the people standing round you from morning til 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?"
15 Moses replied to his father-in-law, 'Because the people come to me to consult God.	15 Moses answered his father-in-law, "The people come to me to consult God.
16 When they have a problem they come to me, and I give a ruling between the one and the other andmake God's statutes and laws known to them.'	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."
17 Moses' father-in-law then said to him, 'What you are doing is not right.	17 "You are not acting wisely," his father-in-law replied.
18 You wil only tire yourself out, and the people with you too, for the work is too heavy for you. Youcannot do it all yourself.	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.
19 Now listen to the advice I am going to give you, and God be with you! Your task is to represent thepeople to God, to lay their cases before God,	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.
20 and to teach them the statutes and laws, and show them the way they ought to fol ow and how theyought to behave.	20 Enlighten them in regard to the decisions and regulations, showing them how they are to live and what they are to do.
21 At the same time, from the people at large choose capable and God-fearing men, men who aretrustworthy and incorruptible, and put them in charge of them as heads of thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens,	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.
22 and make them the people's permanent judges. They wil refer al important matters to you, but alminor matters they will decide themselves, so making things easier for you by sharing the burden with you.	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.
23 If you do this -- and may God so command you -- you will be able to stand the strain, and all thesepeople wil go home satisfied.'	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."
24 Moses took his father-in-law's advice and did just as he said.	24 Moses followed the advice of his father-in-law and did all that he had suggested.
25 Moses chose capable men from al Israel and put them in charge of the people as heads ofthousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.	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.
26 These acted as the people's permanent judges. They referred hard cases to Moses but decidedminor matters themselves.	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.
27 Moses then set his father-in-law on his way, and he travelled back to his own country.	27 Then Moses bade farewell to his father-in-law, who went off to his own country.