Exodus 18

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
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 And when Jethro, the priest of Midian, the kinsman of Moses, had heard all that God had done for Moses, and for his people Israel, and that the Lord had led Israel away from Egypt,
2 Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, then took back Zipporah, Moses' wife, whom Moses had sent home,	2 he brought Zipporah, the wife of Moses, whom he was to return 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, of whom one was called Gershom, (for his father said, “I have been a newcomer 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 and the other in truth was Eliezer, (“For the God of my father,” he said, “is my helper, and has rescued me from the sword of Pharaoh.”)
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 And so Jethro, the kinsman of Moses, with his sons and his wife, came to Moses in the desert, where he was encamped next to 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, saying: “I, Jethro, your kinsman, have come to you, with your wife, and your two sons with her.”
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 And going out to meet his kinsman, he reverenced and kissed him. And they saluted each other with peaceful words. And when he had arrived at 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 explained to his kinsman all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians on behalf of Israel, and all the hardships which had befallen them on the journey, and how the Lord had freed them.
9 And Jethro was delighted at al Yahweh's goodness to Israel in having rescued them from the clutchesof the Egyptians.	9 And Jethro was gladdened over all the good that the Lord had done for Israel, because he had rescued them from the hand 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 And he said: “Blessed is the Lord, who has freed his people from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh; he has rescued his people from the hand of Egypt.
11 Now I know that Yahweh is greater than al other gods. . .'	11 Now I know that the great Lord is above all gods. This is why they acted arrogantly against them.”
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 And so Jethro, the kinsman of Moses, offered holocausts and sacrifices to God. And Aaron arrived with all the elders of Israel, in order to eat bread with him in the sight of 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 Then, the next day, Moses sat down in order to judge the people, and they stood beside Moses from morning, even 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 And when, of course, his kinsman saw all that he did among the people, he said: “What is this that you do among the people? Why do you sit alone, while all the people stand before you, from morning, even until evening?”
15 Moses replied to his father-in-law, 'Because the people come to me to consult God.	15 And Moses answered him: “The people come to me seeking the verdict of 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 And when any kind of dispute occurs among them, they come to me to judge between them, and to reveal the precepts of God and of his laws.”
17 Moses' father-in-law then said to him, 'What you are doing is not right.	17 But he said, “This is not good, what you are doing.
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 be consumed by foolish efforts, both you and this people who are with you. The task is beyond your strength; you will not be able bear 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 But listen to my words and counsels, and then God will be with you. Be available to the people in that which pertains to God, so as to refer what they say to him,
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 and to reveal to the people the ceremonies, and the rituals of worship, and the way by which they should progress, and the work that they should 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 Then provide, from all of the people, men capable and fearing God, in whom there is truth and who hate avarice, and appoint from them tribunes, and leaders of hundreds, and 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 who may judge the people at all times. Then, when anything greater will have occurred, they may refer it to you, and let them judge the lesser matters only. And so it may be lighter for you, the burden being divided among others.
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 will do this, you will fulfill the orders of God, and you will be able to uphold his precepts. And this entire people will return to their places in peace.”
24 Moses took his father-in-law's advice and did just as he said.	24 Having heard this, Moses did everything that he had suggested to him.
25 Moses chose capable men from al Israel and put them in charge of the people as heads ofthousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.	25 And choosing virtuous men from all of Israel, he appointed them as leaders of the people: tribunes, and leaders of hundreds, and 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 And they judged the people at all times. But whatever was more serious, they referred to him, and they judged easier matters only.
27 Moses then set his father-in-law on his way, and he travelled back to his own country.	27 And he dismissed his kinsman, who, turning back, went to his own land.