¹ When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt;

² Then Jethro, Moses' father in law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her back,

³ And her two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land:

⁴ And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh:

⁵ And Jethro, Moses' father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God:

⁶ And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.

⁷ And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent.

⁸ And Moses told his father in law all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the LORD delivered them.

⁹ And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.

¹⁰ And Jethro said, Blessed be the LORD, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

¹¹ Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.

¹² And Jethro, Moses' father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father in law before God.

¹³ And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.

¹⁴ And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?

¹⁵ And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to inquire of God:

¹⁶ When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.

¹⁷ And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.

¹⁸ Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.

¹⁹ Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:

²⁰ And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt show them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.

²¹ Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

²² And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.

²³ If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.

²⁴ So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.

²⁵ And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

²⁶ And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

²⁷ And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went his way into his own land.

---

¹ When Jethro, ^H3503 the priest ^H3548 of Midian, ^H4080 Moses' ^H4872 father in law, ^H2859 heard ^H8085 of all that God ^H430 had done ^H6213 for Moses, ^H4872 and for Israel ^H3478 his people, ^H5971 and that the LORD ^H3068 had brought ^H3318 Israel ^H3478 out of Egypt; ^H4714

² Then Jethro, ^H3503 Moses' ^H4872 father in law, ^H2859 took ^H3947 Zipporah, ^H6855 Moses' ^H4872 wife, ^H802 after ^H310 he had sent her back, ^H7964

³ And her two ^H8147 sons; ^H1121 of which the name ^H8034 of the one ^H259 was Gershom; ^H1647 for he said, ^H559 I have been an alien ^H1616 in a strange ^H5237 land: ^H776

⁴ And the name ^H8034 of the other ^H259 was Eliezer; ^H461 for the God ^H430 of my father, ^H1 said he, was mine help, ^H5828 and delivered ^H5337 me from the sword ^H2719 of Pharaoh: ^H6547

⁵ And Jethro, ^H3503 Moses' ^H4872 father in law, ^H2859 came ^H935 with his sons ^H1121 and his wife ^H802 unto Moses ^H4872 into the wilderness, ^H4057 where he encamped ^H2583 at the mount ^H2022 of God: ^H430

⁶ And he said ^H559 unto Moses, ^H4872 I thy father in law ^H2859 Jethro ^H3503 am come ^H935 unto thee, and thy wife, ^H802 and her two ^H8147 sons ^H1121 with her.

⁷ And Moses ^H4872 went out ^H3318 to meet ^H7125 his father in law, ^H2859 and did obeisance, ^H7812 and kissed ^H5401 him; and they asked ^H7592 each ^H376 other ^H7453 of their welfare; ^H7965 and they came ^H935 into the tent. ^H168

⁸ And Moses ^H4872 told ^H5608 his father in law ^H2859 all that the LORD ^H3068 had done ^H6213 unto Pharaoh ^H6547 and to the Egyptians ^H4714 for Israel's ^H3478 sake, ^H182 and all the travail ^H8513 that had come ^H4672 upon them by the way, ^H1870 and how the LORD ^H3068 delivered ^H5337 them.

⁹ And Jethro ^H3503 rejoiced ^H2302 for all the goodness ^H2896 which the LORD ^H3068 had done ^H6213 to Israel, ^H3478 whom he had delivered ^H5337 out of the hand ^H3027 of the Egyptians. ^H4714

¹⁰ And Jethro ^H3503 said, ^H559 Blessed ^H1288 be the LORD, ^H3068 who hath delivered ^H5337 you out of the hand ^H3027 of the Egyptians, ^H4714 and out of the hand ^H3027 of Pharaoh, ^H6547 who hath delivered ^H5337 the people ^H5971 from under the hand ^H3027 of the Egyptians. ^H4714

¹¹ Now I know ^H3045 that the LORD ^H3068 is greater ^H1419 than all gods: ^H430 for in the thing ^H1697 wherein they dealt proudly ^H2102 he was above them.

¹² And Jethro, ^H3503 Moses' ^H4872 father in law, ^H2859 took ^H3947 a burnt offering ^H5930 and sacrifices ^H2077 for God: ^H430 and Aaron ^H175 came, ^H935 and all the elders ^H2205 of Israel, ^H3478 to eat ^H398 bread ^H3899 with Moses' ^H4872 father in law ^H2859 before ^H6440 God. ^H430

¹³ And it came to pass on the morrow, ^H4283 that Moses ^H4872 sat ^H3427 to judge ^H8199 the people: ^H5971 and the people ^H5971 stood ^H5975 by Moses ^H4872 from the morning ^H1242 unto the evening. ^H6153

¹⁴ And when Moses' ^H4872 father in law ^H2859 saw ^H7200 all that he did ^H6213 to the people, ^H5971 he said, ^H559 What is this thing ^H1697 that thou doest ^H6213 to the people? ^H5971 why sittest ^H3427 thou thyself alone, and all the people ^H5971 stand ^H5324 by thee from morning ^H1242 unto even? ^H6153

¹⁵ And Moses ^H4872 said ^H559 unto his father in law, ^H2859 Because the people ^H5971 come ^H935 unto me to enquire ^H1875 of God: ^H430

¹⁶ When they have a matter, ^H1697 they come ^H935 unto me; and I judge ^H8199 between one ^H376 and another, ^H7453 and I do make them know ^H3045 the statutes ^H2706 of God, ^H430 and his laws. ^H8451

¹⁷ And Moses' ^H4872 father in law ^H2859 said ^H559 unto him, The thing ^H1697 that thou doest ^H6213 is not good. ^H2896

¹⁸ Thou wilt surely ^H5034 wear away, ^H5034 both thou, and this people ^H5971 that is with thee: for this thing ^H1697 is too heavy ^H3515 for thee; thou art not able ^H3201 to perform ^H6213 it thyself alone.

¹⁹ Hearken ^H8085 now unto my voice, ^H6963 I will give thee counsel, ^H3289 and God ^H430 shall be ^H1961 with thee: Be thou for the people ^H5971 to God-ward, ^{H4136 H430} that thou mayest bring ^H935 the causes ^H1697 unto God: ^H430

²⁰ And thou shalt teach ^{H2094 H853} them ordinances ^H2706 and laws, ^H8451 and shalt shew ^H3045 them the way ^H1870 wherein they must walk, ^H3212 and the work ^H4639 that they must do. ^H6213

²¹ Moreover thou shalt provide ^H2372 out of all the people ^H5971 able ^H2428 men, ^H582 such as fear ^H3373 God, ^H430 men ^H582 of truth, ^H571 hating ^H8130 covetousness; ^H1215 and place ^H7760 such over them, to be rulers ^H8269 of thousands, ^H505 and rulers ^H8269 of hundreds, ^H3967 rulers ^H8269 of fifties, ^H2572 and rulers ^H8269 of tens: ^H6235

²² And let them judge ^H8199 the people ^H5971 at all seasons: ^H6256 and it shall be, that every great ^H1419 matter ^H1697 they shall bring ^H935 unto thee, but every small ^H6996 matter ^H1697 they shall judge: ^H8199 so shall it be easier ^H7043 for thyself, and they shall bear ^H5375 the burden with thee.

²³ If thou shalt do ^H6213 this thing, ^H1697 and God ^H430 command ^H6680 thee so, then thou shalt be able ^H3201 to endure, ^H5975 and all this people ^H5971 shall also go ^H935 to their place ^H4725 in peace. ^H7965

²⁴ So Moses ^H4872 hearkened ^H8085 to the voice ^H6963 of his father in law, ^H2859 and did ^H6213 all that he had said. ^H559

²⁵ And Moses ^H4872 chose ^H977 able ^H2428 men ^H582 out of all Israel, ^H3478 and made ^H5414 them heads ^H7218 over the people, ^H5971 rulers ^H8269 of thousands, ^H505 rulers ^H8269 of hundreds, ^H3967 rulers ^H8269 of fifties, ^H2572 and rulers ^H8269 of tens. ^H6235

²⁶ And they judged ^H8199 the people ^H5971 at all seasons: ^H6256 the hard ^H7186 causes ^H1697 they brought ^H935 unto Moses, ^H4872 but every small ^H6996 matter ^{H1697 H1992} they judged ^H8199 themselves.

²⁷ And Moses ^H4872 let his father in law ^H2859 depart; ^H7971 and he went ^H3212 his way into his own land. ^H776

---

¹ Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, how that Jehovah had brought Israel out of Egypt.

² And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her away,

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 and the name of the other was Eliezer; for `he said', The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.

⁵ And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness where he was encamped, at the mount of God:

⁶ and he said unto Moses, I, thy father-in-law Jethro, am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.

⁷ And Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and did obeisance, and kissed him: and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent.

⁸ And Moses told his father-in-law all that Jehovah had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how Jehovah delivered them.

⁹ And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which Jehovah had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.

¹⁰ And Jethro said, Blessed be Jehovah, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh; who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

¹¹ Now I know that Jehovah is greater than all gods; yea, in the thing wherein they dealt proudly against them.

¹² And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took a burnt-offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law before God.

¹³ And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood about Moses from the morning unto the evening.

¹⁴ And when Moses' father-in-law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand about thee from morning unto even?

¹⁵ And Moses said unto his father-in-law, Because the people come unto me to inquire of God:

¹⁶ when they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between a man and his neighbor, and I make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.

¹⁷ And Moses' father-in-law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.

¹⁸ Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for the thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.

¹⁹ Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God be with thee: be thou for the people to God-ward, and bring thou the causes unto God:

²⁰ and thou shalt teach them the statutes and the laws, and shalt show them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.

²¹ Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating unjust gain; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

²² and let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge themselves: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear `the burden' with thee.

²³ If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people also shall go to their place in peace.

²⁴ So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said.

²⁵ And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

²⁶ And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

²⁷ And Moses let his father-in-law depart; and he went his way into his own land.

---

¹ And Jethro priest of Midian, father-in-law of Moses, heareth all that God hath done for Moses, and for Israel his people, that Jehovah hath brought out Israel from Egypt,

² and Jethro, father-in-law of Moses, taketh Zipporah, wife of Moses, besides her parents,

³ and her two sons, of whom the name of the one `is' Gershom, for he said, `a sojourner I have been in a strange land:'

⁴ and the name of the other `is' Eliezer, for, `the God of my father `is' for my help, and doth deliver me from the sword of Pharaoh.'

⁵ And Jethro, father-in-law of Moses, cometh, and his sons, and his wife, unto Moses, unto the wilderness where he is encamping -- the mount of God;

⁶ and he saith unto Moses, `I, thy father-in-law, Jethro, am coming unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.'

⁷ And Moses goeth out to meet his father-in-law, and boweth himself, and kisseth him, and they ask one at another of welfare, and come into the tent;

⁸ and Moses recounteth to his father-in-law all that Jehovah hath done to Pharaoh, and to the Egyptians, on account of Israel, all the travail which hath found them in the way, and Jehovah doth deliver them.

⁹ And Jethro rejoiceth for all the good which Jehovah hath done to Israel, whom He hath delivered from the hand of the Egyptians;

¹⁰ and Jethro saith, `Blessed `is' Jehovah, who hath delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians, and from the hand of Pharaoh -- who hath delivered this people from under the hand of the Egyptians;

¹¹ now I have known that Jehovah `is' greater than all the gods, for in the thing they have acted proudly -- `He is' above them!'

¹² And Jethro, father-in-law of Moses, taketh a burnt-offering and sacrifices for God; and Aaron cometh in, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with the father-in-law of Moses, before God.

¹³ And it cometh to pass on the morrow, that Moses sitteth to judge the people, and the people stand before Moses, from the morning unto the evening;

¹⁴ and the father-in-law of Moses seeth all that he is doing to the people, and saith, `What `is' this thing which thou art doing to the people? wherefore art thou sitting by thyself, and all the people standing by thee from morning till evening?'

¹⁵ And Moses saith to his father-in-law, `Because the people come unto me to seek God;

¹⁶ when they have a matter, it hath come unto me, and I have judged between a man and his neighbour, and made known the statutes of God, and His laws.'

¹⁷ And the father-in-law of Moses saith unto him, `The thing which thou art doing `is' not good;

¹⁸ thou dost surely wear away, both thou, and this people which `is' with thee, for the thing is too heavy for thee, thou art not able to do it by thyself.

¹⁹ `Now, hearken to my voice, I counsel thee, and God is with thee: be thou for the people over-against God, and thou hast brought in the things unto God;

²⁰ and thou hast warned them `concerning' the statutes and the laws, and hast made known to them the way in which they go, and the work which they do.

²¹ `And thou -- thou dost provide out of all the people men of ability, fearing God, men of truth, hating dishonest gain, and hast placed `these' over them, heads of thousands, heads of hundreds, heads of fifties, and heads of tens,

²² and they have judged the people at all times; and it hath come to pass, every great matter they bring in unto thee, and every small matter they judge themselves; and lighten it from off thyself, and they have borne with thee.

²³ If thou dost this thing, and God hath commanded thee, then thou hast been able to stand, and all this people also goeth in unto its place in peace.'

²⁴ And Moses hearkeneth to the voice of his father-in-law, and doth all that he said,

²⁵ and Moses chooseth men of ability out of all Israel, and maketh them chiefs over the people, heads of thousands, heads of hundreds, heads of fifties, and heads of tens,

²⁶ and they have judged the people at all times; the hard matter they bring in unto Moses, and every small matter they judge themselves.

²⁷ And Moses sendeth his father-in-law away, and he goeth away unto his own land.

---

¹ And Jethro the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done to Moses, and to Israel his people; that Jehovah had brought Israel out of Egypt.

² And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her back,

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 -- and the name of the other, Eliezer -- For the God of my father has been my help, and has delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.

⁵ And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came to Moses with his sons and his wife into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mountain of God.

⁶ And he sent word to Moses: I, thy father-in-law Jethro, am come to thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.

⁷ And Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other [after] their welfare, and went into the tent.

⁸ And Moses told his father-in-law all that Jehovah had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake; all the trouble that had befallen them on the way, and [how] Jehovah had delivered them.

⁹ And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness that Jehovah had done to Israel; that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.

¹⁰ And Jethro said, Blessed be Jehovah, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh; who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

¹¹ Now I know that Jehovah is greater than all gods; for in the thing in which they acted haughtily [he was] above them.

¹² And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took a burnt-offering and sacrifices for God; and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law in the presence of God.

¹³ And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people; and the people stood by Moses from the morning to the evening.

¹⁴ And Moses' father-in-law saw all that he did with the people, and said, What is this thing which thou art doing with the people? why dost thou sit alone, and all the people are standing by thee from morning to evening?

¹⁵ And Moses said to his father-in-law, Because the people come to me to enquire of God.

¹⁶ When they have a matter, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known [to them] the statutes of God, and his laws.

¹⁷ And Moses' father-in-law said to him, The thing that thou art doing is not good.

¹⁸ Thou wilt be quite exhausted, both thou and this people that is with thee; for the thing is too heavy for thee: thou canst not perform it alone.

¹⁹ Hearken now to my voice: I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee. Be thou for the people with God, and bring the matters before God;

²⁰ and teach them the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they must walk, and the work that they must do.

²¹ But do thou provide among all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place [them] over them, chiefs of thousands, chiefs of hundreds, chiefs of fifties, and chiefs of tens,

²² that they may judge the people at all times; and it shall be [that] they shall bring to thee every great matter, and that they shall judge every small matter, and they shall lighten [the task] on thee, and they shall bear [it] with thee.

²³ If thou do this thing, and God command thee [so], thou wilt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.

²⁴ And Moses hearkened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said.

²⁵ And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, chiefs of hundreds, chiefs of fifties, and chiefs of tens.

²⁶ And they judged the people at all times: the hard matters they brought to Moses, but every small matter they judged.

²⁷ And Moses sent away his father-in-law, and he departed into his land.

---

¹ Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, how that Yahweh had brought Israel out of Egypt.

² Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, received Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her away,

³ and her two sons. The name of one son was Gershom,{"Gershom" sounds like the Hebrew for "an alien there."} for Moses said, "I have lived as a foreigner in a foreign land".

⁴ The name of the other was Eliezer,{Eliezer means "God is my helper."} for he said, "My father's God was my help and delivered me from Pharaoh's sword."

⁵ Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses into the wilderness where he was encamped, at the Mountain of God.

⁶ He said to Moses, I, your father-in-law Jethro, have come to you with your wife, and her two sons with her.

⁷ Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and bowed and kissed him. They asked each other of their welfare, and they came into the tent.

⁸ Moses told his father-in-law all that Yahweh had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the hardships that had come on them on the way, and how Yahweh delivered them.

⁹ Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which Yahweh had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.

¹⁰ Jethro said, "Blessed be Yahweh, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh; who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

¹¹ Now I know that Yahweh is greater than all gods because of the thing in which they dealt arrogantly against them."

¹² Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God. Aaron came with all of the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law before God.

¹³ It happened on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from the morning to the evening.

¹⁴ When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he did to the people, he said, "What is this thing that you do for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning to evening?"

¹⁵ Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God.

¹⁶ When they have a matter, they come to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor, and I make them know the statutes of God, and his laws."

¹⁷ Moses' father-in-law said to him, "The thing that you do is not good.

¹⁸ You will surely wear away, both you, and this people that is with you; for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to perform it yourself alone.

¹⁹ Listen now to my voice. I will give you counsel, and God be with you. You represent the people before God, and bring the causes to God.

²⁰ You shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and shall show them the way in which they must walk, and the work that they must do.

²¹ Moreover you shall provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God: men of truth, hating unjust gain; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

²² Let them judge the people at all times. It shall be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they shall judge themselves. So shall it be easier for you, and they shall share the load with you.

²³ If you will do this thing, and God commands you so, then you will be able to endure, and all of these people also will go to their place in peace."

²⁴ So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said.

²⁵ Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

²⁶ They judged the people at all times. They brought the hard causes to Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

²⁷ Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went his way into his own land.

---

¹ Now news came to Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, of all God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, and how the Lord had taken Israel out of Egypt.

² And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her away,

³ And her two sons, one of whom was named Gershom, for he said, I have been living in a strange land:

⁴ And the name of the other was Eliezer, for he said, The God of my father was my help, and kept me safe from the sword of Pharaoh:

⁵ And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to where Moses had put up his tent in the waste land, by the mountain of God.

⁶ And he said to Moses, I, your father-in-law, have come to you, with your wife and your two sons.

⁷ And Moses went out to his father-in-law, and went down on his face before him and gave him a kiss; and they said to one another, Are you well? and they came into the tent.

⁸ And Moses gave his father-in-law an account of all the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians because of Israel, and of all the troubles which had come on them by the way, and how the Lord had given them salvation.

⁹ And Jethro was glad because the Lord had been good to Israel, freeing them from the power of the Egyptians.

¹⁰ And Jethro said, Praise be to the Lord, who has taken you out of the hand of Pharaoh and out of the hand of the Egyptians; freeing the people from the yoke of the Egyptians.

¹¹ Now I am certain that the Lord is greater than all gods, for he has overcome them in their pride.

¹² Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, made a burned offering to God: and Aaron came, with the chiefs of Israel, and had a meal with Moses' father-in-law, before God.

¹³ Now on the day after, Moses took his seat to give decisions for the people: and the people were waiting before Moses from morning till evening.

¹⁴ And when Moses' father-in-law saw all he was doing, he said, What is this you are doing for the people? why are you seated here by yourself, with all the people waiting before you from morning till evening?

¹⁵ And Moses said to his father-in-law, Because the people come to me to get directions from God:

¹⁶ And if they have any question between themselves, they come to me, and I am judge between a man and his neighbour, and I give them the orders and laws of God.

¹⁷ And Moses' father-in-law said to him, What you are doing is not good.

¹⁸ Your strength and that of the people will be completely used up: this work is more than you are able to do by yourself.

¹⁹ Give ear now to my suggestion, and may God be with you: you are to be the people's representative before God, taking their causes to him:

²⁰ Teaching them his rules and his laws, guiding them in the way they have to go, and making clear to them the work they have to do.

²¹ But for the rest, take from among the people able men, such as have the fear of God, true men hating profits wrongly made; and put such men over them, to be captains of thousands, captains of hundreds and of fifties and of tens;

²² And let them be judges in the causes of the people at all times: and let them put before you all important questions, but in small things let them give decisions themselves: in this way, it will be less hard for you, and they will take the weight off you.

²³ If you do this, and God gives approval, then you will be able to go on without weariness, and all this people will go to their tents in peace.

²⁴ So Moses took note of the words of his father-in-law, and did as he had said.

²⁵ And he made selection of able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, captains of thousands, captains of hundreds and of fifties and of tens.

²⁶ And they were judges in the causes of the people at all times: the hard questions they put before Moses; but on every small point they gave decisions themselves.

²⁷ And Moses let his father-in-law go away, and he went back to his land.