[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.
