Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. New Living Translation Now listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. You should continue to be the people’s representative before God, bringing their disputes to him. English Standard Version Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, Berean Standard Bible Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their causes to Him. King James Bible 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: New King James Version Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. New American Standard Bible Now listen to me: I will give you counsel, and God be with you. You be the people’s representative before God, and you bring the disputes to God, NASB 1995 “Now listen to me: I will give you counsel, and God be with you. You be the people’s representative before God, and you bring the disputes to God, NASB 1977 “Now listen to me: I shall give you counsel, and God be with you. You be the people’s representative before God, and you bring the disputes to God, Legacy Standard Bible Now listen to my voice: I will give you counsel, and God be with you. You be the people’s representative before God, and you bring the matters to God; Amplified Bible Now listen to me; I will advise you, and may God be with you [to confirm my advice]. You shall represent the people before God. You shall bring their disputes and causes to Him. Christian Standard Bible Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and God be with you. You be the one to represent the people before God and bring their cases to him. Holman Christian Standard Bible Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and God be with you. You be the one to represent the people before God and bring their cases to Him. American Standard Version 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: Contemporary English Version God will help you if you follow my advice. You should be the one to speak to God for the people, English Revised Version 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: GOD'S WORD® Translation Now listen to me, and I'll give you some advice. May God be with you! You must be the people's representative to God and bring their disagreements to him. Good News Translation Now let me give you some good advice, and God will be with you. It is right for you to represent the people before God and bring their disputes to him. International Standard Version Now listen to me. I'll advise you, and may God be with you. You are to represent the people before God and bring the disputes to God. Majority Standard Bible Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their causes to Him. NET Bible Now listen to me, I will give you advice, and may God be with you: You be a representative for the people to God, and you bring their disputes to God; New Heart English Bible 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. Webster's Bible Translation Hearken now to my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people toward God, that thou mayest bring the causes to God: World English Bible 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. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionNow listen to my voice, I counsel you, and God is with you: be for the people before God, and you have brought in the things to God; Young's Literal Translation '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; Smith's Literal Translation Now hear to my voice, I will advise thee, and God will be with thee: be thou for the people towards God, and bring thou their words to God; Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBut hear my words and counsels, and God shall be with thee. Be thou to the people in those things that pertain to God, to bring their words to him: Catholic Public Domain Version 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, New American Bible Now, listen to me, and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. Act as the people’s representative before God, and bring their disputes to God. New Revised Standard Version Now listen to me. I will give you counsel, and God be with you! You should represent the people before God, and you should bring their cases before God; Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleListen now to my voice, I will give you counsel, and God shall be with you; you must become a teacher from God to the people, to bring their disputes before God; Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Now hear my voice and I shall counsel you and God will be with you. You are a Teacher to the people from God and you have been bringing their concerns before God: OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God be with thee: be thou for the people before God, and bring thou the causes unto God. Brenton Septuagint Translation Now then hearken to me, and I will advise thee, and God shall be with thee: be thou to the people in the things pertaining to God, and thou shalt bring their matters to God. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Jethro Advises Moses…18Surely you and these people with you will wear yourselves out, because the task is too heavy for you. You cannot handle it alone. 19Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their causes to Him. 20Teach them the statutes and laws, and show them the way to live and the work they must do.… Cross References Deuteronomy 1:9-18 At that time I said to you, “I cannot carry the burden for you alone. / The LORD your God has multiplied you, so that today you are as numerous as the stars in the sky. / May the LORD, the God of your fathers, increase you a thousand times over and bless you as He has promised. ... Numbers 11:14-17 I cannot carry all these people by myself; it is too burdensome for me. / If this is how You are going to treat me, please kill me right now—if I have found favor in Your eyes—and let me not see my own wretchedness.” / Then the LORD said to Moses, “Bring Me seventy of the elders of Israel known to you as leaders and officers of the people. Bring them to the Tent of Meeting and have them stand there with you. ... Acts 6:1-7 In those days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Grecian Jews among them began to grumble against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. / So the Twelve summoned all the disciples and said, “It is unacceptable for us to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. / Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will assign this responsibility to them ... 1 Kings 3:9-12 Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?” / Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had made this request. / So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this instead of requesting long life or wealth for yourself or death for your enemies—but you have asked for discernment to administer justice— ... 2 Chronicles 19:5-10 He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah. / Then he said to the judges, “Consider carefully what you do, for you are not judging for man, but for the LORD, who is with you when you render judgment. / And now, may the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful what you do, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.” ... Proverbs 11:14 For lack of guidance, a nation falls, but with many counselors comes deliverance. Proverbs 15:22 Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. Proverbs 24:6 Only with sound guidance should you wage war, and victory lies in a multitude of counselors. Matthew 18:15-20 If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. / But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ / If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. ... Luke 10:1-2 After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place He was about to visit. / And He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest. Romans 13:1-4 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. / Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. / For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval. ... 1 Corinthians 12:28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues. Ephesians 4:11-12 And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, / to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ, 1 Timothy 3:1-13 This is a trustworthy saying: If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble task. / An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, / not dependent on wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, and free of the love of money. ... Titus 1:5-9 The reason I left you in Crete was that you would set in order what was unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. / An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, having children who are believers and who are not open to accusation of indiscretion or insubordination. / As God’s steward, an overseer must be above reproach—not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not greedy for money. ... Treasury of Scripture Listen now to my voice, I will give you counsel, and God shall be with you: Be you for the people to God-ward, that you may bring the causes to God: hearken Exodus 18:24 So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said. Proverbs 9:9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. God shall Exodus 3:12 And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain. Exodus 4:12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say. Genesis 39:2 And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. be thou Exodus 18:15 And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to inquire of God: Exodus 4:16 And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God. Exodus 20:19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. bring Numbers 27:5 And Moses brought their cause before the LORD. Jump to Previous Advice Cases Causes Counsel Disputes Ear God-Ward Hearken Matters Mayest Over-Against People's Represent Representative Suggestion VoiceJump to Next Advice Cases Causes Counsel Disputes Ear God-Ward Hearken Matters Mayest Over-Against People's Represent Representative Suggestion VoiceExodus 18 1. Jethro brings his wife and two sons to Moses7. Moses entertains him, and relates the goodness of the Lord 9. Jethro rejoices, blesses God, and offers sacrifice 13. He gives good counsel, which is accepted 27. Jethro departs Now listen to me This phrase marks a pivotal moment of transition and instruction. In Hebrew, the word for "listen" is "שְׁמַע" (shema), which implies not just hearing but understanding and obeying. This is reminiscent of the Shema in Deuteronomy 6:4, a central declaration of faith in Judaism. Here, Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, is urging Moses to pay careful attention to his advice, highlighting the importance of wise counsel and the humility required to receive it. I will give you counsel and God be with you You must be the people's representative before God and bring their disputes to Him Be thou for the people to God-ward.--Be the person, i.e., to bring before God whatever needs to be brought before Him. Continue both to act as representative of the people towards God, and as representative of God towards the people. Take all difficult causes to Him, and pronounce to the people His decision upon them. Be also the expounder to the people of God's laws and ordinances; be their moral instructor, and the guide of their individual actions (Exodus 18:20). All this is quite compatible with the change which I am about to recommend to thee. Verse 19. - I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee. Rather - "And may God be with thee!" May God incline thine heart to accept my counsel and act upon it. Be thou for the people to God-ward, etc. "Continue," i.e., as at present, to be the intermediary between God and the people - still be the whole and sole source of legislative power (ver. 20), and still be the fount and origin of judicial authority; but commit the actual decision of the lighter causes to others chosen by thyself for the office (vers. 21, 22). The separation of the legislative and judicial functions was well known in Egypt, where the kings alone made new laws (Herod. 2:109, 136, 177, etc.), but causes were ordinarily determined by a body of judges. Bring the causes unto God. In difficult cases, Moses actually laid the cause before God, and obtained directions from God as to the manner in which he was to decide it. See Numbers 27:5-11.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Nowעַתָּ֞ה (‘at·tāh) Adverb Strong's 6258: At this time listen to me; שְׁמַ֤ע (šə·ma‘) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently I will give you some advice, אִיעָ֣צְךָ֔ (’î·‘ā·ṣə·ḵā) Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular | second person masculine singular Strong's 3289: To advise, to deliberate, resolve and may God אֱלֹהִ֖ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative be וִיהִ֥י (wî·hî) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be with you. עִמָּ֑ךְ (‘im·māḵ) Preposition | second person masculine singular Strong's 5973: With, equally with You אַתָּ֣ה (’at·tāh) Pronoun - second person masculine singular Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you must be הֱיֵ֧ה (hĕ·yêh) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be the people’s representative לָעָ֗ם (lā·‘ām) Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock before מ֚וּל (mūl) Preposition Strong's 4136: Abrupt, a precipice, the front, opposite God הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים (hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative and bring וְהֵבֵאתָ֥ (wə·hê·ḇê·ṯā) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go their causes הַדְּבָרִ֖ים (had·də·ḇā·rîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to Him. הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ (hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative Links Exodus 18:19 NIVExodus 18:19 NLT Exodus 18:19 ESV Exodus 18:19 NASB Exodus 18:19 KJV Exodus 18:19 BibleApps.com Exodus 18:19 Biblia Paralela Exodus 18:19 Chinese Bible Exodus 18:19 French Bible Exodus 18:19 Catholic Bible OT Law: Exodus 18:19 Listen now to my voice (Exo. 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