| Holman Christian Standard Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1Moses' father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about everything that God had done for Moses and His people Israel, and how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt. | 1Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard all that God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, and how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt. |
| 2Now Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, had taken in Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her back, | 2Now Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, had taken back Moses' wife Zipporah after she had been sent away, |
| 3along with her two sons, one of whom was named Gershom (because Moses had said, "I have been a foreigner in a foreign land") | 3along with her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom, because he used to say, "I was an alien in a foreign land," |
| 4and the other Eliezer (because he had said, "The God of my father was my helper and delivered me from Pharaoh's sword"). | 4while the name of the other was Eliezer, because he used to say, "My father's God helped me and delivered me from Pharaoh's sword." |
| 5Moses' father-in-law Jethro, along with Moses' wife and sons, came to him in the wilderness where he was camped at the mountain of God. | 5Moses' father-in-law Jethro, together with Moses' two sons and his wife, came to Moses in the desert where he was camped at the mountain of God. |
| 6He sent word to Moses, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons." | 6He told Moses, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you along with your wife and her two sons." |
| 7So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down, and then kissed him. They asked each other how they had been and went into the tent. | 7When Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, he bowed low and kissed him, and they greeted one another. Then they went into the tent. |
| 8Moses recounted to his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the hardships that confronted them on the way, and how the LORD delivered them. | 8Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians on Israel's behalf, all the hardships that they had encountered along the way, and how the LORD had delivered them. |
| 9Jethro rejoiced over all the good things the LORD had done for Israel when He rescued them from the power of the Egyptians. " | 9Jethro rejoiced over all the good that the LORD had done for Israel in delivering them from the hand of the Egyptians. |
| 10Praise the LORD," Jethro exclaimed, "who rescued you from Pharaoh and the power of the Egyptians and snatched the people from the power of the Egyptians. | 10Jethro said, "Blessed be the LORD, who delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who delivered the people from the oppression of the Egyptians. |
| 11Now I know that Yahweh is greater than all gods, because He did wonders when the Egyptians acted arrogantly against Israel." | 11Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, because of what happened to the Egyptians when they acted arrogantly against Israel." |
| 12Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses' father-in-law in God's presence. | 12Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron and all the elders of Israel came to dine with Moses' father-in-law in the presence of God. |
| 13The next day Moses sat down to judge the people, and they stood around Moses from morning until evening. | 13The next day Moses sat down to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning until evening. |
| 14When Moses' father-in-law saw everything he was doing for them he asked, "What is this thing you're doing for the people? Why are you alone sitting as judge, while all the people stand around you from morning until evening?" | 14When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, "What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, with all the people standing around you from morning until evening?" |
| 15Moses replied to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God. | 15Moses told his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to seek God's will. |
| 16Whenever they have a dispute, it comes to me, and I make a decision between one man and another. I teach them God's statutes and laws."" | 16When they have a dispute, it comes to me and I decide between a person and his neighbor, and make known the statutes of God and his instructions." |
| 17What you're doing is not good," Moses' father-in-law said to him. " | 17Moses' father-in-law told him, "What you are doing is not good. |
| 18You will certainly wear out both yourself and these people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for you. You can't do it alone. | 18You will certainly wear yourself out, both you and these people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for you. You cannot do it by yourself. |
| 19Now 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. | 19Now 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. |
| 20Instruct them about the statutes and laws, and teach them the way to live and what they must do. | 20You are to teach them the statutes and instructions and make known to them the way they're to go and the things they're to do. |
| 21But you should select from all the people able men, God-fearing, trustworthy, and hating bribes. Place them over the people as commanders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. | 21You are to look for capable men among the people, men who fear God, men of integrity who hate dishonest gain. You are to set these men over them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. |
| 22They should judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you every important case but judge every minor case themselves. In this way you will lighten your load, and they will bear it with you. | 22They are to judge the people at all times. Let them bring every major matter to you, but let them judge every minor matter. It will lighten your burden, and they'll bear it with you. |
| 23If you do this, and God so directs you, you will be able to endure, and also all these people will be able to go home satisfied." | 23If you do this, and God so commands you, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will also go to their homes in peace." |
| 24Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. | 24Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. |
| 25So Moses chose able men from all Israel and made them leaders over the people as commanders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. | 25Moses chose capable men from all Israel and appointed them as heads over the people, as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. |
| 26They judged the people at all times; they would bring the hard cases to Moses, but they would judge every minor case themselves. | 26They judged the people at all times; the difficult matters they brought to Moses, but every minor matter they judged. |
| 27Then Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law, and he journeyed to his own land. | 27Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and he went to his own land. |
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