| International Standard Version | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 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. | 1Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people, how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt. |
| 2Now Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, had taken back Moses' wife Zipporah after she had been sent away, | 2Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took Moses' wife Zipporah, after he had sent her away, |
| 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," | 3and her two sons, of whom one was named Gershom, for Moses said, "I have been a sojourner in a foreign land." |
| 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." | 4The other was named Eliezer, for he said, "The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh." |
| 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. | 5Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was camped, at the mount of God. |
| 6He told Moses, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you along with your wife and her two sons." | 6He sent word to Moses, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her." |
| 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. | 7Then Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and he bowed down and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent. |
| 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. | 8Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the hardship that had befallen them on the journey, and how the LORD had delivered them. |
| 9Jethro rejoiced over all the good that the LORD had done for Israel in delivering them from the hand of the Egyptians. | 9Jethro rejoiced over all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, in delivering them from the hand 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. | 10So Jethro 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 under the hand of the Egyptians. |
| 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." | 11"Now I know that the LORD is greater than all the gods; indeed, it was proven when they dealt proudly against the people." |
| 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. | 12Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses' father-in-law before God. |
| 13The next day Moses sat down to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning until evening. | 13It came about the next day that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood about Moses from the morning until the 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?" | 14Now when Moses' father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, "What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge and all the people stand about you from morning until evening?" |
| 15Moses told his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to seek God's will. | 15Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God. |
| 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." | 16"When they have a dispute, it comes to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor and make known the statutes of God and His laws." |
| 17Moses' father-in-law told him, "What you are doing is not good. | 17Moses' father-in-law said to him, "The thing that you are doing is not good. |
| 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. | 18"You will surely wear out, both yourself and these people who are with you, for the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone. |
| 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. | 19"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, |
| 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. | 20then teach them the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do. |
| 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. | 21"Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. |
| 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. | 22"Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be that every major dispute they will bring to you, but every minor dispute they themselves will judge. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. |
| 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." | 23"If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people also will go to their place in peace." |
| 24Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. | 24So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did all that he had said. |
| 25Moses chose capable men from all Israel and appointed them as heads over the people, as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. | 25Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. |
| 26They judged the people at all times; the difficult matters they brought to Moses, but every minor matter they judged. | 26They judged the people at all times; the difficult dispute they would bring to Moses, but every minor dispute they themselves would judge. |
| 27Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and he went to his own land. | 27Then Moses bade his father-in-law farewell, and he went his way into his own land. |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
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