| NET Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard about all that God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt. | 1Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about everything God had done for Moses and his people, the Israelites. He heard especially about how the LORD had rescued them from Egypt. |
| 2Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took Moses' wife Zipporah after he had sent her back, | 2Earlier, Moses had sent his wife, Zipporah, and his two sons back to Jethro, who had taken them in. |
| 3and her two sons, one of whom was named Gershom (for Moses had said, "I have been a foreigner in a foreign land"), | 3(Moses’ first son was named Gershom, for Moses had said when the boy was born, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.” |
| 4and the other Eliezer (for Moses had said, "The God of my father has been my help and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh"). | 4His second son was named Eliezer, for Moses had said, “The God of my ancestors was my helper; he rescued me from the sword of Pharaoh.”) |
| 5Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, together with Moses' sons and his wife, came to Moses in the desert where he was camping by the mountain of God. | 5Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, now came to visit Moses in the wilderness. He brought Moses’ wife and two sons with him, and they arrived while Moses and the people were camped near the mountain of God. |
| 6He said to Moses, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you, along with your wife and her two sons with her." | 6Jethro had sent a message to Moses, saying, “I, Jethro, your father-in-law, am coming to see you with your wife and your two sons.” |
| 7Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him; they each asked about the other's welfare, and then they went into the tent. | 7So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law. He bowed low and kissed him. They asked about each other’s welfare and then went into Moses’ tent. |
| 8Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to Egypt for Israel's sake, and all the hardship that had come on them along the way, and how the LORD had delivered them. | 8Moses told his father-in-law everything the LORD had done to Pharaoh and Egypt on behalf of Israel. He also told about all the hardships they had experienced along the way and how the LORD had rescued his people from all their troubles. |
| 9Jethro rejoiced because of all the good that the LORD had done for Israel, whom he had delivered from the hand of Egypt. | 9Jethro was delighted when he heard about all the good things the LORD had done for Israel as he rescued them from the hand of the Egyptians. |
| 10Jethro said, "Blessed be the LORD who has delivered you from the hand of Egypt, and from the hand of Pharaoh, who has delivered the people from the Egyptians' control! | 10“Praise the LORD,” Jethro said, “for he has rescued you from the Egyptians and from Pharaoh. Yes, he has rescued Israel from the powerful hand of Egypt! |
| 11Now I know that the LORD is greater than all the gods, for in the thing in which they dealt proudly against them he has destroyed them." | 11I know now that the LORD is greater than all other gods, because he rescued his people from the oppression of the proud Egyptians.” |
| 12Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron and all the elders of Israel came to eat food with the father-in-law of Moses before God. | 12Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God. Aaron and all the elders of Israel came out and joined him in a sacrificial meal in God’s presence. Jethro’s Wise Advice |
| 13On the next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning until evening. | 13The next day, Moses took his seat to hear the people’s disputes against each other. They waited before him from morning till 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 are you sitting by yourself, and all the people stand around you from morning until evening?" | 14When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What are you really accomplishing here? Why are you trying to do all this alone while everyone stands around you from morning till evening?” |
| 15Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God. | 15Moses replied, “Because the people come to me to get a ruling from God. |
| 16When they have a dispute, it comes to me and I decide between a man and his neighbor, and I make known the decrees of God and his laws." | 16When a dispute arises, they come to me, and I am the one who settles the case between the quarreling parties. I inform the people of God’s decrees and give them his instructions.” |
| 17Moses' father-in-law said to him, "What you are doing is not good! | 17“This is not good!” Moses’ father-in-law exclaimed. |
| 18You will surely wear out, both you and these people who are with you, for this is too heavy a burden for you; you are not able to do it by yourself. | 18“You’re going to wear yourself out—and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself. |
| 19Now 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; | 19Now 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. |
| 20warn them of the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. | 20Teach them God’s decrees, and give them his instructions. Show them how to conduct their lives. |
| 21But you choose from the people capable men, God-fearing, men of truth, those who hate bribes, and put them over the people as rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. | 21But select from all the people some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as leaders over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. |
| 22They will judge the people under normal circumstances, and every difficult case they will bring to you, but every small case they themselves will judge, so that you may make it easier for yourself, and they will bear the burden with you. | 22They should always be available to solve the people’s common disputes, but have them bring the major cases to you. Let the leaders decide the smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you. |
| 23If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people will be able to go home satisfied." | 23If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace.” |
| 24Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he had said. | 24Moses listened to his father-in-law’s advice and followed his suggestions. |
| 25Moses chose capable men from all Israel, and he made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. | 25He chose capable men from all over Israel and appointed them as leaders over the people. He put them in charge of groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. |
| 26They judged the people under normal circumstances; the difficult cases they would bring to Moses, but every small case they would judge themselves. | 26These men were always available to solve the people’s common disputes. They brought the major cases to Moses, but they took care of the smaller matters themselves. |
| 27Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and so Jethro went to his own land. | 27Soon after this, Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law, who returned to his own land. |
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