| Berean Study Bible | New International Version |
| 1Now Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about all that God had done for Moses and His people Israel, and how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt. | 1Now Jethro, the priest of Midian and father-in-law of Moses, heard of everything God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, and how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt. |
| 2After Moses had sent back his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro had received her, | 2After Moses had sent away his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro received her |
| 3along with her two sons. One son was named Gershom, for Moses had said, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.” | 3and her two sons. One son was named Gershom, for Moses said, "I have become a foreigner in a foreign land"; |
| 4The other son was named Eliezer, for Moses had said, “The God of my father was my helper and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.” | 4and the other was named Eliezer, for he said, "My father's God was my helper; he saved me from the sword of Pharaoh." |
| 5Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, along with Moses’ wife and sons, came to him in the desert, where he was encamped at the mountain of God. | 5Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, together with Moses' sons and wife, came to him in the wilderness, where he was camped near 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.” | 6Jethro had sent word to him, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons." |
| 7So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other and went into the tent. | 7So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other and then went into the tent. |
| 8Then Moses recounted to his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardships they had encountered along the way, and how the LORD had delivered them. | 8Moses told his father-in-law about everything the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel's sake and about all the hardships they had met along the way and how the LORD had saved them. |
| 9And Jethro rejoiced over all the good things the LORD had done for Israel, whom He had rescued from the hand of the Egyptians. | 9Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things the LORD had done for Israel in rescuing them from the hand of the Egyptians. |
| 10Jethro declared, “Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from the hand of the Egyptians. | 10He said, "Praise be to the LORD, who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who rescued the people from the hand of the Egyptians. |
| 11Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, for He did this when they treated Israel with arrogance.” | 11Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly." |
| 12Then Moses’ father-in-law Jethro brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence of God. | 12Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses' father-in-law in the presence of God. |
| 13The next day Moses took his seat to judge the people, and they stood around him from morning until evening. | 13The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. |
| 14When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone as judge, with all the people standing around you from morning till evening?” | 14When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, "What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?" |
| 15“Because the people come to me to inquire of God,” Moses replied. | 15Moses answered him, "Because the people come to me to seek God's will. |
| 16“Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me to judge between one man and another, and I make known to them the statutes and laws of God.” | 16Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God's decrees and instructions." |
| 17But Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. | 17Moses' father-in-law replied, "What you are doing is not good. |
| 18Surely you and these people with you will wear yourselves out, because the task is too heavy for you. You cannot handle it alone. | 18You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work 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. | 19Listen 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. |
| 20Teach them the statutes and laws, and show them the way to live and the work they must do. | 20Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. |
| 21Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. | 21But select capable men from all the people--men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain--and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. |
| 22Have these men judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you any major issue, but all minor cases they can judge on their own, so that your load may be lightened as they share it with you. | 22Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. |
| 23If you follow this advice and God so directs you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people can go home in peace.” | 23If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied." |
| 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 capable men from all Israel and made them heads over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. | 25He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. |
| 26And they judged the people at all times; they would bring the difficult cases to Moses, but any minor issue they would judge themselves. | 26They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves. |
| 27Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own land. | 27Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own country. |
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