| International Standard Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 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 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. |
| 2Now Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, had taken back Moses' wife Zipporah after she had been sent away, | 2After Moses had sent back his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro had received her, |
| 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," | 3along with her two sons. One son was named Gershom, for Moses had said, “I have been a foreigner 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 son was named Eliezer, for Moses had said, “The God of my father was my helper 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. | 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. |
| 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.” |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 9Jethro rejoiced over all the good that the LORD had done for Israel in delivering them from the hand of the Egyptians. | 9And Jethro rejoiced over all the good things the LORD had done for Israel, whom He had rescued 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. | 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. |
| 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." | 11Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, for He did this when they treated Israel with arrogance.” |
| 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 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. |
| 13The next day Moses sat down to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning until evening. | 13The next day Moses took his seat to judge the people, and they stood around him 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?" | 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?” |
| 15Moses told his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to seek God's will. | 15“Because the people come to me to inquire of God,” Moses replied. |
| 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“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.” |
| 17Moses' father-in-law told him, "What you are doing is not good. | 17But Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What 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. | 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'll advise you, and may God be with you. You are to represent the people before God and bring the disputes to God. | 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. |
| 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. | 20Teach them the statutes and laws, and show them the way to live and the work they must 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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." | 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.” |
| 24Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. | 24Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. |
| 25Moses chose capable men from all Israel and appointed them as heads over the people, as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. | 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. |
| 26They judged the people at all times; the difficult matters they brought to Moses, but every minor matter they judged. | 26And they judged the people at all times; they would bring the difficult cases to Moses, but any minor issue they would judge themselves. |
| 27Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and he went to his own land. | 27Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own land. |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
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