| New King James Version | English Standard Version |
| 1And Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people—that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt. | 1Jethro, 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. |
| 2Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back, | 2Now Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, had taken Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her home, |
| 3with her two sons, of whom the name of one was Gershom (for he said, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land”) | 3along with her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom (for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land”), |
| 4and the name of the other was Eliezer (for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”); | 4and the name of the other, Eliezer (for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”). |
| 5and Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness, where he was encamped at the mountain of God. | 5Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was encamped at the mountain of God. |
| 6Now he had said to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her.” | 6And when he sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her,” |
| 7So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down, and kissed him. And they asked each other about their well-being, and they went into the tent. | 7Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. And they asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent. |
| 8And Moses 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 come upon them on the way, and how the LORD had delivered them. | 8Then Moses 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 come upon them in the way, and how the LORD had delivered them. |
| 9Then Jethro rejoiced for all the good which the LORD had done for Israel, whom He had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians. | 9And Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the LORD had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians. |
| 10And Jethro said, “Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. | 10Jethro said, “Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh and has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. |
| 11Now I know that the LORD is greater than all the gods; for in the very thing in which they behaved proudly, He was above them.” | 11Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods, because in this affair they dealt arrogantly with the people.” |
| 12Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and other sacrifices to offer to God. And Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God. | 12And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, 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 before God. |
| 13And so it was, on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people; and the people stood before Moses from morning until evening. | 13The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. |
| 14So when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit, and all the people stand before 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 sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?” |
| 15And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. | 15And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; |
| 16When they have a difficulty, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known the statutes of God and His laws.” | 16when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.” |
| 17So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. | 17Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. |
| 18Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself. | 18You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone. |
| 19Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. | 19Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, |
| 20And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. | 20and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do. |
| 21Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. | 21Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. |
| 22And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you. | 22And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. |
| 23If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace.” | 23If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.” |
| 24So Moses heeded the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. | 24So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. |
| 25And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people: rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. | 25Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. |
| 26So they judged the people at all times; the hard cases they brought to Moses, but they judged every small case themselves. | 26And they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves. |
| 27Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went his way to his own land. | 27Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went away to his own country. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. |
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