Exodus 18 Parallel Bible Translations

Exodus 18 ▼
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BISHOPS
Bishops' Bible of 1568
ESV
English Standard Version
NIV
New International Version
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1 Iethro ye priest of Madian Moyses father in lawe, heard of all that god had donefor Moyses, and for Israel his people, and that the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. 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. Now 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.
2 Therefore he toke Sephora Moyses wyfe, after he had sent her backe, Now Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, had taken Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her home, After Moses had sent away his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro received her
3 And her two sonnes, of which the one was called Gershom: for he sayde, I haue ben an aliaunt in a straunge land: along with her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom (for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land”), and her two sons. One son was named Gershom, for Moses said, “I have become a foreigner in a foreign land|;
4 The name of the other was Eliezer: for the God of my father sayde he was mine helpe, and deliuered me from the sworde of Pharao. and 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”). and the other was named Eliezer, for he said, “My father’s God was my helper; he saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.”
5 And Iethro Moyses father in lawe, came with his two sonnes, & his wife, vnto Moyses into ye wildernesse, where he abode by the mounte of God. 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. Jethro, 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.
6 And he saide vnto Moyses: I thy father in lawe Iethro am come to thee, and thy wyfe also, and her two sonnes with her. And 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,” Jethro had sent word to him, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”
7 And Moyses went out to meete his father in lawe, and did obeysaunce, and kyssed hym: and eche asked other of his health, and they came into the tent. Moses 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. So 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.
8 And Moyses tolde his father in lawe all that the Lorde had done vnto Pharao and to the Egyptians for Israels sake, and al the trauaile that had come vpon them by the way, and howe the Lorde deliuered them. Then 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. Moses 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.
9 And Iethro reioyced ouer al the goodnesse which the Lorde had done to Israel, and because he had deliuered them out of the handes of the Egyptians. And 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. Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things the LORD had done for Israel in rescuing them from the hand of the Egyptians.
10 And Iethro sayd: blessed be the Lord which hath deliuered you out of ye hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharao, which hath also deliuered his people from ye captiuitie of ye Egyptians. 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 has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. He 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.
11 Nowe I knowe that the Lorde is greater then all gods: for in the thyng whereby they dealt cruelly with them, were they destroyed them selues. Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods, because in this affair they dealt arrogantly with the people.” Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly.”
12 And Iethro Moyses father in lawe toke burnt offeringes and sacrifices, to offer to God: And Aaron and all the elders of Israel came to eate bread with Moyses father in lawe before God. And 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. Then 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.
13 And on the morowe Moyses sate to iudge the people: and the people stoode about Moyses from morning vnto eue. The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening.
14 And when Moyses father in lawe sawe all that he dyd vnto the people, he sayd: what is this that thou doest vnto the people? Why sittest thou thy selfe alone, and all the people stande about thee from morning vnto euen? When 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?” When 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 And Moyses sayde to his father in lawe: because the people come vnto me to seeke counsayle of God. And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will.
16 When they haue a matter, they come vnto me, and I iudge betweene euery man & his neyghbour, & shew them the ordinaunces of God and his lawes. when 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.” Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.”
17 And Moyses father in lawe sayde vnto hym: It is not well that thou doest. Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good.
18 Thou both weryest thy selfe, and this people that is with thee: For this thing is of more wayght, then thou art able to perfourme thy selfe alone. You 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. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.
19 Heare therfore nowe my voyce, and I wyll geue thee councell, and God shalbe with thee: Be thou vnto the people to Godwarde, that thou mayest bring the causes vnto God: Now 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, Listen 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.
20 And thou shalt teache them ordinaunces and lawes, and shew them the way wherein they must walke, & the worke that they must do. and 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. Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave.
21 Moreouer, thou shalt seeke out among all the people, men of actiuitie and such as feare God, true men hating couetousnes, and place of these ouer the people rulers of thousandes, rulers of hundrethes, rulers of fiftithes, and rulers of tennes, Moreover, 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. But 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.
22 And let them iudge the people at all seasons: and euery great matter that commeth, let them bryng vnto thee, but let them iudge all small causes them selues, and so shall it be easier for thy selfe, and they shall beare a burthen with thee. And 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. Have 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.
23 If thou shalt do this thing, and God charge thee withall, thou shalt be able to endure, and yet the people shall come to their place in peace. If 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.” If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”
24 And so Moyses obeyed the voyce of his father in lawe, and dyd all that he had sayde. So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.
25 And Moyses chose actiue men out of all Israel, and made them as heades ouer the people, namely rulers of thousandes, rulers of hundrethes, rulers of fiftithes, and rulers of tennes, Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.
26 And they iudged the people at all seasons: but brought the harde causes vnto Moyses, and iudged all small matters them selues. And they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves. They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.
27 And Moyses let his father in lawe depart: and he went into his owne lande. Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went away to his own country. Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own country.
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