Exodus 18 Parallel Bible Translations

Exodus 18 ▼
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1 And Jethro priest of Midian, father-in-law of Moses, heard all that God had done for Moses and for His people Israel, that YHWH had brought Israel out from 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 And Jethro, father-in-law of Moses, took Zipporah, wife of Moses, after he had sent her back, 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 sons, of whom the name of one was Gershom, for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign 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 And the name of the one was Eliezer, for, “The God of my father was my help and He delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.” 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 Jethro father-in-law of Moses came—and his sons and his wife—to Moses, to the wilderness, where he was camping at the mountain 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 had said to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you, and your wife and her two sons 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 Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and he bowed himself and kissed him, and they asked, each man to his neighbor, of their welfare, and they went 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 Moses recounted to his father-in-law all that YHWH had done to Pharaoh and to Egypt for the sake of Israel, all the hardship that had found them on the way, and how YHWH had delivered 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 Jethro rejoiced over all the good that YHWH had done for Israel, that He had delivered them from the hand of Egypt. 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 Jethro said, “Blessed be YHWH, who delivered you⁺ from the hand of Egypt and from the hand of Pharaoh, who delivered the people from under the hand of Egypt. 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 Now I know that YHWH is greater than all the gods, for in the matter in which they acted proudly He was above them.” 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 Jethro, father-in-law of Moses, took a burnt offering and sacrifices to God, and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with the father-in-law of Moses before the face of 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 it came to pass on the next day that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood before Moses from the morning until the evening. 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 the father-in-law of Moses saw all that he was doing to the people, and he said, “What is this thing that you are doing to the people? Why do you sit by yourself, and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?” 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 Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire 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 have a matter, they come to me, and I judge between a man and between his neighbor, and I make known the statutes of God and His laws.” 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 the father-in-law of Moses said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good. 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 You will surely wear out, both you and this people who are with you. For this thing is too heavy for you; you are not able to do it by yourself. 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 Now listen to my voice; I will counsel you, and God will be with you. You must be for the people before God, and you—you shall bring the matters to 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 you shall warn them of the statutes and of the laws and you shall make known to them the way in which they shall walk, and the work that they shall 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 And you—you shall see from all the people men of valor, fearers of God, men of truth, haters of dishonest gain—and you shall appoint these over them as rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 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 they shall judge the people at all times. And it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, and every small matter they shall judge themselves. And it will be lightened from you, and they will bear up with you. 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 you do this thing, and God commands you, then you will be able to endure, and also all this people will go to its 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 Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law, and he did all that he had said. 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 Moses chose men of valor out of all Israel, and he appointed them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 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 judged the people at all times; the hard matter they would bring to Moses, and every small matter they would judge themselves. 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 Moses sent away his father-in-law, and he went on his way to his land. 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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