Exodus 18 Parallel Bible Translations

Exodus 18 ▼
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1 And when Jethro the priest of Madian, the kinsman of Moses, had heard all the things that God had done to Moses, and to Israel his people, and that the Lord had brought forth 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 He took Sephora the wife of Moses whom he had sent 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 one was called Gersam, his father saying: I have been a stranger in a foreign country. 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 other Eliezer: For the God of my father, said he, is my helper, and hath delivered me from the sword 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 Jethro the kinsman of Moses came with his sons and his wife, to Moses into the desert, where he was camped by 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 sent word to Moses, saying: I Jethro thy kinsman come to thee, and thy wife, and thy 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 he went out to meet his kinsman, and worshipped and kissed him: and they saluted one another with words of peace. And when he was come 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 Moses told his kinsman all that the Lord had done to Pharao, and the Egyptians, in favour of Israel: and all the labour which had befallen them in the journey, and that the Lord 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 for all the good things that the Lord had done to Israel, because he had delivered them out of the hands 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 he said: Blessed is the Lord, who hath delivered you out of the hand of Pharao, and out of the hand of the Egyptians, who hath delivered his people out of 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 the Lord is great above all gods: because they dealt proudly against 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 So Jethro the kinsman of Moses offered holocausts and sacrifices to God: and Aaron and all the ancients of Israel came, to eat bread with them 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 the next day Moses sat, to judge the people, who stood by Moses from morning until night. 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 his kinsman had seen all things that he did among the people, he said: What is it that thou dost among the people? Why sittest thou alone, and all the people wait from morning till night. 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 answered him: The people come to me to seek the judgment 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 And when any controversy falleth out among them, they come to me to judge between them, and to shew the precepts 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 But he said: The thing thou dost 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 Thou are spent with foolish labour, both thou and this people that is with thee: the business is above thy strength, thou alone canst not bear it. 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 But hear my words and counsels, and God shall be with thee. Be thou to the people in those things that pertain to God, to bring their words to him: 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 to shew the people the ceremonies and the manner of worshipping, and the way wherein they ought to walk, and the work that they ought to 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 provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, in whom there is truth, and that hate avarice, and appoint of them rulers of thousands, and of hundreds, and of fifties, and 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 Who may judge the people at all times: and when any great matter soever shall fall out, let them refer it to thee, and let them judge the lesser matters only: that so it may be lighter for thee, the burden being shared out unto others. 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 dost this, thou shalt fulfil the commandment of God, and shalt be able to bear his precepts: and all this people shall return to their places with 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 when Moses heard this, he did all things that he had suggested unto him. 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 choosing able men out of all Israel, he appointed them rulers of the people, rulers over thousands, and over hundreds, and over fifties, and over 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: and whatsoever was of greater difficulty they referred to him, and they judged the easier cases only. 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 he let his kinsman depart: and he returned and went into his own country. 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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