Exodus 18:13-27 ▼

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.

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?”

15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God.

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.”

17 And the father-in-law of Moses said to him, “The thing that 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

24 And Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law, and he did all that he had 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.

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.

27 And Moses sent away his father-in-law, and he went on his way to his land.