The Visit of Jethro

1Iethro the prest of Madian Moses father in lawe herde of all that God had done vnto Moses and to Israel his people, how that the Lorde had broughte Israel out of Egipte. 2And he toke Ziphora Moses wyfe, after she was sente backe, 3and hir .ij. sonnes, of which the one was called Gerson, for he sayde: I haue bene an alient in a straunge lande. 4And the other was called Eliesar: for the God of my father was myne helpe ad delyuered me from the swerde of Pharao.

5And Iethro Moses father in lawe came wyth his two sonnes and his wife vnto Moses in to the wildernesse: where he had pitched his tente by the mounte of God. 6And he sent worde to Moses: I thi father in law Iethro am come to the, and thi wyfe also, and hir two sonnes with her. 7And Moses went out to mete his father in lawe and dyd obeyssaunce and kyssed him, and they saluted etch other ad came in to the tente. 8And Moses tolde his father in lawe all that the Lorde had done vnto Pharao and to the Egiptians for Israels sake, and all the trauayle that had happened them by the waye, and how the Lorde had delyuered them. 9And Iethro reioesed ouer all the good which the Lorde had done to Israel, and because he had delyuered them out of the hande of the Egiptians. 10And Iethro sayde: blessed be the Lorde which hath delyuered you out of the hande of the Egiptians ad out of the hande of Pharao, which hath delyuered his people from vnder the power of the Egiptians. 11Now I knowe that the Lorde is greater the all goddes, for because that they dealte prowdly with them. 12And Iethro Moses father in lawe offred burntoffrynges and sacrifyces vnto God. And Aaron and all the elders of Israel came to eate bred with Moses father in lawe before God.

Jethro Advises Moses
(Deuteronomy 1:9–18)

13And it chaunched on the morow, that Moses satt to iudge the people, and the people stode aboute Moses from mornynge vnto euen. 14when his father in lawe sawe all that he dyd vnto the people, he sayde: what is this that thou doest vnto the people? why syttest thou thi self and lettest all the people stonde aboute the fro mornynge vnto euen? 15And Moses sayde vnto his father in lawe: because the people came vnto me to seke councell of God. 16For whe they haue a matter, they come vnto me, and I must iudge betwene euery man and his neyboure, and must shewe them the ordinauces of God and his lawes.

17And his father in lawe sayde vnto him: it is not well that thou dost. 18Thou doest vnwysely and also this people that is with the: because the thinge is to greuous for the, and thou art not able to do it thi selfe alone. 19But heare my voyce, and I will geue the councell, and God shalbe with the. Be thou vnto the people to Godwarde, and brynge the causes vnto God 20and prouyde them ordinaunces and lawes, ad shewe them the waye wherin they must walke and the werkes that they must doo. 21Morouer seke out amonge all the people, men of actiuite which feare God and men that are true ad hate covetuousnes: and make them heedes ouer the people, captaynes ouer thousandes, ouer hundredes, ouer fyftie, and ouer ten. 22And let them iudge the people at all seasons: Yf there be any greate matter, let them brynge that vnto the, and let them iudge all small causes them selues, and ease thi selfe, ad let them bere with the. 23Yf thou shalt doo this thinge, then thou shalt be able to endure that which God chargeth the with all, and all this people shall goo to their places quietly.

24And Moses herde the voyce of his father in lawe, and dyd all that he had sayde, 25and chose actyue men out of all Israel and made them heedes ouer the people, captaynes ouer thousandes, ouer hundreds, ouer fiftie and ouer ten 26And they iudged the people at all seasons, ad broughte the harde causes vnto Moses: and iudged all small maters them selues. 27And tha Moses let his father in lawe departe, and he went in to his awne londe.