Jethro's Visit
1 Now Jethro (Reuel), the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people, and that the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt.
1 When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt;
1 Now (A)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.
1 Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian,(A) heard about everything that God had done for Moses and His people Israel, and how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt.
1 Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard all that God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, and how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.
2 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Moses’ wife Zipporah, after he had sent her away [from Egypt],
2 Then Jethro, Moses' father in law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her back,
2 Now Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, had taken in Zipporah,(B) Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back,
2 Now Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, had taken back Moses' wife Zipporah after she had been sent away,
3 along with her two sons, of whom one was named Gershom (stranger), for Moses said, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land.”
3 And her two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land:
3 and her (C)two sons, of whom (a)one was named Gershom, for Moses said, “I have been (D)a (b)sojourner in a foreign land.”
3 along with her two sons, one of whom was named Gershom (because Moses had said, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land”)(a)(C)
3 along with her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom, because he uwould say, "I was an alien in a foreign land,"
4 The other [son] was named Eliezer (my God is help), for Moses said, “The God of my father was my help, and He rescued me from the sword of Pharaoh.”
4 And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh:
4 (c)The other was named (d)(E)Eliezer, for he said, “(F)The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.”
4 and the other Eliezer (because he had said, “The God of my father was my helper and delivered me from Pharaoh’s sword”).(b)
4 while the name of the other was Eliezer, because he would say, "My father's God helped me and delivered me from Pharaoh's sword."
5 Then Jethro, his father-in-law, came with Moses’ sons and his wife to [join] Moses in the wilderness where he was camped, at the mountain of God [that is, Mt. Sinai in Horeb].
5 And Jethro, Moses' father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God:
5 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses (e)in the wilderness where he was camped, at (G)the mount of God.
5 Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, along with Moses’ wife and sons, came to him in the wilderness where he was camped at the mountain of God.(D)
5 Moses' father-in-law Jethro, together with Moses' two sons and his wife, came to Moses in the desert where he was camped at the mountain of God.
6 He sent a message to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons [who are] with her.”
6 And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.
6 He (f)sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her.”
6 He sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”
6 He told Moses, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you along with your wife and her two sons."
7 So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and he bowed down [in respect] and kissed him. They asked each other about their well-being and went into the tent.
7 And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent.
7 Then Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and (H)he bowed down and (I)kissed him; and they (J)asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent.
7 So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down,(E) and then kissed him. They asked each other how they had been(c) and went into the tent.
7 When Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, he bowed low and kissed him, and they greeted one another. Then they went into the tent.
8 Moses told his father-in-law about all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, and about all the hardship that had happened during the journey, and how the Lord had rescued them.
8 And Moses told his father in law all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the LORD delivered them.
8 Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians (K)for Israel’s sake, all the (L)hardship that had befallen them on the journey, and how (M)the Lord had delivered them.
8 Moses recounted to his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardships that confronted them on the way, and how the Lord delivered them.(F)
8 Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians on Israel's behalf, all the hardships that they had encountered along the way, and how the LORD had delivered them.
9 Jethro rejoiced over all the good things the Lord had done to Israel, in that He had rescued them from the hand of the Egyptians.
9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.
9 Jethro rejoiced over all (N)the goodness which the Lord had done to Israel, (g)in delivering (h)them from the hand of the Egyptians.
9 Jethro rejoiced over all the good things the Lord had done for Israel when He rescued them from the power of the Egyptians.
9 Jethro rejoiced over all the good that the LORD had done for Israel in delivering them from the hand of the Egyptians.
10 Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who has rescued the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.
10 And Jethro said, Blessed be the LORD, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.
10 So Jethro said, “(O)Blessed be the Lord who delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.
10 “Praise the Lord,”(G) Jethro exclaimed, “who rescued you from Pharaoh and the power of the Egyptians and snatched the people from the power of the Egyptians.
10 Jethro said, "Blessed be the LORD, who delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who delivered the people from the oppression of the Egyptians.
11 Now I know that the Lord is (a)greater than all gods; indeed, it was proven when they acted insolently toward Israel [and the Lord showed Himself infinitely superior to all their gods].”
11 Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.
11 Now I know that (P)the Lord is greater than all the gods; (i)indeed, (Q)it was proven when they dealt proudly against (j)the people.”
11 Now I know that Yahweh is greater than all gods, because He did wonders when the Egyptians acted arrogantly against Israel.”(d)(H)
11 Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, because of what happened to the Egyptians when they acted arrogantly against Israel."
12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and [other] sacrifices [to offer] to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses’ father-in-law before God.
12 And Jethro, Moses' father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father in law before God.
12 (R)Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat (k)a meal with Moses’ father-in-law before God.
12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses’ father-in-law in God’s presence.
12 Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron and all the elders of Israel came to dine with Moses' father-in-law in the presence of God.
Jethro's Wise Advice
13 Now the next day Moses sat to judge [the disputes] the people [had with one another], and the people stood around Moses from dawn to dusk.
13 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.
13 It came about the next day that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood about Moses from the morning until the evening.
13 The next day Moses sat down to judge the people, and they stood around Moses from morning until evening.
13 The next day Moses sat down to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning until evening.
14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw everything that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why are you sitting alone [as a judge] with all the people standing around you from dawn to dusk?”
14 And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?
14 Now when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge and all the people stand about you from morning until evening?”
14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw everything he was doing for them he asked, “What is this thing you’re doing for the people? Why are you alone sitting as judge, while all the people stand around you from morning until evening?”
14 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 alone sit as judge, with all the people standing around you from morning until evening?"
15 Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to ask [about the will] of God.
15 And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to inquire of God:
15 Moses replied to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God.
15 Moses told his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to seek God's will.
16 When they have a dispute they come to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor and I make known the statutes of God and His laws.”
16 When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.
16 When they have a (l)(T)dispute, it comes to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor and make known the statutes of God and His laws.”
16 Whenever they have a dispute, it comes to me, and I make a decision between one man and another. I teach them God’s statutes and laws.”(I)
16 When they have a dispute, it comes to me and I decide between a person and his neighbor, and make known the statutes of God and his instructions."
17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good.
17 And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.
17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good.
17 “What you’re doing is not good,” Moses’ father-in-law said to him.
17 Moses' father-in-law told him, "What you are doing is not good.
18 You will certainly wear out both yourself and these people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for you [to bear]; you cannot do it alone.
18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.
18 (U)You will surely wear out, both yourself and (m)these people who are with you, for the (n)task is too heavy for you; (V)you cannot do it alone.
18 “You will certainly wear out both yourself and these people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for you. You can’t do it alone.(J)
18 You will certainly wear yourself out, both you and these people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for you. You cannot do it by yourself.
19 Now listen to (b)me; (c)I will advise you, and may God be with you [to confirm my advice]. You shall represent the people before God. You shall bring their disputes and causes to Him.
19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:
19 Now listen to (o)me: I will give you counsel, and God be with you. (p)You be the people’s representative before God, and you (W)bring the (q)disputes to God,
19 Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and God be with you. You be the one to represent the people before God and bring their cases to Him.
19 Now listen to me. I'll advise you, and may God be with you. You are to represent the people before God and bring the disputes to God.
20 You shall teach them the decrees and laws. You shall show them the way they are to live and the work they are to do.
20 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.
20 (X)then teach them the statutes and the laws, and make known to them (Y)the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do.
20 Instruct them about the statutes and laws, and teach them the way to live and what they must do.(K)
20 You are to teach them the statutes and instructions and make known to them the way they're to go and the things they're to do.
21 Furthermore, you shall select from all the people competent men who [reverently] fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; you shall place these over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens.
21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:
21 Furthermore, you shall (r)select out of all the people (Z)able men (AA)who fear God, men of truth, those who (AB)hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, (s)of hundreds, (t)of fifties and (u)of tens.
21 But you should select from all the people able men, God-fearing, trustworthy, and hating bribes.(L) Place them over the people as commanders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.(M)
21 You are to look for capable men among the people, men who fear God, men of integrity who hate dishonest gain. You are to set these men over them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.
22 They shall judge the people at all times; have them bring every major dispute to you, but let them judge every minor dispute themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you.
22 And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.
22 Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be (AC)that every major (v)dispute they will bring to you, but every minor (w)dispute they themselves will judge. So it will be easier for you, and (AD)they will bear the burden with you.
22 They should judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you every important case but judge every minor case themselves. In this way you will lighten your load,(e) and they will bear it with you.(N)
22 They are to judge the people at all times. Let them bring every major matter to you, but let them judge every minor matter. It will lighten your burden, and they'll bear it with you.
23 If you will do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure [the responsibility], and all these people will also go [back] to their tents in peace.”
23 If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.
23 If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to (x)endure, and all (y)these people also will go to (z)their place in peace.”
23 If you do this, and God so directs you, you will be able to endure, and also all these people will be able to go home satisfied.”(f)
23 If you do this, and God so commands you, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will also go to their homes in peace."
25 Moses chose able men from all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens [from the highest to the lowest judicial levels].
25 And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.
25 Moses chose (AE)able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, (ab)of hundreds, (ac)of fifties and (ad)of tens.
25 So Moses chose able men from all Israel and made them leaders over the people as commanders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.
25 Moses chose capable men from all Israel and appointed them as heads over the people, as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.
26 And they judged the people at all times; they would bring the difficult cases to Moses, but every minor dispute they judged and decided themselves.
26 And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.
26 They judged the people at all times; (AF)the difficult (ae)dispute they would bring to Moses, but every minor (af)dispute they themselves would judge.
26 They judged the people at all times; they would bring the hard cases to Moses, but they would judge every minor case themselves.
26 They judged the people at all times; the difficult matters they brought to Moses, but every minor matter they judged.