Exodus 18:13-27 - Jethro's Wise Advice
13 And it chanced on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood about Moses from morning unto evening. 14 When his father-in-law saw all that he did unto the people, he said, "What is this that thou doest unto the people? Why sittest thou thyself and lettest all the people stand about thee from morning unto even?"
15 And Moses said unto his father-in-law, "Because the people came unto me to seek counsel of God. 16 For when they have a matter, they come unto me, and I must judge between every man and his neighbor, and must show them the ordinances of God and his laws."
17 And his father-in-law said unto him, "It is not well that thou doest. 18 Thou doest unwisely and also this people that is with thee: because the thing is too grievous for thee, and thou art not able to do it thyself alone. 19 But hear my voice, and I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee. Be thou unto the people to Godward, and bring the causes unto God, 20 and provide them ordinances and laws, and show them the way wherein they must walk and the works that they must do. 21 Moreover, seek out, among all the people, men of activity which fear God; and men that are true and hate covetousness: and make them heads over the people, captains over thousands, over hundreds, over fifty, and over ten. 22 And let them judge the people at all seasons: If there be any great matter, let them bring that unto thee, and let them judge all small causes them selves, and ease thyself, and let them bear with thee. 23 If thou shalt do this thing, then thou shalt be able to endure that which God chargeth thee with all, and all this people shall go to their places quietly."
24 And Moses heard the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said, 25 and chose active men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, captains over thousands, over hundreds, over fifty and over ten. 26 And they judged the people at all seasons, and brought the hard causes unto Moses: and judged all small matters themselves.
27 And then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went in to his own land.