Exodus 18

1Now JethroH3503, the priestH3548 of MidianH4080, Moses’H4872 father-in-law, heardH8085 of all that GodH430 had done for MosesH4872, and for IsraelH3478 his peopleH5971, how that Jehovah had broughtH3318 IsraelH3478 out of EgyptH4714. 2And JethroH3503, Moses’H4872 father-in-law, tookH3947 ZipporahH6855, Moses’H4872 wifeH802, after he had sent her away, 3and her twoH8147 sonsH1121; of whom the nameH8034 of the oneH259 was GershomH1647; for he saidH559, I have beenH1961 a sojournerH1616 in a foreignH5237 landH776: 4and the nameH8034 of the other was EliezerH461; forhe said, The GodH430 of my fatherH1 was my helpH5828, and deliveredH5337 me from the swordH2719 of PharaohH6547. 5And JethroH3503, Moses’H4872 father-in-law, cameH935 with his sonsH1121 and his wifeH802 unto MosesH4872 into the wildernessH4057 whereH834 he was encampedH2583, at the mount of GodH430: 6and he saidH559 unto MosesH4872, I, thy father-in-law JethroH3503, am comeH935 unto thee, and thy wifeH802, and her twoH8147 sonsH1121 with her. 7And MosesH4872 wentH3318 out to meet his father-in-law, and did obeisance, and kissedH5401 him: and they askedH7592 each other of their welfareH7965; and they cameH935 into the tentH168. 8And MosesH4872 told his father-in-law all that Jehovah had done unto PharaohH6547 and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the travail that had comeH4672 upon them by the wayH1870, and how Jehovah deliveredH5337 them. 9And JethroH3503 rejoicedH2302 for all the goodness which Jehovah had done to IsraelH3478, in that he had deliveredH5337 them out of the handH3027 of the Egyptians. 10And JethroH3503 saidH559, BlessedH1288 be Jehovah, who hath deliveredH5337 you out of the handH3027 of the Egyptians, and out of the handH3027 of PharaohH6547; who hath deliveredH5337 the peopleH5971 from under the handH3027 of the Egyptians. 11NowH6258 I knowH3045 that Jehovah is greaterH1419 than all godsH430; yea, in the thingH1697 wherein they dealt proudly against them. 12And JethroH3503, Moses’H4872 father-in-law, tookH3947 a burnt-offering and sacrificesH2077 for GodH430: and AaronH175 cameH935, and all the eldersH2205 of IsraelH3478, to eatH398 breadH3899 with Moses’H4872 father-in-law before GodH430.

13And it came to pass on the morrow, that MosesH4872 satH3427 to judgeH8199 the peopleH5971: and the peopleH5971 stoodH5975 about MosesH4872 from the morningH1242 unto the eveningH6153. 14And whenH834 Moses’H4872 father-in-law sawH7200 all that he did to the peopleH5971, he saidH559, What is this thingH1697 that thou doest to the peopleH5971? whyH4100 sittest thou thyself aloneH905, and all the peopleH5971 standH5324 about thee from morningH1242 unto even? 15And MosesH4872 saidH559 unto his father-in-law, Because the peopleH5971 comeH935 unto me to inquire of GodH430: 16when they have a matterH1697, they comeH935 unto me; and I judgeH8199 between a manH376 and his neighborH7453, and I makeH3045 them knowH3045 the statutesH2706 of GodH430, and his lawsH8451. 17And Moses’H4872 father-in-law saidH559 unto him, The thingH1697 that thou doest is not goodH2896. 18Thou wilt surely wearH5034 away, both thou, and this peopleH5971 that is with thee: for the thingH1697 is too heavyH3515 for thee; thou art not ableH3201 to perform it thyself aloneH905. 19Hearken nowH6258 unto my voiceH6963, I will give thee counselH3289, and GodH430 beH1961 with thee: beH1961 thou for the peopleH5971 to God-ward, and bringH935 thou the causes unto GodH430: 20and thou shalt teach them the statutesH2706 and the lawsH8451, and shalt show them the wayH1870 wherein they must walk, and the workH4639 that they must do. 21Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the peopleH5971 able menH376, such as fearH3373 GodH430, menH376 of truthH571, hatingH8130 unjustH1215 gainH1215; and placeH7760 such over them, to be rulers of thousandsH505, rulers of hundredsH3967, rulers of fiftiesH2572, and rulers of tensH6235: 22and let them judgeH8199 the peopleH5971 at all seasons: and it shall beH1961, that every greatH1419 matterH1697 they shall bringH935 unto thee, but every smallH6996 matterH1697 they shall judgeH8199 themselves: so shall it beH1961 easier for thyself, and they shall bearH5375 the burden with thee. 23If thou shalt do this thingH1697, and GodH430 commandH6680 thee so, then thou shalt be ableH3201 to endure, and all this peopleH5971 alsoH1571 shall goH935 to their placeH4725 in peaceH7965. 24So MosesH4872 hearkened to the voiceH6963 of his father-in-law, and did all that he had saidH559. 25And MosesH4872 choseH977 able menH376 out of all IsraelH3478, and madeH5414 them headsH7218 over the peopleH5971, rulers of thousandsH505, rulers of hundredsH3967, rulers of fiftiesH2572, and rulers of tensH6235. 26And they judgedH8199 the peopleH5971 at all seasons: the hardH7186 causes they broughtH935 unto MosesH4872, but every smallH6996 matterH1697 they judgedH8199 themselves. 27And MosesH4872 let his father-in-law depart; and he went his way into his own landH776.