The Visit of Jethro 1 DRA And when Jethro the priest of Madian, the kinsman of Moses, had heard all the things that God had done to Moses, and to Israel his people, and that the Lord had brought forth Israel out of Egypt, BSB BSB: Now Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about all that God had done for Moses and His people Israel, and how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.
2 DRA He took Sephora the wife of Moses whom he had sent back: BSB BSB: After Moses had sent back his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro had received her,
3 DRA And her two sons, of whom one was called Gersam, his father saying: I have been a stranger in a foreign country. BSB BSB: along with her two sons. One son was named Gershom, for Moses had said, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.”
4 DRA And the other Eliezer: For the God of my father, said he, is my helper, and hath delivered me from the sword of Pharao. BSB BSB: The other son was named Eliezer, for Moses had said, “The God of my father was my helper and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.”
5 DRA And Jethro the kinsman of Moses came with his sons and his wife, to Moses into the desert, where he was camped by the mountain of God. BSB BSB: Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, along with Moses’ wife and sons, came to him in the desert, where he was encamped at the mountain of God.
6 DRA And he sent word to Moses, saying: I Jethro thy kinsman come to thee, and thy wife, and thy two sons with her. BSB BSB: He sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”
7 DRA And he went out to meet his kinsman, and worshipped and kissed him: and they saluted one another with words of peace. And when he was come into the tent, BSB BSB: So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other and went into the tent.
8 DRA Moses told his kinsman all that the Lord had done to Pharao, and the Egyptians, in favour of Israel: and all the labour which had befallen them in the journey, and that the Lord had delivered them. BSB BSB: Then 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 they had encountered along the way, and how the LORD had delivered them.
9 DRA And Jethro rejoiced for all the good things that the Lord had done to Israel, because he had delivered them out of the hands of the Egyptians. BSB BSB: And Jethro rejoiced over all the good things the LORD had done for Israel, whom He had rescued from the hand of the Egyptians.
10 DRA And he said: Blessed is the Lord, who hath delivered you out of the hand of Pharao, and out of the hand of the Egyptians, who hath delivered his people out of the hand of Egypt. BSB BSB: Jethro declared, “Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from the hand of the Egyptians.
11 DRA Now I know that the Lord is great above all gods: because they dealt proudly against them. BSB BSB: Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, for He did this when they treated Israel with arrogance.”
12 DRA So Jethro the kinsman of Moses offered holocausts and sacrifices to God: and Aaron and all the ancients of Israel came, to eat bread with them before God. BSB BSB: Then Moses’ father-in-law Jethro brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence of God.
Jethro Advises Moses (Deuteronomy 1:9–18)
13 DRA And the next day Moses sat, to judge the people, who stood by Moses from morning until night. BSB BSB: The next day Moses took his seat to judge the people, and they stood around him from morning until evening.
14 DRA And when his kinsman had seen all things that he did among the people, he said: What is it that thou dost among the people? Why sittest thou alone, and all the people wait from morning till night. BSB BSB: When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone as judge, with all the people standing around you from morning till evening?”
15 DRA And Moses answered him: The people come to me to seek the judgment of God. BSB BSB: “Because the people come to me to inquire of God,” Moses replied.
16 DRA And when any controversy falleth out among them, they come to me to judge between them, and to shew the precepts of God, and his laws. BSB BSB: “Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me to judge between one man and another, and I make known to them the statutes and laws of God.”
17 DRA But he said: The thing thou dost is not good. BSB BSB: But Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good.
18 DRA Thou are spent with foolish labour, both thou and this people that is with thee: the business is above thy strength, thou alone canst not bear it. BSB BSB: Surely you and these people with you will wear yourselves out, because the task is too heavy for you. You cannot handle it alone.
19 DRA But hear my words and counsels, and God shall be with thee. Be thou to the people in those things that pertain to God, to bring their words to him: BSB BSB: Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their causes to Him.
20 DRA And to shew the people the ceremonies and the manner of worshipping, and the way wherein they ought to walk, and the work that they ought to do. BSB BSB: Teach them the statutes and laws, and show them the way to live and the work they must do.
21 DRA And provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, in whom there is truth, and that hate avarice, and appoint of them rulers of thousands, and of hundreds, and of fifties, and of tens. BSB BSB: Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
22 DRA Who may judge the people at all times: and when any great matter soever shall fall out, let them refer it to thee, and let them judge the lesser matters only: that so it may be lighter for thee, the burden being shared out unto others. BSB BSB: Have these men judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you any major issue, but all minor cases they can judge on their own, so that your load may be lightened as they share it with you.
23 DRA If thou dost this, thou shalt fulfill the commandment of God, and shalt be able to bear his precepts: and all this people shall return to their places with peace. BSB BSB: If you follow this advice and God so directs you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people can go home in peace.”
24 DRA And when Moses heard this, he did all things that he had suggested unto him. BSB BSB: Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.
25 DRA And choosing able men out of all Israel, he appointed them rulers of the people, rulers over thousands, and over hundreds, and over fifties, and over tens. BSB BSB: So Moses chose capable men from all Israel and made them heads over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
26 DRA And they judged the people at all times: and whatsoever was of greater difficulty they referred to him, and they judged the easier cases only. BSB BSB: And they judged the people at all times; they would bring the difficult cases to Moses, but any minor issue they would judge themselves.
27 DRA And he let his kinsman depart: and he returned and went into his own country. BSB BSB: Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own land.