1 When Jethro{H3503}, the priest{H3548} of Midian{H4080}, Moses{H4872}' father in law{H2859}{(H8802)}, heard{H8085}{(H8799)} of all that God{H430} had done{H6213}{(H8804)} for Moses{H4872}, and for Israel{H3478} his people{H5971}, and that the LORD{H3068} had brought{H3318}{(H8689)} Israel{H3478} out of Egypt{H4714};

2 Then Jethro{H3503}, Moses{H4872}' father in law{H2859}{(H8802)}, took{H3947}{(H8799)} Zipporah{H6855}, Moses{H4872}' wife{H802}, after{H310} he had sent her back{H7964},

3 And her two{H8147} sons{H1121}; of which the name{H8034} of the one{H259} was Gershom{H1647}; for he said{H559}{(H8804)}, I have been an alien{H1616} in a strange{H5237} land{H776}:

4 And the name{H8034} of the other{H259} was Eliezer{H461}; for the God{H430} of my father{H1}, said he, was mine help{H5828}, and delivered{H5337}{(H8686)} me from the sword{H2719} of Pharaoh{H6547}:

5 And Jethro{H3503}, Moses{H4872}' father in law{H2859}{(H8802)}, came{H935}{(H8799)} with his sons{H1121} and his wife{H802} unto Moses{H4872} into the wilderness{H4057}, where he encamped{H2583}{(H8802)} at the mount{H2022} of God{H430}:

6 And he said{H559}{(H8799)} unto Moses{H4872}, I thy father in law{H2859}{(H8802)} Jethro{H3503} am come{H935}{(H8802)} unto thee, and thy wife{H802}, and her two{H8147} sons{H1121} with her.

7 And Moses{H4872} went out{H3318}{(H8799)} to meet{H7125}{(H8800)} his father in law{H2859}{(H8802)}, and did obeisance{H7812}{(H8691)}, and kissed{H5401}{(H8799)} him; and they asked{H7592}{(H8799)} each{H376} other{H7453} of their welfare{H7965}; and they came{H935}{(H8799)} into the tent{H168}.

8 And Moses{H4872} told{H5608}{(H8762)} his father in law{H2859}{(H8802)} all that the LORD{H3068} had done{H6213}{(H8804)} unto Pharaoh{H6547} and to the Egyptians{H4714} for Israel's{H3478} sake{H182}, and all the travail{H8513} that had come{H4672}{(H8804)} upon them by the way{H1870}, and how the LORD{H3068} delivered{H5337}{(H8686)} them.

9 And Jethro{H3503} rejoiced{H2302}{(H8799)} for all the goodness{H2896} which the LORD{H3068} had done{H6213}{(H8804)} to Israel{H3478}, whom he had delivered{H5337}{(H8689)} out of the hand{H3027} of the Egyptians{H4714}.

10 And Jethro{H3503} said{H559}{(H8799)}, Blessed{H1288}{(H8803)} be the LORD{H3068}, who hath delivered{H5337}{(H8689)} you out of the hand{H3027} of the Egyptians{H4714}, and out of the hand{H3027} of Pharaoh{H6547}, who hath delivered{H5337}{(H8689)} the people{H5971} from under the hand{H3027} of the Egyptians{H4714}.

11 Now I know{H3045}{(H8804)} that the LORD{H3068} is greater{H1419} than all gods{H430}: for in the thing{H1697} wherein they dealt proudly{H2102}{(H8804)} he was above them.

12 And Jethro{H3503}, Moses{H4872}' father in law{H2859}{(H8802)}, took{H3947}{(H8799)} a burnt offering{H5930} and sacrifices{H2077} for God{H430}: and Aaron{H175} came{H935}{(H8799)}, and all the elders{H2205} of Israel{H3478}, to eat{H398}{(H8800)} bread{H3899} with Moses{H4872}' father in law{H2859}{(H8802)} before{H6440} God{H430}.

13 And it came to pass on the morrow{H4283}, that Moses{H4872} sat{H3427}{(H8799)} to judge{H8199}{(H8800)} the people{H5971}: and the people{H5971} stood{H5975}{(H8799)} by Moses{H4872} from the morning{H1242} unto the evening{H6153}.

14 And when Moses{H4872}' father in law{H2859}{(H8802)} saw{H7200}{(H8799)} all that he did{H6213}{(H8802)} to the people{H5971}, he said{H559}{(H8799)}, What is this thing{H1697} that thou doest{H6213}{(H8802)} to the people{H5971}? why sittest{H3427}{(H8802)} thou thyself alone, and all the people{H5971} stand{H5324}{(H8737)} by thee from morning{H1242} unto even{H6153}?

15 And Moses{H4872} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto his father in law{H2859}{(H8802)}, Because the people{H5971} come{H935}{(H8799)} unto me to enquire{H1875}{(H8800)} of God{H430}:

16 When they have a matter{H1697}, they come{H935}{(H8802)} unto me; and I judge{H8199}{(H8804)} between one{H376} and another{H7453}, and I do make them know{H3045}{(H8689)} the statutes{H2706} of God{H430}, and his laws{H8451}.

17 And Moses{H4872}' father in law{H2859}{(H8802)} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, The thing{H1697} that thou doest{H6213}{(H8802)} is not good{H2896}.

18 Thou wilt surely{H5034}{(H8800)} wear away{H5034}{(H8799)}, both thou, and this people{H5971} that is with thee: for this thing{H1697} is too heavy{H3515} for thee; thou art not able{H3201}{(H8799)} to perform{H6213}{(H8800)} it thyself alone.

19 Hearken{H8085}{(H8798)} now unto my voice{H6963}, I will give thee counsel{H3289}{(H8799)}, and God{H430} shall be{H1961}{(H8798)} with thee: Be thou for the people{H5971} to God-ward{H4136}{H430}, that thou mayest bring{H935}{(H8689)} the causes{H1697} unto God{H430}:

20 And thou shalt teach{H2094}{(H8689)}{H853} them ordinances{H2706} and laws{H8451}, and shalt shew{H3045}{(H8689)} them the way{H1870} wherein they must walk{H3212}{(H8799)}, and the work{H4639} that they must do{H6213}{(H8799)}.

21 Moreover thou shalt provide{H2372}{(H8799)} out of all the people{H5971} able{H2428} men{H582}, such as fear{H3373} God{H430}, men{H582} of truth{H571}, hating{H8130}{(H8802)} covetousness{H1215}; and place{H7760}{(H8804)} such over them, to be rulers{H8269} of thousands{H505}, and rulers{H8269} of hundreds{H3967}, rulers{H8269} of fifties{H2572}, and rulers{H8269} of tens{H6235}:

22 And let them judge{H8199}{(H8804)} the people{H5971} at all seasons{H6256}: and it shall be, that every great{H1419} matter{H1697} they shall bring{H935}{(H8686)} unto thee, but every small{H6996} matter{H1697} they shall judge{H8199}{(H8799)}: so shall it be easier{H7043}{(H8685)} for thyself, and they shall bear{H5375}{(H8804)} the burden with thee.

23 If thou shalt do{H6213}{(H8799)} this thing{H1697}, and God{H430} command{H6680}{(H8765)} thee so, then thou shalt be able{H3201}{(H8804)} to endure{H5975}{(H8800)}, and all this people{H5971} shall also go{H935}{(H8799)} to their place{H4725} in peace{H7965}.

24 So Moses{H4872} hearkened{H8085}{(H8799)} to the voice{H6963} of his father in law{H2859}{(H8802)}, and did{H6213}{(H8799)} all that he had said{H559}{(H8804)}.

25 And Moses{H4872} chose{H977}{(H8799)} able{H2428} men{H582} out of all Israel{H3478}, and made{H5414}{(H8799)} them heads{H7218} over the people{H5971}, rulers{H8269} of thousands{H505}, rulers{H8269} of hundreds{H3967}, rulers{H8269} of fifties{H2572}, and rulers{H8269} of tens{H6235}.

26 And they judged{H8199}{(H8804)} the people{H5971} at all seasons{H6256}: the hard{H7186} causes{H1697} they brought{H935}{(H8686)} unto Moses{H4872}, but every small{H6996} matter{H1697}{H1992} they judged{H8199}{(H8799)} themselves.

27 And Moses{H4872} let his father in law{H2859}{(H8802)} depart{H7971}{(H8762)}; and he went{H3212}{(H8799)} his way into his own land{H776}.