English Standard Version ESV
New International Version NIV
9 "At that time I said to you, 'I am not able to bear you by myself.
9
At that time I said to you, “You are too heavy a burden for me to carry alone.
10 The LORD your God has multiplied you, and behold, you are today as numerous as the stars of heaven.
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The LORD your God has increased your numbers so that today you are as numerous as the stars in the sky.
11 May the LORD, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times as many as you are and bless you, as he has promised you!
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May the LORD, the God of your ancestors, increase you a thousand times and bless you as he has promised!
12 How can I bear by myself the weight and burden of you and your strife?
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But how can I bear your problems and your burdens and your disputes all by myself?
13 Choose for your tribes wise, understanding, and experienced men, and I will appoint them as your heads.'
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Choose some wise, understanding and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will set them over you.”
14 And you answered me, 'The thing that you have spoken is good for us to do.'
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You answered me, “What you propose to do is good.”
15 So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and experienced men, and set them as heads over you, commanders of thousands, commanders of hundreds, commanders of fifties, commanders of tens, and officers, throughout your tribes.
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So I took the leading men of your tribes, wise and respected men, and appointed them to have authority over you—as commanders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens and as tribal officials.
16 And I charged your judges at that time, 'Hear the cases between your brothers, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the alien who is with him.
16
And I charged your judges at that time, “Hear the disputes between your people and judge fairly, whether the case is between two Israelites or between an Israelite and a foreigner residing among you.
17 You shall not be partial in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not be intimidated by anyone, for the judgment is God's. And the case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.'
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Do not show partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of anyone, for judgment belongs to God. Bring me any case too hard for you, and I will hear it.”
18 And I commanded you at that time all the things that you should do.
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And at that time I told you everything you were to do.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.