Parallel Bible results for "exodus 18"

Exodus 18

Common English Bible CEB

1 Jethro, Midian's priest and Moses' father-in-law, heard about everything that God had done for Moses and for God's people Israel, how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.

2 Moses' father-in-law Jethro took with him Zipporah, Moses' wife whom he had sent away,

3 along with her two sons. One was named Gershom because he said, "I have been an immigrant living in a foreign land."

4 The other was named Eliezer because he said, "The God of my ancestors was my helper who rescued me from Pharaoh's sword."

5 Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought Moses' sons and wife back to him in the desert where he had set up camp at God's mountain.

6 He sent word to Moses: "I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you along with your wife and her two sons."

7 Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and he bowed down and kissed him. They asked each other how they were doing, and then they went into the tent.

8 Moses then told his father-in-law everything that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians on Israel's behalf, all the difficulty they had on their journey, and how the LORD had rescued them.

9 Jethro was glad about all the good things that the LORD had done for Israel in saving them from the Egyptians' power.

10 Jethro said, "Bless the LORD who rescued you from the Egyptians' power and from Pharaoh's power, who rescued the people from Egypt's oppressive power.

11 Now I know that the LORD is greater than all the gods, because of what happened when the Egyptians plotted against them."

12 Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought an entirely burned offering and sacrifices to God. Aaron came with all of Israel's elders to eat a meal with Moses' father-in-law in God's presence.

13 The next day Moses sat as a judge for the people, while the people stood around Moses from morning until evening.

14 When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, "What's this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, while all the people are standing around you from morning until evening?"

15 Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God.

16 When a conflict arises between them, they come to me and I judge between the two of them. I also teach them God's regulations and instructions."

17 Moses' father-in-law said to him, "What you are doing isn't good.

18 You will end up totally wearing yourself out, both you and these people who are with you. The work is too difficult for you. You can't do it alone.

19 Now listen to me and let me give you some advice. And may God be with you! Your role should be to represent the people before God. You should bring their disputes before God yourself.

20 Explain the regulations and instructions to them. Let them know the way they are supposed to go and the things they are supposed to do.

21 But you should also look among all the people for capable persons who respect God. They should be trustworthy and not corrupt. Set these persons over the people as officers of groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.

22 Let them sit as judges for the people at all times. They should bring every major dispute to you, but they should decide all of the minor cases themselves. This will be much easier for you, and they will share your load.

23 If you do this and God directs you, then you will be able to endure. And all these people will be able to go back to their homes much happier."

24 Moses listened to his father-in-law's suggestions and did everything that he had said.

25 Moses chose capable persons from all Israel and set them as leaders over the people, as officers over groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.

26 They acted as judges for the people at all times. They would refer the hard cases to Moses, but all of the minor cases they decided themselves.

27 Then Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law, and Jethro went back to his own country.

The Message Bible MSG

1 Jethro, priest of Midian and father-in-law to Moses, heard the report of all that God had done for Moses and Israel his people, the news that God had delivered Israel from Egypt.

2 Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, had taken in Zipporah, Moses' wife who had been sent back home,

3 and her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom (Sojourner) for he had said, "I'm a sojourner in a foreign land";

4 the name of the other was Eliezer (God's-Help) because "The God of my father is my help and saved me from death by Pharaoh."

5 Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought Moses his sons and his wife there in the wilderness where he was camped at the mountain of God.

6 He had sent a message ahead to Moses: "I, your father-in-law, am coming to you with your wife and two sons."

7 Moses went out to welcome his father-in-law. He bowed to him and kissed him. Each asked the other how things had been with him. Then they went into the tent.

8 Moses told his father-in-law the story of all that God had done to Pharaoh and Egypt in helping Israel, all the trouble they had experienced on the journey, and how God had delivered them.

9 Jethro was delighted in all the good that God had done for Israel in delivering them from Egyptian oppression.

10 Jethro said, "Blessed be God who has delivered you from the power of Egypt and Pharaoh, who has delivered his people from the oppression of Egypt.

11 Now I know that God is greater than all gods because he's done this to all those who treated Israel arrogantly."

12 Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a Whole-Burnt-Offering and sacrifices to God. And Aaron, along with all the elders of Israel, came and ate the meal with Moses' father-in-law in the presence of God.

13 The next day Moses took his place to judge the people. People were standing before him all day long, from morning to night.

14 When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, "What's going on here? Why are you doing all this, and all by yourself, letting everybody line up before you from morning to night?"

15 Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me with questions about God.

16 When something comes up, they come to me. I judge between a man and his neighbor and teach them God's laws and instructions."

17 Moses' father-in-law said, "This is no way to go about it.

18 You'll burn out, and the people right along with you. This is way too much for you - you can't do this alone.

19 Now listen to me. Let me tell you how to do this so that God will be in this with you. Be there for the people before God, but let the matters of concern be presented to God.

20 Your job is to teach them the rules and instructions, to show them how to live, what to do.

21 And then you need to keep a sharp eye out for competent men - men who fear God, men of integrity, men who are incorruptible - and appoint them as leaders over groups organized by the thousand, by the hundred, by fifty, and by ten.

22 They'll be responsible for the everyday work of judging among the people. They'll bring the hard cases to you, but in the routine cases they'll be the judges. They will share your load and that will make it easier for you.

23 If you handle the work this way, you'll have the strength to carry out whatever God commands you, and the people in their settings will flourish also."

24 Moses listened to the counsel of his father-in-law and did everything he said.

25 Moses picked competent men from all Israel and set them as leaders over the people who were organized by the thousand, by the hundred, by fifty, and by ten.

26 They took over the everyday work of judging among the people. They brought the hard cases to Moses, but in the routine cases they were the judges.

27 Then Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law who went home to his own country.