New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt.
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Now news came to Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, of all God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, and how the Lord had taken Israel out of Egypt.
2 After Moses had sent away his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro took her back,
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And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her away,
3 along with her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom (for he said, "I have been an alien in a foreign land"),
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And her two sons, one of whom was named Gershom, for he said, I have been living in a strange land:
4 and the name of the other, Eliezer (for he said, "The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh").
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And the name of the other was Eliezer, for he said, The God of my father was my help, and kept me safe from the sword of Pharaoh:
5 Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came into the wilderness where Moses was encamped at the mountain of God, bringing Moses' sons and wife to him.
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And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to where Moses had put up his tent in the waste land, by the mountain of God.
6 He sent word to Moses, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you, with your wife and her two sons."
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And he said to Moses, I, your father-in-law, have come to you, with your wife and your two sons.
7 Moses went out to meet his father-in-law; he bowed down and kissed him; each asked after the other's welfare, and they went into the tent.
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And Moses went out to his father-in-law, and went down on his face before him and gave him a kiss; and they said to one another, Are you well? and they came into the tent.
8 Then Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the hardship that had beset them on the way, and how the Lord had delivered them.
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And Moses gave his father-in-law an account of all the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians because of Israel, and of all the troubles which had come on them by the way, and how the Lord had given them salvation.
9 Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the Lord had done to Israel, in delivering them from the Egyptians.
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And Jethro was glad because the Lord had been good to Israel, freeing them from the power of the Egyptians.
10 Jethro said, "Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you from the Egyptians and from Pharaoh.
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And Jethro said, Praise be to the Lord, who has taken you out of the hand of Pharaoh and out of the hand of the Egyptians; freeing the people from the yoke of the Egyptians.
11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods, because he delivered the people from the Egyptians, when they dealt arrogantly with them."
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Now I am certain that the Lord is greater than all gods, for he has overcome them in their pride.
12 And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, 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.
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Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, made a burned offering to God: and Aaron came, with the chiefs of Israel, and had a meal with Moses' father-in-law, before God.
13 The next day Moses sat as judge for the people, while the people stood around him from morning until evening.
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Now on the day after, Moses took his seat to give decisions for the people: and the people were waiting before Moses from morning till evening.
14 When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, "What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, while all the people stand around you from morning until evening?"
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And when Moses' father-in-law saw all he was doing, he said, What is this you are doing for the people? why are you seated here by yourself, with all the people waiting before you from morning till evening?
15 Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God.
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And Moses said to his father-in-law, Because the people come to me to get directions from God:
16 When they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make known to them the statutes and instructions of God."
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And if they have any question between themselves, they come to me, and I am judge between a man and his neighbour, and I give them the orders and laws of God.
17 Moses' father-in-law said to him, "What you are doing is not good.
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And Moses' father-in-law said to him, What you are doing is not good.
18 You will surely wear yourself out, both you and these people with you. For the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone.
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Your strength and that of the people will be completely used up: this work is more than you are able to do by yourself.
19 Now listen to me. I will give you counsel, and God be with you! You should represent the people before God, and you should bring their cases before God;
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Give ear now to my suggestion, and may God be with you: you are to be the people's representative before God, taking their causes to him:
20 teach them the statutes and instructions and make known to them the way they are to go and the things they are to do.
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Teaching them his rules and his laws, guiding them in the way they have to go, and making clear to them the work they have to do.
21 You should also look for able men among all the people, men who fear God, are trustworthy, and hate dishonest gain; set such men over them as officers over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.
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But for the rest, take from among the people able men, such as have the fear of God, true men hating profits wrongly made; and put such men over them, to be captains of thousands, captains of hundreds and of fifties and of tens;
22 Let them sit as judges for the people at all times; let them bring every important case to you, but decide every minor case themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you.
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And let them be judges in the causes of the people at all times: and let them put before you all important questions, but in small things let them give decisions themselves: in this way, it will be less hard for you, and they will take the weight off you.
23 If you do this, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people will go to their home in peace."
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If you do this, and God gives approval, then you will be able to go on without weariness, and all this people will go to their tents in peace.
24 So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did all that he had said.
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So Moses took note of the words of his father-in-law, and did as he had said.
25 Moses chose able men from all Israel and appointed them as heads over the people, as officers over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.
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And he made selection of able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, captains of thousands, captains of hundreds and of fifties and of tens.
26 And they judged the people at all times; hard cases they brought to Moses, but any minor case they decided themselves.
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And they were judges in the causes of the people at all times: the hard questions they put before Moses; but on every small point they gave decisions themselves.
27 Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went off to his own country.
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And Moses let his father-in-law go away, and he went back to his land.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.