New American Standard Bible NAS
New International Version NIV
17 Moses' father-in-law said to him, "The thing that you are doing is not good.
17
Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good.
18 "You will surely wear out, both yourself and these people who are with you, for the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone.
18
You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.
19 "Now listen to me: I will give you counsel, and God be with you. You be the people's representative before God, and you bring the disputes to God,
19
Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him.
20 then teach them the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do.
20
Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave.
21 "Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens.
21
But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.
22 "Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be that every major dispute they will bring to you, but every minor dispute they themselves will judge. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you.
22
Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you.
23 "If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people also will go to their place in peace."
23
If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”
24 So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did all that he had said.
24
Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.
25 Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens.
25
He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.
26 They judged the people at all times; the difficult dispute they would bring to Moses, but every minor dispute they themselves would judge.
26
They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.
27 Then Moses bade his father-in-law farewell, and he went his way into his own land.
27
Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own country.
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California. All rights reserved.
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.