Exodus

When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt;

1Jethro was a priest in a land called Midian. A priest is a man who leads people in worship. He was the father of Moses' wife. He heard all that God had done for Moses and for God's people, Israel. He heard that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.

2Then Jethro, Moses’ father in law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back,

2Moses had sent his wife Zipporah back to her home before this. Now Jethro brought her to Moses again.

3And her two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land:

3Jethro also brought her two sons. One boy was named Gershom. Moses had named him that because he said, "I have lived in a land that was not my own."

Note"An alien in a strange land" does not mean a space alien. It means a visitor living far from home.

4And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh:

4The other boy was named Eliezer. Moses had named him that because he said, "My father's God helped me. God saved me from Pharaoh's sword."

5And Jethro, Moses’ father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God:

5So Jethro came to Moses in the desert. He brought Moses' wife and sons with him. Moses was camping near the mountain of God.

6And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.

6Jethro sent this word to Moses: "It is me, Jethro. I am coming to you. Your wife and her two sons are with me."

7And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent.

7Moses went out to meet him. He bowed low and kissed him. They asked each other how they were doing. Then they went into the tent.

8And Moses told his father in law all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the LORD delivered them.

8Moses told Jethro everything the LORD had done. He told how God dealt with Pharaoh and the Egyptians to help Israel. He told about the hard times on the road. He told how the LORD had saved them.

9And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.

9Jethro was very glad about all the good things the LORD had done for Israel. God had saved them from the power of the Egyptians.

10And Jethro said, Blessed be the LORD, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

10Jethro said, "Praise the LORD! He saved you from the Egyptians and from Pharaoh. He saved these people from the Egyptians who held them down.

11Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.

11"Now I know the LORD is greater than all other gods. He showed this when the Egyptians acted proud against Israel."

12And Jethro, Moses’ father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses’ father in law before God.

12Then Jethro gave gifts to God. He burned one gift on an altar and gave other gifts too. Aaron and all the leaders of Israel came. They ate a meal with Jethro in God's presence.

13And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.

13The next day Moses sat down to be the judge for the people. A judge helps people settle their fights. The people stood around him from morning until night.

14And when Moses’ father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?

14Jethro watched all that Moses did. He asked, "Why are you doing it this way? Why do you sit and judge all alone? Why do the people stand here all day long?"

15And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God:

15Moses said, "The people come to me to find out what God says.

16When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.

16"When two people argue, they come to me. I decide who is right. And I teach them the rules and laws of God."

17And Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.

17Jethro said to him, "What you are doing is not good.

18Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.

18"You will wear yourself out. The people will wear out too. This job is too big for you. You cannot do it all alone.

19Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:

19"Listen to me. I will give you good advice, and may God be with you. You should speak to God for the people. Bring their problems to him.

20And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.

20"Teach the people God's rules and laws. Show them how to live and what work to do.

21Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

21"Then pick good men from among the people. Choose men who honor God and tell the truth. Choose men who will not take money to cheat. Put them in charge of groups. Some will lead a thousand people. Some will lead a hundred. Some will lead fifty. Some will lead ten.

22And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.

22"Let these men judge the people all the time. They can bring the big problems to you. But they can settle the small ones themselves. That will make your work easier. They will carry the load with you.

Note"At all seasons" does not mean spring or winter. It means all the time.

23If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.

23"If you do this, and if God tells you to, then you will be able to keep going. And all these people will go home happy and calm."

24So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.

24Moses listened to Jethro. He did everything Jethro had said.

25And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

25Moses chose good men from all Israel. He made them leaders over the people. Some led a thousand. Some led a hundred. Some led fifty. Some led ten.

26And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

26These men judged the people all the time. They brought the hard problems to Moses. But they settled the small ones themselves.

27And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went his way into his own land.

27Then Moses said goodbye to Jethro. Jethro went back to his own land.

Note"Moses let his father in law depart" means Moses sent him off kindly. In old English, "let" here means allowed, not stopped.