1 And When Jethro the Priest of Madian, the allied of Moyses, had heard all the things, that God had done to Moyses, and to Israel his people, and that our Lord had brought forth Israel out of Ægypt;
1 And when Jethro the priest of Madian, the kinsman of Moses, had heard all the things that God had done to Moses, and to Israel his people, and that the Lord had brought forth Israel out of Egypt:
2 he took Sephora the wife of Moyses whom he had sent back:
2 He took Sephora, the wife of Moses, whom he had sent back:
3 and her two sons, of which one was called Gersam, his father saying: I have been a stranger in a foreign country;
3 And her two sons, of whom one was called Gersam: his father saying, ¹I have been a stranger in a foreign country.
4 And the other Eliezer: for the God of my father, quoth he, is my helper, and hath delivered me from Pharao's sword.
4 And the other Eliezer: For the God of my father, said he, is my helper, and hath delivered me from the sword of Pharao.
5 Jethro therefore the allied of Moyses came and his sons, and his wife to Moyses into the desert, where he was camped beside the mountain of God.
5 And Jethro, the kinsman of Moses, came with his sons, and his wife to Moses into the desert, where he was camped by the mountain of God.
6 And he sent word to Moyses, saying: I Jethro thy allied come to thee, and thy wife, and thy two children with her.
6 And he sent word to Moses, saying: I Jethro, thy kinsman, come to thee, and thy wife, and thy two sons with her.
7 Who going forth to meet his allied, adored, and kissed him: and they saluted one another with words of peace. And when he was entered into the tent,
7 And he went out to meet his kinsman, and worshipped and kissed him: and they saluted one another with words of peace. And when he was come into the tent,
8 Moyses told his allied all things that our Lord had done to Pharao, and the Ægyptians for Israel: and the whole travail which had chanced to them in the journey, and that our Lord had delivered them.
8 Moses told his kinsman all that the Lord had done to Pharao, and the Egyptians in favor of Israel: and all the labor which had befallen them in the journey, and that the Lord had delivered them.
9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the good things, that our Lord had done to Israel, because he had delivered them out of the hands of the Ægyptians,
9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the good things that the Lord had done to Israel, because he had delivered them out of the hands of the Egyptians.
10 and he said: Blessed is the Lord, that hath delivered you out of the hand of the Ægyptians, and out of the hand of Pharao, that hath delivered his people out of the hand of Ægypt.
10 And he said: Blessed is the Lord, who hath delivered you out of the hand of Pharao, and out of the hand of the Egyptians, who hath delivered his people out of the hand of Egypt.
11 Now do I know, that the Lord is great above all gods: for because they dealt proudly against them.
11 Now I know, that the Lord is great above all gods; ²because they dealt proudly against them.
12 Jethro therefore the allied of Moyses offered holocausts and hosts to God: and Aaron and all the ancients of Israel came, to eat bread with him before God.
12 So Jethro, the kinsman of Moses, offered holocausts and sacrifices to God: and Aaron and all the ancients of Israel came, to eat bread with him before God.
13 And the next day Moyses sat to judge the people, who stood by Moyses from morning until night.
13 And the next day Moses sat to judge the people, who stood by Moses from morning until night.
14 Which thing when his allied had seen, to wit, all things that he did in the people, he said: What is this that thou doest in the people? Why sittest thou alone, and all the people attendeth from morning until night?
14 And when his kinsman had seen all things that he did among the people, he said: What is it that thou dost among the people? Why sittest thou alone, and all the people wait from morning till night?
15 To whom Moyses answered: The people cometh to me seeking the sentence of God.
15 And Moses answered him: The people come to me to seek the judgment of God.
16 And when any controversy chanceth among them, they come unto me to judge between them, and to shew the precepts of God, and his laws.
16 And when any controversy falleth out among them, they come to me to judge between them, and to show the precepts of God, and his laws.
17 But he said: Thou doest not well:
17 But he said: The thing thou dost is not good.
18 Thou art tired with foolish labour, both thou, and this people that is with thee, the business is above thy strength, thou alone canst not sustain it.
18 Thou art spent with foolish labor, both thou, and this people that is with thee; the business is above thy strength, ³thou alone canst not bear it.
19 But hear my words and councils, and God shall be with thee. Be thou to the people in those things that pertain to God, to report their words unto him:
19 But hear my words and counsels, and God shall be with thee. Be thou to the people in those things that pertain to God, to bring their words to him:
20 & to shew to the people the ceremonies & rite of worshipping, and the way wherein they ought to walk, and the work that they ought to do.
20 And to show the people the ceremonies, and the manner of worshipping; and the way wherein they ought to walk, and the work that they ought to do.
21 And provide out of all the people men that are wise, & do fear God, in whom there is truth, and that do hate avarice, and appoint of them tribunes, and centurions, and quinquagenarians, and deans,
21 And provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, in whom there is truth, and that hate avarice, and appoint of them rulers of thousands, and of hundreds, and of fifties, and of tens.
22 which may judge the people at all times: and what great matter soever shall fall out, let them refer it to thee, & let them judge the less matters only: & so it may be lighter for thee, the burden being imparted unto others.
22 Who may judge the people at all times: and when any great matter soever shall fall out, let them refer it to thee, and let them judge the lesser matters only: that so it may be lighter for thee, the burden being shared out unto others.
23 If thou doest this, thou shalt fulfill the commandment of God, & shalt be able to bear his precepts: and all this people shall return to their places with peace.
23 If thou dost this, thou shalt fulfill the commandment of God, and shalt be able to bear his precepts: and all this people shall return to their places with peace.
24 Which things when Moyses heard, he did all things that he had suggested unto him.
24 And when Moses heard this, he did all things that he had suggested unto him.
25 And choosing substantial men out of all Israel, he appointed them Princes of the people, tribunes, and centurions, and quinquagenarians, and deans.
25 And choosing able men out of all Israel, he appointed them rulers of the people, rulers over thousands, and over hundreds, and over fifties, and over tens.
26 Who judged the people at all time: and whatsoever was of greater difficulty they referred to him, themselves judging the easier cases only.
26 And they judged the people at all times: and whatsoever was of greater difficulty they referred to him, and they judged the easier cases only.
27 And he dismissed his allied: who returning went into his country.
27 And he let his kinsman depart: and he returned and went into his own country.⁴