Exodus 18

vayyishma yitro khohen midyan khoten mosheh et kol-asher asah elohim lemosheh uleyisra'el ammo ki-hotsi Adonai et-yisra'el mimmitsrayim

Jethro priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard all that God had done for Moses and for Israel—God’s people: how the ETERNAL had brought Israel out from Egypt.

vayyiqqakh yitro khoten mosheh et-tsipporah eshet mosheh akhar shillukheha

So Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after she had been sent home,

ve'et shene vaneha asher shem ha'ekhad gereshom ki amar ger hayiti be'erets nokhriyyah

and her two sons—of whom one was named Gershom, that is to say, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land”;

veshem ha'ekhad eli'ezer ki-elohe avi be'ezri vayyatsileni mekherev paroh

and the other was named Eliezer, meaning, “The God of my father was my help, delivering me from the sword of Pharaoh.”

vayyavo yitro khoten mosheh uvanayw ve'ishto el-mosheh el-hammidbar asher-hu khoneh sham har ha'elohim

Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought Moses’ sons and wife to him in the wilderness, where he was encamped at the mountain of God.

vayyomer el-mosheh ani khotenkha yitro ba elekha ve'ishtekha ushene vaneha immah

He sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you, with your wife and her two sons.”

vayyetse mosheh liqrat khoteno vayyishtakhu vayyishaq-lo vayyishalu ish-lere'ehu leshalom vayyavo'u ha'ohelah

Moses went out to meet his father-in-law; he bowed low and kissed him; each asked after the other’s welfare, and they went into the tent.

vayesapper mosheh lekhoteno et kol-asher asah Adonai lefaroh ulemitsrayim al odot yisra'el et kol-hattela'ah asher metsa'atam badderekh vayyatsilem Adonai

Moses then recounted to his father-in-law everything that GOD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardships that had befallen them on the way, and how GOD had delivered them.

vayyikhad yitro al kol-hattovah asher-asah Adonai leyisra'el asher hitsilo miyyad mitsrayim

And Jethro rejoiced over all the kindness that GOD had shown Israel in delivering them from the Egyptians.

vayyomer yitro barukh Adonai asher hitsil etkhem miyyad mitsrayim umiyyad paroh asher hitsil et-ha'am mittakhat yad-mitsrayim

“Blessed be GOD,” Jethro said, “who delivered you from the Egyptians and from Pharaoh, and who delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

attah yadati ki-gadol Adonai mikkol-ha'elohim ki vaddavar asher zadu alehem

Now I know that GOD is greater than all gods, yes, by the result of their very schemes against [the people].”

vayyiqqakh yitro khoten mosheh olah uzevakhim lelohim vayyavo aharon vekhol ziqne yisra'el le'ekhol-lekhem im-khoten mosheh lifne ha'elohim

And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices for God; and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to partake of the meal before God with Moses’ father-in-law.

vayehi mimmokhorat vayyeshev mosheh lishpot et-ha'am vayya'amod ha'am al-mosheh min-habboqer ad-ha'arev

Next day, Moses sat as magistrate among the people, while the people stood about Moses from morning until evening.

vayyar khoten mosheh et kol-asher-hu oseh la'am vayyomer mah-haddavar hazzeh asher attah oseh la'am maddua attah yoshev levaddekha vekhol-ha'am nitsav alekha min-boqer ad-arev

But when Moses’ father-in-law saw how much he had to do for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing to the people? Why do you act alone, while all the people stand about you from morning until evening?”

vayyomer mosheh lekhoteno ki-yavo elay ha'am lidrosh elohim

Moses replied to his father-in-law, “It is because the people come to me to inquire of God.

ki-yihyeh lahem davar ba elay veshafatti ben ish uven re'ehu vehodati et-khuqqe ha'elohim ve'et-torotayw

When they have a dispute, it comes before me, and I decide between one party and another, and I make known the laws and teachings of God.”

vayyomer khoten mosheh elayw lo-tov haddavar asher attah oseh

But Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing you are doing is not right;

navol tibbol gam-attah gam-ha'am hazzeh asher immakh ki-khaved mimmekha haddavar lo-tukhal asohu levaddekha

you will surely wear yourself out, and these people as well. For the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone.

attah shema beqoli i'atsekha vihi elohim immakh heyeh attah la'am mul ha'elohim veheveta attah et-haddevarim el-ha'elohim

Now listen to me. I will give you counsel, and God be with you! You represent the people before God: you bring the disputes before God,

vehizhartah ethem et-hakhuqqim ve'et-hattorot vehodata lahem et-hadderekh yelekhu vah ve'et-hamma'aseh asher ya'asun

and enjoin upon them the laws and the teachings, and make known to them the way they are to go and the practices they are to follow.

ve'attah tekhezeh mikkol-ha'am anshe-khayil yire elohim anshe emet sone'e vatsa vesamta alehem sare alafim sare me'ot sare khamishim vesare asarot

You shall also seek out, from among all the people, those who are capable and who fear God—trustworthy ones who spurn ill-gotten gain. Set these over them as chiefs of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, and

veshafetu et-ha'am bekhol-et vehayah kol-haddavar haggadol yavi'u elekha vekhol-haddavar haqqaton yishpetu-hem vehaqel me'alekha venase'u ittakh

let them judge the people at all times. Have them bring every major dispute to you, but let them decide every minor dispute themselves. Make it easier for yourself by letting them share the burden with you.

im et-haddavar hazzeh ta'aseh vetsivvekha elohim veyakholta amod vegam kol-ha'am hazzeh al-meqomo yavo veshalom

If you do this—and God so commands you—you will be able to bear up; and all these people too will go home unwearied.”

vayyishma mosheh leqol khoteno vayya'as kol asher amar

Moses heeded his father-in-law and did just as he had said.

vayyivkhar mosheh anshe-khayil mikkol-yisra'el vayyitten otam rashim al-ha'am sare alafim sare me'ot sare khamishim vesare asarot

Moses chose those who were capable out of all Israel, and appointed them heads over the people—chiefs of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens;

veshafetu et-ha'am bekhol-et et-haddavar haqqasheh yevi'un el-mosheh vekhol-haddavar haqqaton yishputu hem

and they judged the people at all times: the difficult matters they would bring to Moses, and all the minor matters they would decide themselves.

vayeshallakh mosheh et-khoteno vayyelekh lo el-artso

Then Moses bade his father-in-law farewell, and he went his way to his own land.