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Deuteronomy 1:9-18
New International Version
Deuteronomy 1:9-18
New International Version
The Appointment of Leaders
9 At that time I said to you, “You are too heavy a burden(A) for me to carry alone.(B) 10 The Lord your God has increased(C) your numbers(D) so that today you are as numerous(E) as the stars in the sky.(F) 11 May the Lord, the God of your ancestors, increase(G) you a thousand times and bless you as he has promised!(H) 12 But how can I bear your problems and your burdens and your disputes all by myself?(I) 13 Choose some wise, understanding and respected men(J) from each of your tribes, and I will set them over you.”
14 You answered me, “What you propose to do is good.”
15 So I took(K) the leading men of your tribes,(L) wise and respected men,(M) and appointed them to have authority over you—as commanders(N) of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens and as tribal officials.(O) 16 And I charged your judges at that time, “Hear the disputes between your people and judge(P) fairly,(Q) whether the case is between two Israelites or between an Israelite and a foreigner residing among you.(R) 17 Do not show partiality(S) in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of anyone,(T) for judgment belongs to God. Bring me any case too hard for you, and I will hear it.”(U) 18 And at that time I told you everything you were to do.(V)
Deuteronomy 1:9-18
English Standard Version
Deuteronomy 1:9-18
English Standard Version
Leaders Appointed
9 “At that time (A)I said to you, ‘I am not able to bear you by myself. 10 The Lord your God has multiplied you, and behold, (B)you are today as numerous as the stars of heaven. 11 (C)May the Lord, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times as many as you are and bless you, (D)as he has promised you! 12 (E)How can I bear by myself the weight and burden of you and your strife? 13 (F)Choose for your tribes wise, understanding, and experienced men, and I will appoint them as your heads.’ 14 And you answered me, ‘The thing that you have spoken is good for us to do.’ 15 So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and experienced men, (G)and set them as heads over you, commanders of thousands, commanders of hundreds, commanders of fifties, commanders of tens, and officers, throughout your tribes. 16 And I charged your judges at that time, ‘Hear the cases between your brothers, and (H)judge righteously between a man and his brother or the alien who is with him. 17 (I)You shall not be partial in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not be intimidated by anyone, for (J)the judgment is God's. And the case that is too hard for you, you shall (K)bring to me, and I will hear it.’ 18 And I commanded you at that time all the things that you should do.
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Deuteronomy 1:9-18
New American Standard Bible
Deuteronomy 1:9-18
New American Standard Bible
9 “And I spoke to you at that time, saying, ‘(A)I am not able to endure you alone. 10 The Lord your God has (B)multiplied you, and behold, you are this day like the stars of heaven in number. 11 May the Lord, the God of your fathers increase you a thousand times more than you are, and bless you, (C)just as He has [a]promised you! 12 How can I alone endure the burden and weight of you and your strife? 13 (D)Obtain for yourselves men who are wise, discerning, and informed from your tribes, and I will appoint them as your heads.’ 14 And you answered me and said, ‘The thing which you have said to do is good.’ 15 So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and informed men, and [b]appointed them as heads over you, commanders of thousands, [c]hundreds, [d]fifties, and [e]tens, and officers for your tribes.
16 “Then I ordered your judges at that time, saying, ‘Hear the cases between your fellow countrymen and (E)judge righteously between a person and his fellow countryman, or the stranger who is with him. 17 (F)You are not to [f]show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small and the great alike. You are (G)not to be afraid of any person, for the judgment is God’s. (H)The case that is too difficult for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.’ 18 At that time (I)I commanded you all the things that you were to do.
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- Deuteronomy 1:11 Lit spoken to
- Deuteronomy 1:15 Lit gave them as
- Deuteronomy 1:15 Lit commanders of
- Deuteronomy 1:15 Lit commanders of
- Deuteronomy 1:15 Lit commanders of
- Deuteronomy 1:17 Lit recognize faces
Deuteronomy 1:9-18
Common English Bible
Deuteronomy 1:9-18
Common English Bible
9 At that same time, I told you: I can’t handle all of you by myself. 10 The Lord your God has multiplied your number—you are now as countless as the stars in the sky. 11 May the Lord, your ancestors’ God, continue to multiply you—a thousand times more! And may God bless you, just as he promised. 12 But how can I handle all your troubles, burdens, and disputes by myself? 13 Now, for each of your tribes, choose wise, discerning, and well-regarded individuals. I will appoint them as your leaders.
14 You answered me: “What you have proposed is a good idea.”
15 So I took leading individuals from your tribes, people who were wise and well-regarded, and I set them up as your leaders. There were commanders over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, as well as officials for each of your tribes.
16 At that same time, I commanded your judges: Listen to your fellow tribe members and judge fairly, whether the dispute is between one fellow tribe member or between a tribe member and an immigrant. 17 Don’t show favoritism in a decision. Hear both sides out, whether the person is important or not. Don’t be afraid of anyone because the ruling belongs to God. Any dispute that is too difficult for you to decide, bring to me and I will take care of it.
18 So at that time, I commanded you concerning everything you were to do.
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Deuteronomy 1:9-18
Contemporary English Version
Deuteronomy 1:9-18
Contemporary English Version
Leaders Were Appointed
(Exodus 18.13-27)
Moses said:
9 Right after the Lord commanded us to leave Mount Sinai,[a] I told you:
Israel, being your leader is too big a job for one person. 10 The Lord our God has blessed us, and so now there are as many of us as there are stars in the sky. 11 God has even promised to bless us a thousand times more, and I pray that he will. 12 But I cannot take care of all your problems and settle all your arguments alone. 13 Each tribe must choose some experienced men who are known for their wisdom and understanding, and I will make those men the official leaders of their tribes.
14 You answered, “That's a good idea!” 15 Then I took these men, who were already wise and respected leaders, and I appointed them as your official leaders. Some of them became military officers in charge of groups of 1,000, or 100, or 50, or 10, 16 and others became judges. I gave these judges the following instructions:
When you settle legal cases, your decisions must be fair. It doesn't matter if the case is between two Israelites, or between an Israelite and a foreigner living in your community. 17 And it doesn't matter if one is helpless and the other is powerful. Don't be afraid of anyone! No matter who shows up in your court, God will help you make a fair decision.
If any case is too hard for you, bring the people to me, and I will make the decision.
18 After I gave these instructions to the judges, I taught you the Lord's commands.
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- 1.9 Mount Sinai: See the note at 1.1-5.
New International Version (NIV) 
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English Standard Version (ESV) 
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New American Standard Bible (NASB) 
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Common English Bible (CEB)
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible
Contemporary English Version (CEV) 
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