Exodus 18:13-23

New Life Version

Men Who Judge

¹³ The next day Moses sat to judge the people. And the people stood around Moses from morning until evening. ¹⁴ When Moses’ father-in-law saw all he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you do for the people? Why do you sit alone and judge and all the people stand around you from morning until evening?” ¹⁵ Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to learn God’s will. ¹⁶ When they argue, they come to me. And I judge between a man and his neighbor. I teach them the Laws of God.” ¹⁷ Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. ¹⁸ You and the people with you will become tired and weak. For the work is too much for you. You cannot do it alone. ¹⁹ Now listen to me. I will tell you what you should do, and God be with you. You speak for the people before God. Bring the troubles to God. ²⁰ Then teach them the Laws. Make them know the way they must walk and the work they must do. ²¹ Also, you should choose from the people able men who fear God, men of truth who hate to get things by doing wrong. Have these men rule over the people, as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. ²² Let them judge the people at all times. Have all the big troubles brought to you. But have them judge the small troubles. So it will be easier for you. They will share the work with you. ²³ If you do this and God tells you to do it, then you will be able to keep your strength. And all these people will go to their place in peace.”