Deuteronomy 1:9-18

Evangelical Heritage Version

⁹ So I said to you at that time, “I am not able to carry you by myself. ¹⁰ The Lord your God has increased your number, and here you are today, as numerous as the stars in the heavens. ¹¹ May the Lord, the God of your fathers, add to you a thousand times as many as you are now, and may he bless you, just as he promised you. ¹² But how can I manage by myself to carry the burden that you have become and the load that you are—especially your disputes? ¹³ Provide for yourselves, tribe by tribe, men who are wise and perceptive and with known ability, and I will appoint them as your leaders.”

¹⁴ Then you answered me, “What you propose to do is good.” ¹⁵ So I took the heads of your tribes, men who were wise and of known ability, and I appointed them as heads over you, commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds and commanders of fifties and commanders of tens, as well as officers for your tribes.

¹⁶ I gave these orders to your judges at that time: “Listen to disputes among your brothers, and judge righteously between a man and his brother Israelite, as well as with the alien who resides with him. ¹⁷ Do not show partiality in judgment. Provide a hearing for the small and the great alike. Do not be motivated by fear of any person, because judgment belongs to God. Any case that is too difficult for you, bring it before me and I will hear it.” ¹⁸ So I gave you orders at that time about everything that you should do.