¹⁸ Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; ^(A)you are not able to perform it by yourself.

^14 (A)I am not able to bear all these people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me. ¹⁵ If You treat me like this, please kill me here and now—if I have found favor in Your sight—and ^(B)do not let me see my wretchedness!”

The Seventy Elders

¹⁶ So the Lord said to Moses: “Gather to Me ^(C)seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and ^(D)officers over them; bring them to the tabernacle of meeting, that they may stand there with you. ¹⁷ Then I will come down and talk with you there. ^(E)I will take of the Spirit that is upon you and will put the same upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone.

Seven Chosen to Serve

6 Now in those days, ^(A)when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the ^(B)Hellenists,^[a] because their widows were neglected ^(C)in the daily distribution. ² Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, ^(D)“It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. ³ Therefore, brethren, ^(E)seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this ^(F)business; ⁴ but we ^(G)will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

⁸ So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased ^(A)to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also ^(B)our own lives, because you had become dear to us. ⁹ For you remember, brethren, our ^(C)labor and toil; for laboring night and day, ^(D)that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

³⁰ because for the work of Christ he came close to death, ^[a]not regarding his life, ^(A)to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.

¹⁵ And I will very gladly spend and be spent ^(A)for your souls; though ^(B)the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.

Tribal Leaders Appointed^(A)

⁹ “And ^(B)I spoke to you at that time, saying: ‘I ^[a]alone am not able to bear you. ¹⁰ The Lord your God has multiplied you, ^(C)and here you are today, as the stars of heaven in multitude. ^11 (D)May the Lord God of your fathers make you a thousand times more numerous than you are, and bless you ^(E)as He has promised you! ^12 (F)How can I alone bear your problems and your burdens and your complaints?