Font Size
Exodus 18:13-27
New American Standard Bible
Exodus 18:13-27
New American Standard Bible
Jethro Counsels Moses
13 And it came about the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood before Moses from the morning until the evening. 14 Now when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?” 15 Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me (A)to inquire of God. 16 When they have a [a](B)dispute, it comes to me, and I judge between someone and his neighbor and make known the statutes of God and His laws.” 17 Moses’ father-in-law then said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good. 18 (C)You will surely wear out, both yourself and [b]these people who are with you, because the [c]task is too heavy for you; (D)you cannot do it alone. 19 Now listen to [d]me: I will give you counsel, and God be with you. [e]You be the people’s representative before God, and you (E)bring the [f]disputes to God, 20 (F)then admonish them about the statutes and the laws, and make known to them (G)the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do. 21 Furthermore, you shall [g]select out of all the people (H)able men (I)who fear God, men of truth, those who (J)hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, [h]of hundreds, [i]of fifties, and [j]of tens. 22 Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be (K)that they will bring to you every major matter, but they will judge every minor matter themselves. So it will be easier for you, and (L)they will carry the burden with you. 23 If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to [k]endure, and all [l]these people also will go to [m]their places in peace.”
24 So Moses listened [n]to his father-in-law and did everything that he had said. 25 Moses chose (M)able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, [o]of hundreds, [p]of fifties, and [q]of tens. 26 Then they judged the people at all times; (N)they would bring the difficult matter to Moses, but they would judge every minor matter themselves. 27 Then Moses [r](O)said goodbye to his father-in-law, and [s]Jethro went his way to his own land.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Exodus 18:16 Lit matter
- Exodus 18:18 Lit this
- Exodus 18:18 Lit matter
- Exodus 18:19 Lit my voice
- Exodus 18:19 Lit You be for the people in front of God
- Exodus 18:19 Lit matters
- Exodus 18:21 Lit see
- Exodus 18:21 Lit leaders of
- Exodus 18:21 Lit leaders of
- Exodus 18:21 Lit leaders of
- Exodus 18:23 Lit stand
- Exodus 18:23 Lit this
- Exodus 18:23 Lit his
- Exodus 18:24 Lit to the voice of
- Exodus 18:25 Lit leaders of
- Exodus 18:25 Lit leaders of
- Exodus 18:25 Lit leaders of
- Exodus 18:27 Lit sent off his father-in-law
- Exodus 18:27 Lit he
Exodus 18:13-27
New International Version
Exodus 18:13-27
New International Version
13 The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. 14 When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?”
15 Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will.(A) 16 Whenever they have a dispute,(B) it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.”(C)
17 Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.(D) 19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you.(E) You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes(F) to him. 20 Teach them his decrees and instructions,(G) and show them the way they are to live(H) and how they are to behave.(I) 21 But select capable men(J) from all the people—men who fear(K) God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain(L)—and appoint them as officials(M) over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case(N) to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share(O) it with you. 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”
24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders(P) of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.(Q) 26 They served as judges(R) for the people at all times. The difficult cases(S) they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.(T)
27 Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own country.(U)
Exodus 18:13-27
King James Version
Exodus 18:13-27
King James Version
13 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.
14 And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?
15 And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God:
16 When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.
17 And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.
18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.
19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:
20 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.
21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:
22 And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.
23 If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.
24 So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.
25 And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.
26 And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.
27 And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went his way into his own land.
Read full chapter
New American Standard Bible (NASB) 
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.