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Exodus 18
New International Version

Jethro Visits Moses

18 Now Jethro,(A) the priest of Midian(B) and father-in-law of Moses, heard of everything God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, and how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt.(C)

2 After Moses had sent away his wife Zipporah,(D) his father-in-law Jethro received her 3 and her two sons.(E) One son was named Gershom,[a] for Moses said, “I have become a foreigner in a foreign land”;(F) 4 and the other was named Eliezer,[b](G) for he said, “My father’s God was my helper;(H) he saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.”

5 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, together with Moses’ sons and wife, came to him in the wilderness, where he was camped near the mountain(I) of God. 6 Jethro had sent word to him, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”

7 So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down(J) and kissed(K) him. They greeted each other and then went into the tent. 8 Moses told his father-in-law about everything the Lord had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake and about all the hardships(L) they had met along the way and how the Lord had saved(M) them.

9 Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things(N) the Lord had done for Israel in rescuing them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10 He said, “Praise be to the Lord,(O) who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who rescued the people from the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all other gods,(P) for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly.”(Q) 12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law,(R) brought a burnt offering(S) and other sacrifices(T) to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal(U) with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence(V) of God.

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.(W) 16 Whenever they have a dispute,(X) it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.”(Y)

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.(Z) 19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you.(AA) You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes(AB) to him. 20 Teach them his decrees and instructions,(AC) and show them the way they are to live(AD) and how they are to behave.(AE) 21 But select capable men(AF) from all the people—men who fear(AG) God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain(AH)—and appoint them as officials(AI) 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(AJ) to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share(AK) 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(AL) of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.(AM) 26 They served as judges(AN) for the people at all times. The difficult cases(AO) they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.(AP)

27 Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own country.(AQ)

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 18:3 Gershom sounds like the Hebrew for a foreigner there.
  2. Exodus 18:4 Eliezer means my God is helper.
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Éxodo 18
Nueva Biblia de las Américas

Visita de Jetro a Moisés

18 Jetro(A), sacerdote de Madián, suegro de Moisés, oyó de todo lo que Dios había hecho por Moisés y por Su pueblo Israel, cómo el Señor había sacado a Israel de Egipto. 2 Entonces Jetro, suegro de Moisés, tomó a Séfora(B), mujer de Moisés, después que este la había enviado a su casa, 3 y a sus dos hijos, uno de los cuales se llamaba Gersón[a], pues Moisés había dicho: «He sido peregrino en tierra extranjera(C)». 4 El nombre del otro era Eliezer[b](D), pues había dicho: «El Dios de mi padre fue mi ayuda(E) y me libró de la espada de Faraón».

5 Y vino Jetro, suegro de Moisés, con los hijos y la mujer de Moisés al desierto, donde este estaba acampado junto al monte de Dios(F). 6 Y mandó decir[c] a Moisés: «Yo, tu suegro Jetro, vengo a ti con tu mujer y sus dos hijos con ella». 7 Salió Moisés a recibir a su suegro, se inclinó(G) y lo besó(H). Se preguntaron uno a otro cómo estaban[d](I), y entraron en la tienda.

8 Moisés contó a su suegro todo lo que el Señor había hecho a Faraón y a los egipcios por amor a Israel(J), todas las dificultades que les habían sobrevenido en el camino(K) y cómo los había librado el Señor(L). 9 Y Jetro se alegró de todo el bien que el Señor había hecho a Israel(M), al librarlo de la mano de los egipcios.

10 Entonces Jetro dijo: «Bendito sea el Señor que los libró de la mano de los egipcios y de la mano de Faraón, y que libró al pueblo del poder[e] de los egipcios(N). 11 Ahora sé que el Señor es más grande que todos los dioses(O). Ciertamente, esto se probó cuando ellos trataron al pueblo[f] con arrogancia(P)».

12 Y Jetro, suegro de Moisés, tomó un holocausto y sacrificios para Dios, y Aarón vino con todos los ancianos de Israel a comer[g](Q) con el suegro de Moisés delante de Dios.

Nombramiento de jueces

13 Al día siguiente Moisés se sentó a juzgar al pueblo(R). El pueblo estuvo delante de Moisés desde la mañana hasta el atardecer. 14 Cuando el suegro de Moisés vio todo lo que él hacía por el pueblo, dijo: «¿Qué es esto que haces por el pueblo? ¿Por qué juzgas[h] tú solo, y todo el pueblo está delante de ti desde la mañana hasta el atardecer?». 15 Y Moisés respondió a su suegro: «Porque el pueblo viene a mí para consultar a Dios(S). 16 Cuando tienen un pleito[i](T), vienen a mí, y yo juzgo entre uno y otro[j], dándoles a conocer los estatutos de Dios y Sus leyes».

17 El suegro de Moisés le dijo: «No está bien lo que haces. 18 Con seguridad desfallecerás tú, y también este pueblo que está contigo, porque el trabajo[k] es demasiado pesado para ti. No puedes hacerlo tú solo(U). 19 Ahora, escúchame[l]. Yo te aconsejaré, y Dios estará contigo. Sé tú el representante del[m] pueblo delante de Dios, y somete los asuntos a Dios(V). 20 Entonces enséñales los estatutos y las leyes, y hazles saber el camino en que deben andar(W) y la obra que han de realizar(X). 21 Además, escogerás[n] de entre todo el pueblo hombres capaces, temerosos de Dios(Y), hombres veraces que aborrezcan las ganancias deshonestas(Z), y los pondrás sobre el pueblo[o] como jefes de mil, de[p] cien, de[q] cincuenta y de[r] diez(AA). 22 Que sean ellos los que juzguen al pueblo en todo tiempo. Que traigan a ti todo pleito grave[s], pero que ellos juzguen todo pleito sencillo[t](AB). Así será más fácil para ti, y ellos llevarán la carga contigo(AC). 23 Si haces esto y Dios te lo manda, tú podrás resistir[u] y todo este pueblo por su parte irá en paz a su lugar».

24 Moisés escuchó a[v] su suegro, e hizo todo lo que él había dicho. 25 Y escogió Moisés hombres capaces de entre todo Israel, y los puso por cabezas del pueblo, como jefes de mil, de[w] cien, de[x] cincuenta y de[y] diez(AD). 26 Ellos juzgaban al pueblo en todo tiempo. El pleito[z] difícil lo traían a Moisés, pero todo pleito[aa] sencillo[ab] lo juzgaban ellos(AE). 27 Moisés despidió a su suegro, y este se fue a su tierra(AF).

Footnotes

  1. 18:3 I.e. Soy peregrino allí.
  2. 18:4 I.e. Mi Dios es ayuda.
  3. 18:6 Lit. Y dijo.
  4. 18:7 O por su bienestar.
  5. 18:10 Lit. de bajo la mano.
  6. 18:11 Lit. ciertamente en lo que trataron contra ellos.
  7. 18:12 Lit. comer pan.
  8. 18:14 Lit. te sientas.
  9. 18:16 Lit. un asunto.
  10. 18:16 Lit. entre un hombre y su prójimo.
  11. 18:18 Lit. asunto.
  12. 18:19 Lit. escucha mi voz.
  13. 18:19 Lit. Sé tú por el.
  14. 18:21 Lit. verás.
  15. 18:21 Lit. ellos.
  16. 18:21 Lit. jefes de.
  17. 18:21 Lit. jefes de.
  18. 18:21 Lit. jefes de.
  19. 18:22 Lit. asunto grande.
  20. 18:22 Lit. asunto pequeño.
  21. 18:23 Lit. permanecer.
  22. 18:24 Lit. la voz de.
  23. 18:25 Lit. jefes de.
  24. 18:25 Lit. jefes de.
  25. 18:25 Lit. jefes de.
  26. 18:26 Lit. asunto.
  27. 18:26 Lit. asunto.
  28. 18:26 Lit. asunto pequeño.
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Exodus 18
New King James Version

Jethro’s Advice(A)

18 And (B)Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that (C)God had done for Moses and for Israel His people—that the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took (D)Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back, 3 with her (E)two sons, of whom the name of one was [a]Gershom (for he said, (F)“I have been a [b]stranger in a foreign land”) 4 and the name of the other was [c]Eliezer (for he said, “The God of my father was my (G)help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”); 5 and Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness, where he was encamped at (H)the mountain of God. 6 Now he had said to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her.”

7 So Moses (I)went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down, and (J)kissed him. And they asked each other about their well-being, and they went into the tent. 8 And Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had come upon them on the way, and how the Lord had (K)delivered them. 9 Then Jethro rejoiced for all the (L)good which the Lord had done for Israel, whom He had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians. 10 And Jethro said, (M)“Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the Lord is (N)greater than all the gods; (O)for in the very thing in which they [d]behaved (P)proudly, He was above them.” 12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, [e]took a burnt (Q)offering and other sacrifices to offer to God. And Aaron came with all the elders of Israel (R)to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.

13 And so it was, on the next day, that Moses (S)sat to judge the people; and the people stood before Moses from morning until evening. 14 So when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone [f]sit, and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?”

15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because (T)the people come to me to inquire of God. 16 When they have (U)a [g]difficulty, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known the statutes of God and His laws.”

17 So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. 18 Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; (V)you are not able to perform it by yourself. 19 Listen now to my voice; I will give you [h]counsel, and God will be with you: Stand (W)before God for the people, so that you may (X)bring the difficulties to God. 20 And you shall (Y)teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and (Z)the work they must do. 21 Moreover you shall select from all the people (AA)able men, such as (AB)fear God, (AC)men of truth, (AD)hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 22 And let them judge the people at all times. (AE)Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for (AF)they will bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their (AG)place in peace.”

24 So Moses heeded the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25 And (AH)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 So they judged the people at all times; the (AI)hard[i] cases they brought to Moses, but they judged every small case themselves.

27 Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and (AJ)he went his way to his own land.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 18:3 Lit. Stranger There
  2. Exodus 18:3 sojourner, temporary resident
  3. Exodus 18:4 Lit. My God Is Help
  4. Exodus 18:11 acted presumptuously
  5. Exodus 18:12 So with MT, LXX; Syr., Tg., Vg. offered
  6. Exodus 18:14 Sit as judge
  7. Exodus 18:16 dispute
  8. Exodus 18:19 advice
  9. Exodus 18:26 difficult matters
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