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 to inquire of God. 16 When they have a 18:16 Lit matterdispute, 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 You will surely wear out, both yourself and 18:18 Lit thisthese people who are with you, because the 18:18 Lit mattertask is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone. 19 Now listen to 18:19 Lit my voiceme: I will give you counsel, and God be with you. 18:19 Lit You be for the people in front of GodYou be the people’s representative before God, and you bring the 18:19 Lit mattersdisputes to God, 20 then admonish them about the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do. 21 Furthermore, you shall 18:21 Lit seeselect out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, 18:21 Lit leaders ofof hundreds, 18:21 Lit leaders ofof fifties, and 18:21 Lit leaders ofof tens. 22 Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be 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 they will carry the burden with you. 23 If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to 18:23 Lit standendure, and all 18:23 Lit thisthese people also will go to 18:23 Lit histheir places in peace."
24 So Moses listened 18:24 Lit to the voice ofto his father-in-law and did everything that he had said. 25 Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, 18:25 Lit leaders ofof hundreds, 18:25 Lit leaders ofof fifties, and 18:25 Lit leaders ofof tens. 26 Then they judged the people at all times; they would bring the difficult matter to Moses, but they would judge every minor matter themselves.