English Bible Presentation Sharing - Exodus Book, chapter 18, verse 25 in Hcsb Version

Exodus 18 : 1 (HCSB)

Moses' father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about everything that God had done for Moses and His people Israel, and how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.

Exodus 18 : 2 (HCSB)

Now Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, had taken in Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her back,

Exodus 18 : 3 (HCSB)

along with her two sons, one of whom was named Gershom (because Moses had said, "I have been a stranger in a foreign land")

Exodus 18 : 4 (HCSB)

and the other Eliezer (because *he had said, "The God of my father was my helper and delivered me from Pharaoh's sword").

Exodus 18 : 5 (HCSB)

Moses' father-in-law Jethro, along with Moses' wife and sons, came to him in the wilderness where he was camped at the mountain of God.

Exodus 18 : 6 (HCSB)

He sent word to Moses, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons."

Exodus 18 : 7 (HCSB)

So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down, and then kissed him. They asked each other how they had been and went into the tent.

Exodus 18 : 8 (HCSB)

Moses recounted to his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the hardships that confronted them on the way, and how the LORD delivered them.

Exodus 18 : 9 (HCSB)

Jethro rejoiced over all the good things the LORD had done for Israel when He rescued them from the Egyptians.

Exodus 18 : 10 (HCSB)

"Blessed is the LORD," Jethro exclaimed, "who rescued you from Pharaoh and the power of the Egyptians, and snatched the people from the power of the Egyptians.

Exodus 18 : 11 (HCSB)

Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods, because He *did wonders at the time the Egyptians acted arrogantly against Israel."

Exodus 18 : 12 (HCSB)

Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses' father-in-law in God's presence.

Exodus 18 : 13 (HCSB)

The next day Moses sat down to judge the people, and they stood around Moses from morning until evening.

Exodus 18 : 14 (HCSB)

When Moses' father-in-law saw everything he was doing for them he asked, "What is this thing you're doing for the people? Why are you alone sitting as judge, while all the people stand around you from morning until evening?"

Exodus 18 : 15 (HCSB)

Moses replied to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God.

Exodus 18 : 16 (HCSB)

Whenever they have a dispute, it comes to me, and I make a decision between one man and another. I teach *them God's statutes and laws."

Exodus 18 : 17 (HCSB)

"What you're doing is not good," Moses' father-in-law said to him.

Exodus 18 : 18 (HCSB)

"You will certainly wear out both yourself and these people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for you. You can't do it alone.

Exodus 18 : 19 (HCSB)

Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and God be with you. You be the one to represent the people before God and bring their cases to Him.

Exodus 18 : 20 (HCSB)

Instruct them about the statutes and laws, and teach them the way to live and what they must do.

Exodus 18 : 21 (HCSB)

But you should select from all the people able men, God-fearing, trustworthy, and hating bribes. Place *them over the people as officials of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.

Exodus 18 : 22 (HCSB)

They should judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you every important case but judge every minor case themselves. In this way you will lighten your load, and they will bear *it with you.

Exodus 18 : 23 (HCSB)

If you do this, and God *so directs you, you will be able to endure, and also all these people will be able to go home satisfied."

Exodus 18 : 24 (HCSB)

Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.

Exodus 18 : 25 (HCSB)

So Moses chose able men from all Israel and made them leaders over the people *as officials of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.

Exodus 18 : 26 (HCSB)

They judged the people at all times; the hard cases they would bring to Moses, but every minor case they would judge themselves.

Exodus 18 : 27 (HCSB)

Then Moses said goodbye to his father-in-law, and he journeyed to his own land.