Yisro heard—priest [minister] of Midian, Moshe’s father-in-law—about all that Elohim had done for Moshe and for His people Yisrael, that Adonoy brought Yisrael out of Egypt.

Moshe’s father-in-law, Yisro took Moshe’s wife, Tzipporah, after he had sent her back [home],

along with her two sons. The name of one was Gershom, because he [Moshe] had said, “I was a stranger in an alien land.”

The name of the [other] one was Eliezer, because the God of my father was my help, and rescued me from the sword of Pharaoh.

Moshe’s father-in-law, Yisro came, along with his [Moshe’s] sons, and wife, to Moshe, to the desert where he was camped near the mountain [upon which the Glory] of God [was revealed].

He said to Moshe, “I, your father-in-law, Yisro, am coming to you along with your wife; her two sons are with her.”

Moshe went out to greet his father-in-law. He prostrated himself and [then] kissed him. They asked after each other’s well being, and went into the tent.

Moshe told his father-in-law all that Adonoy had done to Pharaoh and to Egypt for the sake of Yisrael; including all the hardship that had befallen them on the way, and [how] Adonoy had rescued them.

Yisro rejoiced over all the good that Adonoy had done for Yisrael; that He had rescued them from the hand of Egypt.

Yisro said, “Blessed is Adonoy Who rescued you from the hand of Egypt, and from the hand of Pharaoh; Who rescued the people from under the hand [domination] of Egypt [the Egyptians].

Now I know that Adonoy is greater than all the gods, [great, and there is no god besides Him,] because [with] the very thing [through which the Egyptians] they plotted [to punish Yisrael] came upon them [they themselves were punished].”

[Then] Yisro, Moshe’s father-in-law, brought [offered] a burnt-offering and [peace]-offerings to [before] God. Aharon and all the elders of Yisrael came to eat bread with [Yisro,] Moshe’s father-in-law, before God.

It was on the following day [that] Moshe sat to judge the people and the people stood around Moshe from morning until evening.

When Moshe’s father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why are you sitting by yourself and [letting] the people stand around you from morning until evening?”

Moshe said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to seek [instruction from] God.

Whenever they have a problem, they come to me, and I judge between man and his neighbor. I impart to them God’s statutes and His laws.”

Moshe’s father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good.

You are going to wear yourself out, you too and this people that is with you. This [activity] is too heavy for you. You cannot do it alone.

Now listen to my voice [obey me]. I will give you advice and [the Word of] God [will] be with you [your support]. You must be God’s representative [ask instruction from before God] for the people, and bring the[ir] problems to [before] God.

You shall enlighten them as to the statutes and laws, and impart to them the path in which they must walk, and the deeds they must do.

You must seek out from among all the people capable, God-fearing men, men of truth, who despise [accepting] gain. You must then appoint them over [the people] as officers of thousands, officers of hundreds, officers of fifties and officers of tens.

Let them [They shall] judge the people at all times. Every major problem they will bring to you, and every minor problem they shall judge by themselves. It will [thus] be easier for you since they will bear the burden with you.

If you do this and God commands you [to do so], you will be able to survive, and also this entire people will come [go] to their place in peace.”

Moshe listened to [accepted] the voice [word] of his father-in-law and he did all that he said.

Moshe chose capable men from among all Yisrael, and appointed them leaders over the people; officers of thousands, officers of hundreds, officers of fifties and officers of tens.

They judged [would judge] the people at all times. The difficult problems, they would bring to Moshe, and the simple problems they would judge by themselves.

Moshe sent his father-in-law off, and he [Yisro] went on his way to his land.