Exodus 18 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

Now Jethro, the priest of Midian and Moses' father-in-law, heard about everything God had done for Moses and for Israel his people — how Yahweh had brought Israel out of Egypt.

Earlier, Moses had sent his wife Zipporah back to Jethro, and Jethro had taken her in.

along with her two sons. The first was named Gershom, because Moses had said, "I've been an outsider in a foreign land."

The other was named Eliezer, because Moses had said, "The God of my father was my help and rescued me from Pharaoh's sword."

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

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

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

Moses told his father-in-law everything Yahweh had done to Pharaoh and to Egypt for Israel's sake — all the hardship they had faced on the journey, and how Yahweh had rescued them.

Jethro was thrilled about all the good things Yahweh had done for Israel — how he had rescued them from the power of Egypt.

Jethro said, "Praise Yahweh, who rescued you from the power of Egypt and from Pharaoh's grip — who rescued the people from under Egypt's control.

Now I know that Yahweh is greater than all gods — because he turned the tables on the very people who treated Israel with such arrogance."

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

The next day, Moses sat down to serve as judge for the people. They stood around him from morning until evening.

When Moses' father-in-law saw everything he was doing for the people, he said, "What's all this you're doing for the people? Why are you sitting here alone with everyone standing around you from morning to night?"

Moses told his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to ask God about their issues."

"When they have a dispute, they come to me. I decide between the two sides and explain God's guidelines and instructions to them."

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

"You're going to completely wear yourself out — you and all these people with you. This is too heavy for you. You can't handle it alone."

"Listen to me — let me give you some advice, and may God be with you. You should be the people's representative before God, bringing their cases to him."

"Teach them the guidelines and instructions, and show them how to live and what to do."

"But also look for capable people from among everyone — people who respect God, who are trustworthy and who hate dishonest profit. Put them in charge as leaders over groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens."

"Let them serve as judges for the people on a regular basis. They should bring every major case to you, but they can decide the smaller cases themselves. That way they'll share the load, and things will be easier for you."

"If you do this — and God directs you to — you'll be able to keep going, and all these people will be able to go home satisfied."

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

Moses chose capable people from all of Israel and appointed them as leaders over the people — leaders over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.

They served as judges for the people on a regular basis. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but every small matter they decided themselves.

Then Moses said goodbye to his father-in-law, and Jethro went back to his own country.