Exodus 18

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

1 摩西的岳父米甸的祭司叶特罗，听说上帝为摩西和祂的子民以色列人所做的一切事及如何带他们出埃及后，

2 After Moses had sent back his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro had received her,

2 就带着女儿西坡拉和两个外孙去见摩西。西坡拉是摩西的妻子，摩西曾让她回娘家暂时居住。

3 along with her two sons. One son was named Gershom, for Moses had said, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.”

3 摩西的两个儿子一个叫革舜，因为摩西说：“我成了在异乡寄居的人”；

4 The other son was named Eliezer, for Moses had said, “The God of my father was my helper and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.”

4 一个叫以利以谢，因为摩西说：“我父亲的上帝帮助我，从法老的刀下拯救了我。”

5 Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, along with Moses’ wife and sons, came to him in the desert, where he was encamped at the mountain of God.

5 摩西的岳父叶特罗带着摩西的妻子和两个儿子来到上帝的山见摩西，就是摩西在旷野安营的地方。

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

6 叶特罗事先差人把他带着摩西的妻子和两个儿子要来的消息通知摩西。

7 So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other and went into the tent.

7 摩西出去迎接岳父，向他下拜，与他亲吻，彼此问安，然后大家都进了帐篷。

8 Then 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 they had encountered along the way, and how the LORD had delivered them.

8 摩西把耶和华为拯救以色列人而向法老和埃及人所行的事，以及怎样救百姓脱离路上遇见的种种困难，都告诉了叶特罗。

9 And Jethro rejoiced over all the good things the LORD had done for Israel, whom He had rescued from the hand of the Egyptians.

9 叶特罗为耶和华恩待以色列人、把他们救出埃及而高兴，

10 Jethro declared, “Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from the hand of the Egyptians.

10 便说：“耶和华当受称颂，因为祂从埃及人和法老手中拯救了你们，把这百姓从埃及人手中拯救了出来。

11 Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, for He did this when they treated Israel with arrogance.”

11 我现在知道，耶和华比一切神明都伟大，因为祂惩治了虐待这些百姓的狂妄之徒。”

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

12 摩西的岳父叶特罗说完，便向上帝献燔祭及其他祭物。亚伦和以色列的长老都来与他一起在上帝面前吃饭。

13 The next day Moses took his seat to judge the people, and they stood around him from morning until evening.

13 第二天，摩西坐着审理百姓的纠纷，百姓从早到晚都站在摩西周围。

14 When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone as judge, with all the people standing around you from morning till evening?”

14 摩西的岳父叶特罗看见摩西对百姓所行的一切，就对摩西说：“你为什么这样处理百姓的事？为什么你独自坐着，众百姓从早到晚都站在你周围？”

15 “Because the people come to me to inquire of God,” Moses replied.

15 摩西对岳父说：“因为他们来我这里求问上帝。

16 “Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me to judge between one man and another, and I make known to them the statutes and laws of God.”

16 他们有纠纷就来我这里，我为双方定夺是非，教他们认识上帝的律例和法度。”

17 But Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good.

17 摩西的岳父叶特罗劝摩西说：“这不是好方法，

18 Surely you and these people with you will wear yourselves out, because the task is too heavy for you. You cannot handle it alone.

18 你和这些百姓都会疲惫不堪，你一个人无法担当如此繁重的工作。

19 Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their causes to Him.

19 你要听我的劝告，愿上帝与你同在。你要做百姓的代表，把案件奏明上帝，

20 Teach them the statutes and laws, and show them the way to live and the work they must do.

20 又要教导他们律例和法度，指示他们当行的道、当做的事。

21 Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

21 此外，你要在民中挑选一些敬畏上帝、有才干、诚实、正直、憎恶不义之财的人，派他们做千夫长、百夫长、五十夫长和十夫长，管理百姓。

22 Have these men judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you any major issue, but all minor cases they can judge on their own, so that your load may be lightened as they share it with you.

22 让他们随时为百姓判案，处理小纠纷，遇到大事才由你审理。有他们分担你的责任，你会更轻省。

23 If you follow this advice and God so directs you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people can go home in peace.”

23 如果你这样做，并且上帝也这样吩咐你，你就能承受得住，百姓也可以平安地回家。”

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

24 于是，摩西接纳了岳父的建议，依言而行，

25 So Moses chose capable men from all Israel and made them heads over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

25 从百姓中挑选有才干的人，委派他们做百姓的领袖，担任千夫长、百夫长、五十夫长和十夫长。

26 And they judged the people at all times; they would bring the difficult cases to Moses, but any minor issue they would judge themselves.

26 他们负责随时审理百姓的事，遇到难断的案件就呈到摩西那里，自己则审理普通的事。

27 Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own land.

27 之后，摩西为岳父送行，叶特罗就返回了家乡。