出埃及记 18

¹摩西的岳父，米甸祭司叶忒罗，听见　神为摩西和　神的百姓以色列所行的一切事，就是耶和华将以色列从埃及领出来的事，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.

²便带着摩西的妻子西坡拉，就是摩西从前打发回去的，After Moses had sent back his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro had received her,

³又带着西坡拉的两个儿子，一个名叫革舜，因为摩西说：“我在外邦作了寄居的”；along with her two sons. One son was named Gershom, for Moses had said, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.”

⁴一个名叫以利以谢，因为他说：“我父亲的　神帮助了我，救我脱离法老的刀。”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.”

⁵摩西的岳父叶忒罗带着摩西的妻子和两个儿子来到　神的山，就是摩西在旷野安营的地方。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.

⁶他对摩西说：“我是你岳父叶忒罗，带着你的妻子和两个儿子来到你这里。”He sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”

⁷摩西迎接他的岳父，向他下拜，与他亲嘴，彼此问安，都进了帐棚。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.

⁸摩西将耶和华为以色列的缘故向法老和埃及人所行的一切事，以及路上所遭遇的一切艰难，并耶和华怎样搭救他们，都述说与他岳父听。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.

⁹叶忒罗因耶和华待以色列的一切好处，就是拯救他们脱离埃及人的手，便甚欢喜。And Jethro rejoiced over all the good things the LORD had done for Israel, whom He had rescued from the hand of the Egyptians.

¹⁰叶忒罗说：“耶和华是应当称颂的；他救了你们脱离埃及人和法老的手，将这百姓从埃及人的手下救出来。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.

¹¹我现今在埃及人向这百姓发狂傲的事上得知，耶和华比万神都大。”Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, for He did this when they treated Israel with arrogance.”

¹²摩西的岳父叶忒罗把燔祭和平安祭献给　神。亚伦和以色列的众长老都来了，与摩西的岳父在　神面前吃饭。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.

¹³第二天，摩西坐着审判百姓，百姓从早到晚都站在摩西的左右。The next day Moses took his seat to judge the people, and they stood around him from morning until evening.

¹⁴摩西的岳父看见他向百姓所做的一切事，就说：“你向百姓做的是什么事呢？你为什么独自坐着，众百姓从早到晚都站在你的左右呢？”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?”

¹⁵摩西对岳父说：“这是因百姓到我这里来求问　神。“Because the people come to me to inquire of God,” Moses replied.

¹⁶他们有事的时候就到我这里来，我便在两造之间施行审判；我又叫他们知道　神的律例和法度。”“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.”

¹⁷摩西的岳父说：“你这做的不好。But Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good.

¹⁸你和这些百姓必都疲惫；因为这事太重，你独自一人办理不了。Surely you and these people with you will wear yourselves out, because the task is too heavy for you. You cannot handle it alone.

¹⁹现在你要听我的话。我为你出个主意，愿　神与你同在。你要替百姓到　神面前，将案件奏告　神；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.

²⁰又要将律例和法度教训他们，指示他们当行的道，当做的事；Teach them the statutes and laws, and show them the way to live and the work they must do.

²¹并要从百姓中拣选有才能的人，就是敬畏　神、诚实无妄、恨不义之财的人，派他们作千夫长、百夫长、五十夫长、十夫长，管理百姓，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.

²²叫他们随时审判百姓，大事都要呈到你这里，小事他们自己可以审判。这样，你就轻省些，他们也可以同当此任。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.

²³你若这样行，　神也这样吩咐你，你就能受得住，这百姓也都平平安安归回他们的住处。”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.”

²⁴于是，摩西听从他岳父的话，按着他所说的去行。Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.

²⁵摩西从以色列人中拣选了有才能的人，立他们为百姓的首领，作千夫长、百夫长、五十夫长、十夫长。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.

²⁶他们随时审判百姓，有难断的案件就呈到摩西那里，但各样小事他们自己审判。And they judged the people at all times; they would bring the difficult cases to Moses, but any minor issue they would judge themselves.

²⁷此后，摩西让他的岳父去，他就往本地去了。Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own land.