Exodus 18
1 Jethro, who was the priest for the Midian people-group, and who was also Moses’/my father-in-law, heard about all that God had done for the Israeli people. He heard about how Yahweh had brought them out of Egypt.
Ary efa ren’ i Jetro, mpisorona tao Midiana, rafozan’ i Mosesy, izay rehetra nataon’ Andriamanitra ho an’ i Mosesy sy ny Isiraely olony, dia ny nitondran’ i Jehovah ny Isiraely nivoaka avy tany Egypta.
2 Moses/I had [previously] sent his/my wife Zipporah [back home when he/I was returning to Egypt]. But now Jethro came to him/me,
Dia nentin’ i Jetro, rafozan’ i Mosesy, Zipora, vadin’ i Mosesy, rehefa nampivereniny izy,
3 bringing Zipporah and their/our two sons. One son was named Gershom, [which sounds like the Hebrew word that means ‘foreigner’], because he/I had said, “I have been a foreigner living in another land.”
ary ny zanany mirahalahy: Gersoma no anaran’ ny anankiray, fa hoy izy: Efa vahiny atỳ amin’ ny tanin’ ny firenena hafa aho;
4 Her other son was named Eliezer, [which sounds like the Hebrew words that mean ‘God helps me’], because [he/I] had said “God, whom my father [worshiped], has helped me and saved [me] from being killed [MTY] by the king [of Egypt].”
ary Eliezera kosa no anaran’ ny anankiray, fa hoy izy: Andriamanitry ny razako no namonjy ahy ka nahafaka ahy tsy ho voan’ ny sabatr’ i Farao.
5 While Moses/I was camped [with the Israeli people] in the desert [near Sinai], God’s sacred/holy mountain, Jethro came to him/me, bringing along Moses’/my wife and our [two] sons.
Dia tonga Jetro, rafozan’ i Mosesy, nitondra ny vady aman-janak’ i Mosesy hankany aminy tany an-efitra, izay nitobiany teo anilan’ ny tendrombohitr’ Andriamanitra:
6 Jethro had sent a message to Moses/me, “I, your father-in-law, Jethro, am coming to see you, bringing along your wife and your two sons!”
dia nampilaza tamin’ i Mosesy izy ka nanao hoe: Izaho Jetro rafozanao avy hamangy anao, ary ny vadinao mbamin’ ny zanany roa lahy koa.
7 So Moses/I went out of the campsite to meet his/my father-in-law. He/I bowed before him, and kissed him [on the cheek]. (They both/We) asked each other, “Have you been healthy?” Then they/we went into [Moses’/my] tent.
Ary Mosesy nivoaka hitsena ny rafozany, dia niankohoka sady nanoroka azy; ary nifampiarahaba izy mianaka, dia niditra tao an-day.
8 Moses/I told Jethro everything that Yahweh had done to the king and all the [other] people in Egypt for the sake of the Israeli people. He/I also told him about the troubles/problems they/we had experienced on the way, and how Yahweh had helped them/us.
Ary nambaran’ i Mosesy tamin’ ny rafozany izay rehetra efa nataon’ i Jehovah tamin’ i Farao sy tamin’ ny Egyptiana noho ny amin’ ny Isiraely, mbamin’ ny fahoriana rehetra nanjo azy teny an-dalana, sy ny namonjen’ i Jehovah azy.
9 Jethro rejoiced when he heard all that Yahweh had done for the Israeli people.
Dia faly Jetro noho ny soa rehetra izay efa nataon’ i Jehovah tamin’ ny Isiraely, izay novonjeny ho afaka tamin’ ny tanan’ ny Egyptiana.
10 He said, “Praise Yahweh, who has rescued you from the powerful [MTY] Egyptian king and his army!
Ary hoy Jetro: Isaorana anie Jehovah, Izay namonjy anareo ho afaka tamin’ ny tanan’ ny Egyptiana sy tamin’ ny tànan’ i Farao, dia Izay namonjy ny olona tsy hotapahin’ ny Egyptiana.
11 Now I realize that Yahweh is greater than all other gods, because he rescued you all from the power [MTY] of the proud Egyptians when [they] were causing you [to suffer].”
Ankehitriny dia fantatro fa lehibe Jehovah mihoatra noho ny andriamanitra rehetra, dia tamin’ izay zavatra nentin’ ny Egyptiana nirehareha tamin’ ireny.
12 Then Jethro sacrificed an animal by burning it completely on the altar [as an offering], and he also offered other sacrifices to God. Aaron and the Israeli elders/leaders went with them/us to eat a sacred meal with Jethro.
Ary Jetro, rafozan’ i Mosesy, nitondra fanatitra dorana sy fanatitra hafa alatsa-drà ho an’ Andriamanitra; dia nankao Arona sy ny loholon’ ny Isiraely rehetra hiara-mihinan-kanina amin’ ny rafozan’ i Mosesy teo anatrehan’ Andriamanitra.
13 The next day, Moses/I sat down at the place where he/I settled disputes among the people. The people were continually bringing their disputes to Moses/me, from morning until evening.
Ary nony maraina dia nipetraka hitsara ny olona Mosesy; ka dia nijanona teo anatrehan’ i Mosesy ny olona hatramin’ ny maraina ka hatramin’ ny hariva.
14 When Jethro saw everything that Moses/I was doing for the people, he said, “(Why are you doing all this for the people?/You should not be doing all this for the people!) [RHQ] Why are you doing this by yourself, and all the people are crowding around you, from morning until evening, [asking you to make decisions for them] [RHQ]?”
Ary rehefa hitan’ ny rafozan’ i Mosesy izay rehetra nataony tamin’ ny olona, dia hoy izy: Inona izao zavatra ataonao amin’ ny olona izao? Nahoana no ianao irery ihany no mipetraka, fa ny olona rehetra kosa mitsangana eo anatrehanao hatramin’ ny maraina ka hatramin’ ny hariva?
15 Moses/I replied, “[I am doing this] because the people keep coming to me to find out what God desires.
Ary hoy Mosesy tamin’ ny rafozany: Satria mankaty amiko ny olona hanontany amin’ Andriamanitra.
16 When they have a dispute about something, they come to me, and they ask me to decide which of them is right. I also tell them all of God’s laws and instructions.”
Raha misy manana ady izy, dia mankaty amiko, ka mitsara azy roa tonta aho, dia mampahalala azy ny didin’ Andriamanitra sy ny lalàny.
17 Jethro said to him/me, “What you are doing is not good [for you or for the people].
Ary hoy ny rafozan’ i Mosesy taminy; Tsy tsara izao zavatra ataonao izao.
18 You and these people will (wear yourselves out/become exhausted)! This work is too much for one person. You are not able to do it by yourself.
Samy ho reraka mihitsy, na ianao na izao olona miaraka aminao izao; fa mavesatra aminao loatra izao zavatra izao, ka tsy ho zakanao irery ny hanao izao.
19 Now listen to some good advice [MTY] I will give to you. [If you do what I suggest], God will help you. You should continue to speak to God and tell him about the people’s disputes.
Ary ankehitriny, dia maneke ny teniko, fa hanoro hevitra anao aho, ka Andriamanitra anie homba anao: Aoka ianao ho alalan’ ny olona amin’ Andriamanitra mba hitondranao ny teniny amin’ Andriamanitra;
20 You should [also] teach the people what God has commanded and instructed you. You should also explain to them how they should conduct their lives, and the things that they should do.
ary hampianatra azy ny didy sy ny lalàna izay mety halehany sy ny asa izay mety hataony.
21 But in addition, you should choose some [other men to help you]. Choose men who have reverence for God and who will not accept bribes. Appoint some of them to make decisions [for groups of] ten people, [some for groups of] 50 [people], [some for groups of] 100 [people], [and some for groups of] 1,000 [people].
Ary mizaha eo amin’ ny olona rehetra izay lehilahy mahay sy matahotra an’ Andriamanitra, dia lehilahy marina izay tsy tia kolikoly; ka manendre mpifehy arivo sy mpifehy zato sy mpifehy dimam-polo ary mpifehy folo hifehy azy.
22 Allow them to serve permanently to settle disputes for the people. The difficult matters the people can bring to you; but the matters that are not difficult, they can decide themselves. That will make the work easier for you, as they help you do that work.
Ary aoka ireo no hitsara ny olona mandrakariva, ka ny ady lehibe rehetra no aoka ho entiny aminao, fa ny ady madinidinika rehetra kosa dia aoka hotsarainy ihany; dia ho maivamaivana kokoa aminao izany, ka dia hiara-mitondra aminao ireo.
23 If you do that, and [I think that] God is telling you to do it (OR, if God tells you to do it), you will not become exhausted, and all the people will be able to go home feeling satisfied about the decisions, [with their disputes settled quickly”].
Raha hanao araka izany zavatra izany ianao, ka hilaza izay didy aminao Andriamanitra, dia haharitra ianao, ary izao olona rehetra izao koa dia ho tonga soa aman-tsara any amin’ ny taniny.
24 Moses/I accepted what his/my father-in-law [Jethro] suggested.
Dia neken’ i Mosesy ny tenin’ ny rafozany, ka nataony avokoa izay rehetra efa nolazainy.
25 Moses/I chose capable men from among the Israeli people.
Dia nofidin’ i Mosesy izay lehilahy mahay tamin’ ny Isiraely rehetra ka nataony lohan’ ny olona hanapaka azy, dia ho mpifehy arivo sy ho mpifehy zato sy ho mpifehy dimam-polo ary ho mpifehy folo.
26 They were appointed permanently to make decisions about the people’s disputes. They brought the difficult cases to Moses/me, but they decided the matters that were not difficult by themselves.
Dia nitsara ny olona mandrakariva ireo; koa ny ady sarotra ihany no nentiny tao amin’ i Mosesy, fa ny ady madinika rehetra kosa dia notsarainy ihany.
27 Then Moses/I said goodbye to his/my father-in-law, and Jethro returned home.
Ary Mosesy namoaka ny rafozany; ka dia lasa nody any amin’ ny taniny izy.
