出埃及記 18

1 摩西的岳父，米甸祭司葉忒羅，聽見上帝為摩西和上帝的百姓以色列所行的一切事，就是耶和華將以色列從埃及領出來的事，

Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, how that Jehovah had brought Israel out of Egypt.

2 便帶着摩西的妻子西坡拉，就是摩西從前打發回去的，

And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her away,

3 又帶着西坡拉的兩個兒子，一個名叫革舜，因為摩西說：「我在外邦作了寄居的」；

and her two sons, of whom the name of the one was Gershom, for he said, I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.

4 一個名叫以利以謝，因為他說：「我父親的上帝幫助了我，救我脫離法老的刀。」

And the name of the other was Eliezer, for he said, The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.

5 摩西的岳父葉忒羅帶着摩西的妻子和兩個兒子來到上帝的山，就是摩西在曠野安營的地方。

And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses into the wilderness where he was encamped, at the mount of God.

6 他對摩西說：「我是你岳父葉忒羅，帶着你的妻子和兩個兒子來到你這裏。」

And he said to Moses, I, thy father-in-law Jethro, have come to thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.

7 摩西迎接他的岳父，向他下拜，與他親嘴，彼此問安，都進了帳棚。

And Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and did obeisance, and kissed him. And they asked each other of their welfare, and they came into the tent.

8 摩西將耶和華為以色列的緣故向法老和埃及人所行的一切事，以及路上所遭遇的一切艱難，並耶和華怎樣搭救他們，都述說與他岳父聽。

And Moses told his father-in-law all that Jehovah had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how Jehovah delivered them.

9 葉忒羅因耶和華待以色列的一切好處，就是拯救他們脫離埃及人的手，便甚歡喜。

And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which Jehovah had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.

10 葉忒羅說：「耶和華是應當稱頌的；他救了你們脫離埃及人和法老的手，將這百姓從埃及人的手下救出來。

And Jethro said, Blessed be Jehovah, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

11 我現今在埃及人向這百姓發狂傲的事上得知，耶和華比萬神都大。」

Now I know that Jehovah is greater than all gods, yea, in the thing wherein they dealt proudly against them.

12 摩西的岳父葉忒羅把燔祭和平安祭獻給上帝。亞倫和以色列的眾長老都來了，與摩西的岳父在上帝面前吃飯。

And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God. And Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law before God.

13 第二天，摩西坐着審判百姓，百姓從早到晚都站在摩西的左右。

And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood about Moses from the morning to the evening.

14 摩西的岳父看見他向百姓所做的一切事，就說：「你向百姓做的是甚麼事呢？你為甚麼獨自坐着，眾百姓從早到晚都站在你的左右呢？」

And when Moses' father-in-law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou do to the people? Why do thou sit by thyself, and all the people stand about thee from morning to evening?

15 摩西對岳父說：「這是因百姓到我這裏來求問上帝。

And Moses said to his father-in-law, Because the people come to me to inquire of God.

16 他們有事的時候就到我這裏來，我便在兩造之間施行審判；我又叫他們知道上帝的律例和法度。」

When they have a matter, they come to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor. And I make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.

17 摩西的岳父說：「你這做的不好。

And Moses' father-in-law said to him, The thing that thou do is not good.

18 你和這些百姓必都疲憊；因為這事太重，你獨自一人辦理不了。

Thou will surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee, for the thing is too heavy for thee. Thou are not able to perform it thyself alone.

19 現在你要聽我的話。我為你出個主意，願上帝與你同在。你要替百姓到上帝面前，將案件奏告上帝；

Hearken now to my voice. I will give thee counsel, and God be with thee. Be thou for the people toward God, and bring thou the cases to God.

20 又要將律例和法度教訓他們，指示他們當行的道，當做的事；

And thou shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and shall show them the way in which they must walk, and the work that they must do.

21 並要從百姓中揀選有才能的人，就是敬畏上帝、誠實無妄、恨不義之財的人，派他們作千夫長、百夫長、五十夫長、十夫長，管理百姓，

Moreover thou shall provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating unjust gain, and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens,

22 叫他們隨時審判百姓，大事都要呈到你這裏，小事他們自己可以審判。這樣，你就輕省些，他們也可以同當此任。

and let them judge the people at all seasons. And it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring to thee, but every small matter they shall judge themselves. So shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.

23 你若這樣行，上帝也這樣吩咐你，你就能受得住，這百姓也都平平安安歸回他們的住處。」

If thou shall do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shall be able to endure, and all this people also shall go to their place in peace.

24 於是，摩西聽從他岳父的話，按着他所說的去行。

So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said.

25 摩西從以色列人中揀選了有才能的人，立他們為百姓的首領，作千夫長、百夫長、五十夫長、十夫長。

And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens,

26 他們隨時審判百姓，有難斷的案件就呈到摩西那裏，但各樣小事他們自己審判。

and they judged the people at all seasons. The hard cases they brought to Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

27 此後，摩西讓他的岳父去，他就往本地去了。

And Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went his way into his own land.