Exodus 18
1 Now news came to Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, of all God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, and how the Lord had taken Israel out of Egypt.
さて、モーセのしゅうと、ミデアンの祭司エテロは、神がモーセと、み民イスラエルとにされたすべての事、主がイスラエルをエジプトから導き出されたことを聞いた。
2 And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her away,
それでモーセのしゅうと、エテロは、さきに送り返されていたモーセの妻チッポラと、
3 And her two sons, one of whom was named Gershom, for he said, I have been living in a strange land:
そのふたりの子とを連れてきた。そのひとりの名はゲルショムといった。モーセが、「わたしは外国で寄留者となっている」と言ったからである。
4 And the name of the other was Eliezer, for he said, The God of my father was my help, and kept me safe from the sword of Pharaoh:
ほかのひとりの名はエリエゼルといった。「わたしの父の神はわたしの助けであって、パロのつるぎからわたしを救われた」と言ったからである。
5 And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to where Moses had put up his tent in the waste land, by the mountain of God.
こうしてモーセのしゅうと、エテロは、モーセの妻子を伴って、荒野に行き、神の山に宿営しているモーセの所にきた。
6 And he said to Moses, I, your father-in-law, have come to you, with your wife and your two sons.
その時、ある人がモーセに言った、「ごらんなさい。あなたのしゅうと、エテロは、あなたの妻とそのふたりの子を連れて、あなたの所にこられます」。
7 And Moses went out to his father-in-law, and went down on his face before him and gave him a kiss; and they said to one another, Are you well? and they came into the tent.
そこでモーセはしゅうとを出迎えて、身をかがめ、彼に口づけして、互に安否を問い、共に天幕にはいった。
8 And Moses gave his father-in-law an account of all the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians because of Israel, and of all the troubles which had come on them by the way, and how the Lord had given them salvation.
そしてモーセは、主がイスラエルのために、パロとエジプトびととにされたすべての事、道で出会ったすべての苦しみ、また主が彼らを救われたことを、しゅうとに物語ったので、
9 And Jethro was glad because the Lord had been good to Israel, freeing them from the power of the Egyptians.
エテロは主がイスラエルをエジプトびとの手から救い出して、もろもろの恵みを賜わったことを喜んだ。
10 And Jethro said, Praise be to the Lord, who has taken you out of the hand of Pharaoh and out of the hand of the Egyptians; freeing the people from the yoke of the Egyptians.
そしてエテロは言った、「主はほむべきかな。主はあなたがたをエジプトびとの手と、パロの手から救い出し、民をエジプトびとの手の下から救い出された。
11 Now I am certain that the Lord is greater than all gods, for he has overcome them in their pride.
今こそわたしは知った。実に彼らはイスラエルびとにむかって高慢にふるまったが、主はあらゆる神々にまさって大いにいますことを」。
12 Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, made a burned offering to God: and Aaron came, with the chiefs of Israel, and had a meal with Moses' father-in-law, before God.
そしてモーセのしゅうとエテロは燔祭と犠牲を神に供え、アロンとイスラエルの長老たちもみなきて、モーセのしゅうとと共に神の前で食事をした。
13 Now on the day after, Moses took his seat to give decisions for the people: and the people were waiting before Moses from morning till evening.
あくる日モーセは座して民をさばいたが、民は朝から晩まで、モーセのまわりに立っていた。
14 And when Moses' father-in-law saw all he was doing, he said, What is this you are doing for the people? why are you seated here by yourself, with all the people waiting before you from morning till evening?
モーセのしゅうとは、彼がすべて民にしていることを見て、言った、「あなたが民にしているこのことはなんですか。あなたひとりが座し、民はみな朝から晩まで、あなたのまわりに立っているのはなぜですか」。
15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, Because the people come to me to get directions from God:
モーセはしゅうとに言った、「民が神に伺おうとして、わたしの所に来るからです。
16 And if they have any question between themselves, they come to me, and I am judge between a man and his neighbour, and I give them the orders and laws of God.
彼らは事があれば、わたしの所にきます。わたしは相互の間をさばいて、神の定めと判決を知らせるのです」。
17 And Moses' father-in-law said to him, What you are doing is not good.
モーセのしゅうとは彼に言った、「あなたのしていることは良くない。
18 Your strength and that of the people will be completely used up: this work is more than you are able to do by yourself.
あなたも、あなたと一緒にいるこの民も、必ず疲れ果てるであろう。このことはあなたに重過ぎるから、ひとりですることができない。
19 Give ear now to my suggestion, and may God be with you: you are to be the people's representative before God, taking their causes to him:
今わたしの言うことを聞きなさい。わたしはあなたに助言する。どうか神があなたと共にいますように。あなたは民のために神の前にいて、事件を神に述べなさい。
20 Teaching them his rules and his laws, guiding them in the way they have to go, and making clear to them the work they have to do.
あなたは彼らに定めと判決を教え、彼らの歩むべき道と、なすべき事を彼らに知らせなさい。
21 But for the rest, take from among the people able men, such as have the fear of God, true men hating profits wrongly made; and put such men over them, to be captains of thousands, captains of hundreds and of fifties and of tens;
また、すべての民のうちから、有能な人で、神を恐れ、誠実で不義の利を憎む人を選び、それを民の上に立てて、千人の長、百人の長、五十人の長、十人の長としなさい。
22 And let them be judges in the causes of the people at all times: and let them put before you all important questions, but in small things let them give decisions themselves: in this way, it will be less hard for you, and they will take the weight off you.
平素は彼らに民をさばかせ、大事件はすべてあなたの所に持ってこさせ、小事件はすべて彼らにさばかせなさい。こうしてあなたを身軽にし、あなたと共に彼らに、荷を負わせなさい。
23 If you do this, and God gives approval, then you will be able to go on without weariness, and all this people will go to their tents in peace.
あなたが、もしこの事を行い、神もまたあなたに命じられるならば、あなたは耐えることができ、この民もまた、みな安んじてその所に帰ることができよう」。
24 So Moses took note of the words of his father-in-law, and did as he had said.
モーセはしゅうとの言葉に従い、すべて言われたようにした。
25 And he made selection of able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, captains of thousands, captains of hundreds and of fifties and of tens.
すなわち、モーセはすべてのイスラエルのうちから有能な人を選んで、民の上に長として立て、千人の長、百人の長、五十人の長、十人の長とした。
26 And they were judges in the causes of the people at all times: the hard questions they put before Moses; but on every small point they gave decisions themselves.
平素は彼らが民をさばき、むずかしい事件はモーセに持ってきたが、小さい事件はすべて彼らみずからさばいた。
27 And Moses let his father-in-law go away, and he went back to his land.
こうしてモーセはしゅうとを送り返したので、その国に帰って行った。
