Éxodo 18

1 Y oyó Jetro sacerdote de Madián, suegro de Moisés, todas las cosas que Dios había hecho con Moisés, y con Israel su pueblo, como Jehová había sacado a Israel de Egipto:

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.

2 Y tomó Jetro, suegro de Moisés, a Séfora la mujer de Moisés, después que él la envió:

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

3 Y a sus dos hijos, el uno se llamaba Gersom; porque dijo: Peregrino he sido en tierra ajena;

And her two sons, one of whom was named Gershom, for he said, I have been living in a strange land:

4 Y el otro se llamaba Eliezer, porque dijo: El Dios de mi padre me ayudó; y me escapó de la espada de Faraón.

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:

5 Y llegó Jetro, el suegro de Moisés, y sus hijos, y su mujer, a Moisés en el desierto, donde tenía el campo, al monte de Dios.

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.

6 Y dijo a Moisés: Yo tu suegro Jetro vengo a ti, y tu mujer, y sus dos hijos con ella.

And he said to Moses, I, your father-in-law, have come to you, with your wife and your two sons.

7 Y Moisés salió a recibir a su suegro, e inclinóse, y besóle: y preguntáronse el uno al otro como estaban; y vinieron a la tienda.

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.

8 Y Moisés contó a su suegro todas las cosas que Jehová había hecho a Faraón y a los Egipcios por causa de Israel; y todo el trabajo que habían pasado en el camino, y como los había librado Jehová.

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.

9 Y alegróse Jetro de todo el bien, que Jehová había hecho a Israel, que le había escapado de mano de los Egipcios.

And Jethro was glad because the Lord had been good to Israel, freeing them from the power of the Egyptians.

10 Y Jetro dijo: Bendito sea Jehová, que os escapó de mano de los Egipcios, y de la mano de Faraón, que escapó al pueblo de la mano de los Egipcios.

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.

11 Ahora conozco que Jehová es grande más que todos los dioses; porque en lo que se ensoberbecieron contra ellos, los castigó.

Now I am certain that the Lord is greater than all gods, for he has overcome them in their pride.

12 Y tomó Jetro, el suegro de Moisés, holocausto y sacrificios para Dios: y vino Aarón, y todos los ancianos de Israel a comer pan con el suegro de Moisés delante de Dios.

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.

13 Y aconteció, que otro día Moisés se asentó a juzgar al pueblo; y el pueblo estuvo sobre Moisés desde la mañana hasta la tarde.

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.

14 Y viendo el suegro de Moisés todo lo que él hacía con el pueblo, dijo: ¿Qué es esto que haces tú con el pueblo? ¿Por qué te sientas tú solo, y todo el pueblo está sobre ti desde la mañana hasta la tarde?

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?

15 Y Moisés respondió a su suegro: Porque el pueblo viene a mí para consultar a Dios:

And Moses said to his father-in-law, Because the people come to me to get directions from God:

16 Cuando tienen negocios, y vienen a mí, y yo juzgo entre el uno y el otro, y declaro las ordenanzas de Dios, y sus leyes.

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.

17 Entonces el suegro de Moisés le dijo: No haces bien:

And Moses' father-in-law said to him, What you are doing is not good.

18 Desfallecerás del todo tú y también este pueblo que está contigo; porque el negocio es más pesado que tú; no podrás hacerlo tú solo.

Your strength and that of the people will be completely used up: this work is more than you are able to do by yourself.

19 Oye ahora mi voz, yo te aconsejaré, y Dios será contigo. Está tú por el pueblo delante de Dios, y trata tú los negocios con Dios:

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:

20 Y enséñales las ordenanzas y las leyes, y muéstrales el camino por donde anden, y lo que han de hacer.

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.

21 Y tú proveerás de todo el pueblo varones de virtud, temerosos de Dios, varones de verdad, que aborrezcan la avaricia; y pondrás sobre ellos príncipes sobre mil, sobre ciento, sobre cincuenta, y sobre diez:

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;

22 Los cuales juzgarán al pueblo en todo tiempo: y será, que todo negocio grave te traerán a ti, y todo negocio pequeño juzgarán ellos; y alivia la carga de sobre ti, y llevarla han contigo.

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.

23 Si esto hicieres, y lo que Dios te mandare, tú podrás estar, y todo este pueblo también se irá en paz a su lugar.

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.

24 Entonces Moisés oyó la voz de su suegro, e hizo todo lo que él dijo.

So Moses took note of the words of his father-in-law, and did as he had said.

25 Y escogió Moisés varones de virtud de todo Israel, y púsolos por cabezas sobre el pueblo, príncipes sobre mil, sobre ciento, sobre cincuenta, y sobre diez;

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.

26 Los cuales juzgaban al pueblo en todo tiempo: el negocio arduo traíanlo a Moisés, y todo negocio pequeño juzgaban ellos.

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.

27 Y despidió Moisés a su suegro, y fuése a su tierra.

And Moses let his father-in-law go away, and he went back to his land.