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1. Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, was the priest of Midian. He heard about everything that God had done for Moses and his people, the Israelites, and how the Lord had led the Israelites out of Egypt.
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1. When Jethro H3503 , the priest H3548 of Midian H4080 , Moses H4872 ' father H2859 -in-law, heard H8085 H853 of all H3605 that H834 God H430 had done H6213 for Moses H4872 , and for Israel H3478 his people H5971 , and that H3588 the LORD H3068 had brought Israel out H3318 H853 H3478 of Egypt H4480 H4714 ;
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2. Now Moses had sent his wife Zipporah to Jethro, his father-in-law,
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2. Then Jethro H3503 , Moses H4872 ' father H2859 -in-law, took H3947 H853 Zipporah H6855 , Moses H4872 ' wife H802 , after H310 he had sent her back H7964 ,
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3. along with his two sons. The first son was named Gershom, because when he was born, Moses said, "I am a stranger in a foreign country."
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3. And her two H8147 sons H1121 ; of which H834 the name H8034 of the one H259 was Gershom H1648 ; for H3588 he said H559 , I have been H1961 an alien H1616 in a strange H5237 land H776 :
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4. The other son was named Eliezer, because when he was born, Moses said, "The God of my father is my help. He saved me from the king of Egypt."
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4. And the name H8034 of the other H259 was Eliezer H461 ; for H3588 the God H430 of my father H1 , said he, was mine help H5828 , and delivered H5337 me from the sword H4480 H2719 of Pharaoh H6547 :
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5. So Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took Moses' wife and his two sons and went to Moses. He was camped in the desert near the mountain of God.
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5. And Jethro H3503 , Moses H4872 ' father H2859 -in-law, came H935 with his sons H1121 and his wife H802 unto H413 Moses H4872 into H413 the wilderness H4057 , where H834 H8033 he H1931 encamped H2583 at the mount H2022 of God H430 :
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6. Jethro had sent a message ahead to Moses that said, "I, Jethro, your father-in-law, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons."
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6. And he said H559 unto H413 Moses H4872 , I H589 thy father H2859 -in-law Jethro H3503 am come H935 unto H413 thee , and thy wife H802 , and her two H8147 sons H1121 with H5973 her.
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7. So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. After the two men asked about each other's health, they went into Moses' tent.
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7. And Moses H4872 went out H3318 to meet H7125 his father H2859 -in-law , and did obeisance H7812 , and kissed H5401 him ; and they asked H7592 each H376 other H7453 of their welfare H7965 ; and they came H935 into the tent H168 .
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8. Moses told his father-in-law everything the Lord had done to the king and the Egyptians to help Israel. He told about all the problems they had faced along the way and how the Lord had saved them.
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8. And Moses H4872 told H5608 his father H2859 -in-law H853 all H3605 that H834 the LORD H3068 had done H6213 unto Pharaoh H6547 and to the Egyptians H4714 for H5921 Israel H3478 's sake H182 , and H853 all H3605 the travail H8513 that H834 had come upon H4672 them by the way H1870 , and how the LORD H3068 delivered H5337 them.
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9. Jethro was very happy to hear all the good things the Lord had done for Israel when he had saved them from the Egyptians.
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9. And Jethro H3503 rejoiced H2302 for H5921 all H3605 the goodness H2896 which H834 the LORD H3068 had done H6213 to Israel H3478 , whom H834 he had delivered H5337 out of the hand H4480 H3027 of the Egyptians H4714 .
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10. He said, "Praise the Lord. He has saved you from the Egyptians and their king, and he has saved the people from the power of the Egyptians.
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10. And Jethro H3503 said H559 , Blessed H1288 be the LORD H3068 , who H834 hath delivered H5337 you out of the hand H4480 H3027 of the Egyptians H4714 , and out of the hand H4480 H3027 of Pharaoh H6547 , who H834 hath delivered H5337 H853 the people H5971 from under H4480 H8478 the hand H3027 of the Egyptians H4714 .
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11. Now I know the Lord is greater than all gods, because he did this to those who looked down on Israel."
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11. Now H6258 I know H3045 that H3588 the LORD H3068 is greater H1419 than all H4480 H3605 gods H430 : for H3588 in the thing H1697 wherein H834 they dealt proudly H2102 he was above H5921 them.
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12. Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, gave a whole burnt offering and other sacrifices to God. Aaron and all the older leaders of Israel came to Moses' father-in-law to eat the holy meal together before God.
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12. And Jethro H3503 , Moses H4872 ' father H2859 -in-law, took H3947 a burnt offering H5930 and sacrifices H2077 for God H430 : and Aaron H175 came H935 , and all H3605 the elders H2205 of Israel H3478 , to eat H398 bread H3899 with H5973 Moses H4872 ' father H2859 -in-law before H6440 God H430 .
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13. The next day Moses solved disagreements among the people, and the people stood around him from morning until night.
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13. And it came to pass H1961 on the morrow H4480 H4283 , that Moses H4872 sat H3427 to judge H8199 H853 the people H5971 : and the people H5971 stood H5975 by H5921 Moses H4872 from H4480 the morning H1242 unto H5704 the evening H6153 .
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14. When Moses' father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, "What is all this you are doing for the people? Why are you the only one to solve disagreements? All the people are standing around you from morning until night!"
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14. And when Moses H4872 ' father H2859 -in-law saw H7200 H853 all H3605 that H834 he H1931 did H6213 to the people H5971 , he said H559 , What H4100 is this H2088 thing H1697 that H834 thou H859 doest H6213 to the people H5971 ? why H4069 sittest H3427 thou H859 thyself alone H905 , and all H3605 the people H5971 stand H5324 by H5921 thee from H4480 morning H1242 unto H5704 even H6153 ?
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15. Then Moses said to his father-in-law, "It is because the people come to me for God's help in solving their disagreements.
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15. And Moses H4872 said H559 unto his father H2859 -in-law, Because H3588 the people H5971 come H935 unto H413 me to inquire H1875 of God H430 :
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16. When people have a disagreement, they come to me, and I decide who is right. I tell them God's laws and teachings."
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16. When H3588 they have H1961 a matter H1697 , they come H935 unto H413 me ; and I judge H8199 between H996 one H376 and another H7453 , and I do make them known H3045 H853 the statutes H2706 of God H430 , and his laws H8451 .
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17. Moses' father-in-law said to him, "You are not doing this right.
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17. And Moses H4872 ' father H2859 -in-law said H559 unto H413 him , The thing H1697 that H834 thou H859 doest H6213 is not H3808 good H2896 .
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18. You and the people who come to you will get too tired. This is too much work for you; you can't do it by yourself.
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18. Thou wilt surely wear away H5034 H5034 , both H1571 thou H859 , and H1571 this H2088 people H5971 that H834 is with H5973 thee: for H3588 this thing H1697 is too heavy H3515 for H4480 thee ; thou art not H3808 able H3201 to perform H6213 it thyself alone H905 .
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19. Now listen to me, and I will give you some advice. I want God to be with you. You must speak to God for the people and tell him about their disagreements.
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19. Hearken H8085 now H6258 unto my voice H6963 , I will give thee counsel H3289 , and God H430 shall be H1961 with H5973 thee: Be H1961 thou H859 for the people H5971 to Godward H4136 H430 , that thou H859 mayest bring H935 H853 the causes H1697 unto H413 God H430 :
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20. Warn them about the laws and teachings, and teach them the right way to live and what they should do.
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20. And thou shalt teach H2094 them H853 ordinances H2706 and laws H8451 , and shalt show H3045 them H853 the way H1870 wherein they must walk H1980 , and the work H4640 that H834 they must do H6213 .
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21. But choose some capable men from among the people -- men who respect God, who can be trusted, and who will not change their decisions for money. Make these men officers over the people, to rule over groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.
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21. Moreover thou H859 shalt provide H2372 out of all H4480 H3605 the people H5971 able H2428 men H376 , such as fear H3373 God H430 , men H376 of truth H571 , hating H8130 covetousness H1215 ; and place H7760 such over H5921 them, to be rulers H8269 of thousands H505 , and rulers H8269 of hundreds H3967 , rulers H8269 of fifties H2572 , and rulers H8269 of tens H6235 :
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22. Let these officers solve the disagreements among the people all the time. They can bring the hard cases to you, but they can decide the simple cases themselves. That will make it easier for you, because they will share the work with you.
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22. And let them judge H8199 H853 the people H5971 at all H3605 seasons H6256 : and it shall be H1961 , that every H3605 great H1419 matter H1697 they shall bring H935 unto H413 thee , but every H3605 small H6996 matter H1697 they H1992 shall judge H8199 : so shall it be easier H7043 for H4480 H5921 thyself , and they shall bear H5375 the burden with H854 thee.
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23. If you do this as God commands you, then you will be able to do your job, and all the people will go home with their disagreements solved."
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23. If H518 thou shalt do H6213 H853 this H2088 thing H1697 , and God H430 command H6680 thee so , then thou shalt be able H3201 to endure H5975 , and all H3605 this H2088 people H5971 shall also H1571 go H935 to H5921 their place H4725 in peace H7965 .
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24. So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.
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24. So Moses H4872 hearkened H8085 to the voice H6963 of his father H2859 -in-law , and did H6213 all H3605 that H834 he had said H559 .
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25. He chose capable men from all the Israelites and made them leaders over the people; they were officers over groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.
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25. And Moses H4872 chose H977 able H2428 men H376 out of all H4480 H3605 Israel H3478 , and made H5414 them heads H7218 over H5921 the people H5971 , rulers H8269 of thousands H505 , rulers H8269 of hundreds H3967 , rulers H8269 of fifties H2572 , and rulers H8269 of tens H6235 .
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26. These officers solved disagreements among the people all the time. They brought the hard cases to Moses, but they decided the simple cases themselves.
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26. And they judged H8199 H853 the people H5971 at all H3605 seasons H6256 : the hard H7186 H853 causes H1697 they brought H935 unto H413 Moses H4872 , but every H3605 small H6996 matter H1697 they judged H8199 themselves H1992 .
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27. So Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro went back to his own home.
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27. And Moses H4872 let H853 his father H2859 -in-law depart H7971 ; and he went his way H1980 into H413 his own land H776 .
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