1Now 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 Yahweh had brought Israel out of Egypt.
1叶忒罗见摩西
2Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, received Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her away,
2他就带着摩西的妻子西坡拉,摩西从前送了她回去,
3and her two sons. The name of one son was Gershom, “Gershom” sounds like the Hebrew for “an alien there.” for Moses said, “I have lived as a foreigner in a foreign land”.
3又带着西坡拉的两个儿子,一个名叫革舜,因为摩西说:“我在异地作了客旅”;
4The name of the other was Eliezer, Eliezer means “God is my helper.” for he said, “My father’s God was my help and delivered me from Pharaoh’s sword.”
4一个名叫以利以谢,因为他说:“我父亲的 神是我的帮助,救我脱离了法老的刀。”
5Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses into the wilderness where he was encamped, at the Mountain of God.
5摩西的岳父叶忒罗,和摩西的妻子与两个儿子,来到旷野摩西那里,就是到 神的山,摩西安营的地方。
6He said to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, have come to you with your wife, and her two sons with her.”
6叶忒罗叫人告诉摩西说:“你的岳父叶忒罗来见你,你的妻子和两个儿子也一同来了。”
7Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and bowed and kissed him. They asked each other of their welfare, and they came into the tent.
7摩西出来迎接他的岳父,向他下拜,与他亲嘴,彼此问候,然后一起进了帐棚。
8Moses told his father-in-law all that Yahweh had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardships that had come on them on the way, and how Yahweh delivered them.
8摩西把耶和华为以色列的缘故,向法老和埃及人所作的一切,以及路上遭遇的一切困难,并且耶和华怎样拯救他们,都向他的岳父述说。
9Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which Yahweh had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.
9叶忒罗因为耶和华为以色列人所行的美事,就是拯救他们脱离埃及人的手,就非常喜乐。
10Jethro said, “Blessed be Yahweh, 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.
10叶忒罗说:“耶和华是应当称颂的,他拯救了你们脱离埃及人的手和法老的手;他也把这人民从埃及人的手下拯救出来。
11Now I know that Yahweh is greater than all gods because of the thing in which they dealt arrogantly against them.”
11现在我知道耶和华为至大,超乎万神之上,因为这在埃及人以狂傲的态度对以色列人的事上已经证明了。”
12Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God. Aaron came with all of the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.
12摩西的岳父叶忒罗把燔祭和几样祭品拿来献给 神;亚伦和所有以色列的长老都来到 神面前,与摩西的岳父一同吃饭。
13It happened on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from the morning to the evening.
13叶忒罗向摩西献计(参申1:9-17)次日,摩西坐着审判人民的案件;人民从早到晚都站在摩西的身旁。
14When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did to the people, he said, “What is this thing that you do for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning to evening?”
14摩西的岳父看见了摩西向人民所行的一切,就说:“你向人民作的是什么呢?你为什么独自坐着审判,所有的人民却从早到晚都站在你的身旁呢?”
15Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God.
15摩西回答他岳父:“因为人民到我这里来求问 神。
16When 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.”
16他们有事件的时候,就到我这里来,我就在双方之间施行审判,使他们认识 神的条例和律法。”
17Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good.
17摩西的岳父对摩西说:“你这样作不好。
18You will surely wear away, both you, and this people that is with you; for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to perform it yourself alone.
18你必疲乏不堪;不但你自己,连与你在一起的人民也必疲乏不堪,因为这事太重,你不能独自一人去作。
19Listen now to my voice. I will give you counsel, and God be with you. You represent the people before God, and bring the causes to God.
19现在你要听我的话,我要给你出个主意,愿 神与你同在;你要代替人民到 神面前,把他们的事件带到 神那里。
20You 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.
20又要把规例和律法教导他们,使他们知道他们当走的路,应作的事。
21Moreover you 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.
21你要从人民中间选出有才能的人,就是敬畏 神、忠实可信、恨恶不义之财的人,设立他们作千夫长、百夫长、五十夫长、十夫长,去管理人民,
22Let them judge the people at all times. It shall be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they shall judge themselves. So shall it be easier for you, and they shall share the load with you.
22使他们随时可以审判人民的案件;所有大事件,他们要带到你这里来;所有小事件,他们可以自己审判。这样,你就轻省些,他们也可以和你一同分担此事。
23If you will do this thing, and God commands you so, then you will be able to endure, and all of these people also will go to their place in peace.”
23你若是这样行, 神也这样吩咐你,你就能站立得住,所有的人民也都能平平安安地归回自己的地方。”
24So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said.
24摩西言听计从(参申1:15、17)于是,摩西听从他岳父的话,照着他所说的行了。
25Moses 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.
25摩西从全体以色列人中选出了有才能的人,立他们作人民的首领,作千夫长、百夫长、五十夫长、十夫长。
26They judged the people at all times. They brought the hard causes to Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.
26他们随时审判人民的案件;有困难的事件,他们就带到摩西那里;所有小事件,由他们自己审判。
27Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went his way into his own land.
27后来,摩西给他的岳父送行,他就回自己的地方去了。