Ex 18 (King James)

¹ When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt;
² Then Jethro, Moses' father in law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her back,
³ And her two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land:
⁴ And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh:
⁵ And Jethro, Moses' father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God:
⁶ And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.
⁷ 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 And Moses told his father in law all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the LORD delivered them.
⁹ And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.
¹⁰ And Jethro said, Blessed be the LORD, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.
¹¹ Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.
¹² 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 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.
¹⁴ And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?
¹⁵ And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God:
¹⁶ When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.
¹⁷ And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.
¹⁸ Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.
¹⁹ Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:
²⁰ And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.
²¹ Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:
²² And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.
²³ If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.
²⁴ So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.
²⁵ 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 And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.
²⁷ And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went his way into his own land.

Ex 18 (Vulgate)

¹ Cumque audisset Jethro, sacerdos Madian, cognatus Moysi, omnia quæ fecerat Deus Moysi, et Israëli populo suo, et quod eduxisset Dominus Israël de Ægypto,
² tulit Sephoram uxorem Moysi quam remiserat,
³ et duos filios ejus : quorum unus vocabatur Gersam, dicente patre : Advena fui in terra aliena ;
⁴ alter vero Eliezer : Deus enim, ait, patris mei adjutor meus, et eruit me de gladio Pharaonis.
⁵ Venit ergo Jethro cognatus Moysi, et filii ejus, et uxor ejus ad Moysen in desertum, ubi erat castrametatus juxta montem Dei.
⁶ Et mandavit Moysi, dicens : Ego Jethro cognatus tuus venio ad te, et uxor tua, et duo filii tui cum ea.
⁷ Qui egressus in occursum cognati sui, adoravit, et osculatus est eum : salutaveruntque se mutuo verbis pacificis. Cumque intrasset tabernaculum,
⁸ narravit Moyses cognato suo cuncta quæ fecerat Dominus Pharaoni et Ægyptiis propter Israël : universumque laborem, qui accidisset eis in itinere, et quod liberaverat eos Dominus.
⁹ Lætatusque est Jethro super omnibus bonis, quæ fecerat Dominus Israëli, eo quod eruisset eum de manu Ægyptiorum.
¹⁰ Et ait : Benedictus Dominus, qui liberavit vos de manu Ægyptiorum, et de manu Pharaonis ; qui eruit populum suum de manu Ægypti.
¹¹ Nunc cognovi, quia magnus Dominus super omnes deos : eo quod superbe egerint contra illos.
¹² Obtulit ergo Jethro cognatus Moysi holocausta et hostias Deo : veneruntque Aaron et omnes seniores Israël, ut comederent panem cum eo coram Deo.
¹³ Altera autem die sedit Moyses ut judicaret populum, qui assistebat Moysi a mane usque ad vesperam.
¹⁴ Quod cum vidisset cognatus ejus, omnia scilicet quæ agebat in populo, ait : Quid est hoc quod facis in plebe ? cur solus sedes, et omnis populus præstolatur de mane usque ad vesperam ?
¹⁵ Cui respondit Moyses : Venit ad me populus quærens sententiam Dei :
¹⁶ cumque acciderit eis aliqua disceptatio, veniunt ad me ut judicem inter eos, et ostendam præcepta Dei, et leges ejus.
¹⁷ At ille : Non bonam, inquit, rem facis.
¹⁸ Stulto labore consumeris et tu, et populus iste qui tecum est : ultra vires tuas est negotium ; solus illud non poteris sustinere.
¹⁹ Sed audi verba mea atque consilia, et erit Deus tecum. Esto tu populo in his quæ ad Deum pertinent, ut referas quæ dicuntur ad eum :
²⁰ ostendasque populo cæremonias et ritum colendi, viamque per quam ingredi debeant, et opus quod facere debeant.
²¹ Provide autem de omni plebe viros potentes, et timentes Deum, in quibus sit veritas, et qui oderint avaritiam, et constitue ex eis tribunos, et centuriones, et quinquagenarios, et decanos,
²² qui judicent populum omni tempore : quidquid autem majus fuerit, referant ad te, et ipsi minora tantummodo judicent : leviusque sit tibi, partito in alios onere.
²³ Si hoc feceris, implebis imperium Dei, et præcepta ejus poteris sustentare : et omnis hic populus revertetur ad loca sua cum pace.
²⁴ Quibus auditis, Moyses fecit omnia quæ ille suggesserat.
²⁵ Et electis viris strenuis de cuncto Israël, constituit eos principes populi, tribunos, et centuriones, et quinquagenarios, et decanos.
²⁶ Qui judicabant plebem omni tempore : quidquid autem gravius erat, referebant ad eum, faciliora tantummodo judicantes.
²⁷ Dimisitque cognatum suum : qui reversus abiit in terram suam.

Ex 18 (Codex W. Leningrad)

¹ וַיִּשְׁמַ֞ע יִתְר֨וֹ כֹהֵ֤ן מִדְיָן֙ חֹתֵ֣ן מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֵת֩ כָּל־ אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשָׂ֤ה אֱלֹהִים֙ לְמֹשֶׁ֔ה וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עַמּ֑וֹ כִּֽי־ הוֹצִ֧יא יְהוָ֛ה אֶת־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃
² וַיִּקַּ֗ח יִתְרוֹ֙ חֹתֵ֣ן מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֶת־ צִפֹּרָ֖ה אֵ֣שֶׁת מֹשֶׁ֑ה אַחַ֖ר שִׁלּוּחֶֽיהָ׃
³ וְאֵ֖ת שְׁנֵ֣י בָנֶ֑יהָ אֲשֶׁ֨ר שֵׁ֤ם הָֽאֶחָד֙ גֵּֽרְשֹׁ֔ם כִּ֣י אָמַ֔ר גֵּ֣ר הָיִ֔יתִי בְּאֶ֖רֶץ נָכְרִיָּֽה׃
⁴ וְשֵׁ֥ם הָאֶחָ֖ד אֱלִיעֶ֑זֶר כִּֽי־ אֱלֹהֵ֤י אָבִי֙ בְּעֶזְרִ֔י וַיַּצִּלֵ֖נִי מֵחֶ֥רֶב פַּרְעֹֽה׃
⁵ וַיָּבֹ֞א יִתְר֨וֹ חֹתֵ֥ן מֹשֶׁ֛ה וּבָנָ֥יו וְאִשְׁתּ֖וֹ אֶל־ מֹשֶׁ֑ה אֶל־ הַמִּדְבָּ֗ר אֲשֶׁר־ ה֛וּא חֹנֶ֥ה שָׁ֖ם הַ֥ר הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃
⁶ וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־ מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֲנִ֛י חֹתֶנְךָ֥ יִתְר֖וֹ בָּ֣א אֵלֶ֑יךָ וְאִ֨שְׁתְּךָ֔ וּשְׁנֵ֥י בָנֶ֖יהָ עִמָּֽהּ׃
⁷ וַיֵּצֵ֨א מֹשֶׁ֜ה לִקְרַ֣את חֹֽתְנ֗וֹ וַיִּשְׁתַּ֙חוּ֙ וַיִּשַּׁק־ ל֔וֹ וַיִּשְׁאֲל֥וּ אִישׁ־ לְרֵעֵ֖הוּ לְשָׁל֑וֹם וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ הָאֹֽהֱלָה׃
⁸ וַיְסַפֵּ֤ר מֹשֶׁה֙ לְחֹ֣תְנ֔וֹ אֵת֩ כָּל־ אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשָׂ֤ה יְהוָה֙ לְפַרְעֹ֣ה וּלְמִצְרַ֔יִם עַ֖ל אוֹדֹ֣ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אֵ֤ת כָּל־ הַתְּלָאָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר מְצָאָ֣תַם בַּדֶּ֔רֶךְ וַיַּצִּלֵ֖ם יְהוָֽה׃
⁹ וַיִּ֣חַדְּ יִתְר֔וֹ עַ֚ל כָּל־ הַטּוֹבָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־ עָשָׂ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִצִּיל֖וֹ מִיַּ֥ד מִצְרָֽיִם׃
¹⁰ וַיֹּאמֶר֮ יִתְרוֹ֒ בָּר֣וּךְ יְהוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִצִּ֥יל אֶתְכֶ֛ם מִיַּ֥ד מִצְרַ֖יִם וּמִיַּ֣ד פַּרְעֹ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר הִצִּיל֙ אֶת־ הָעָ֔ם מִתַּ֖חַת יַד־ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
¹¹ עַתָּ֣ה יָדַ֔עְתִּי כִּֽי־ גָד֥וֹל יְהוָ֖ה מִכָּל־ הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים כִּ֣י בַדָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר זָד֖וּ עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃
¹² וַיִּקַּ֞ח יִתְר֨וֹ חֹתֵ֥ן מֹשֶׁ֛ה עֹלָ֥ה וּזְבָחִ֖ים לֵֽאלֹהִ֑ים וַיָּבֹ֨א אַהֲרֹ֜ן וְכֹ֣ל ׀ זִקְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל לֶאֱכָל־ לֶ֛חֶם עִם־ חֹתֵ֥ן מֹשֶׁ֖ה לִפְנֵ֥י הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃
¹³ וַיְהִי֙ מִֽמָּחֳרָ֔ת וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב מֹשֶׁ֖ה לִשְׁפֹּ֣ט אֶת־ הָעָ֑ם וַיַּעֲמֹ֤ד הָעָם֙ עַל־ מֹשֶׁ֔ה מִן־ הַבֹּ֖קֶר עַד־ הָעָֽרֶב׃
¹⁴ וַיַּרְא֙ חֹתֵ֣ן מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֵ֛ת כָּל־ אֲשֶׁר־ ה֥וּא עֹשֶׂ֖ה לָעָ֑ם וַיֹּ֗אמֶר מָֽה־ הַדָּבָ֤ר הַזֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אַתָּ֤ה עֹשֶׂה֙ לָעָ֔ם מַדּ֗וּעַ אַתָּ֤ה יוֹשֵׁב֙ לְבַדֶּ֔ךָ וְכָל־ הָעָ֛ם נִצָּ֥ב עָלֶ֖יךָ מִן־ בֹּ֥קֶר עַד־ עָֽרֶב׃
¹⁵ וַיֹּ֥אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֖ה לְחֹתְנ֑וֹ כִּֽי־ יָבֹ֥א אֵלַ֛י הָעָ֖ם לִדְרֹ֥שׁ אֱלֹהִֽים׃
¹⁶ כִּֽי־ יִהְיֶ֨ה לָהֶ֤ם דָּבָר֙ בָּ֣א אֵלַ֔י וְשָׁ֣פַטְתִּ֔י בֵּ֥ין אִ֖ישׁ וּבֵ֣ין רֵעֵ֑הוּ וְהוֹדַעְתִּ֛י אֶת־ חֻקֵּ֥י הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים וְאֶת־ תּוֹרֹתָֽיו׃
¹⁷ וַיֹּ֛אמֶר חֹתֵ֥ן מֹשֶׁ֖ה אֵלָ֑יו לֹא־ טוֹב֙ הַדָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתָּ֖ה עֹשֶֽׂה׃
¹⁸ נָבֹ֣ל תִּבֹּ֔ל גַּם־ אַתָּ֕ה גַּם־ הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר עִמָּ֑ךְ כִּֽי־ כָבֵ֤ד מִמְּךָ֙ הַדָּבָ֔ר לֹא־ תוּכַ֥ל עֲשֹׂ֖הוּ לְבַדֶּֽךָ׃
¹⁹ עַתָּ֞ה שְׁמַ֤ע בְּקֹלִי֙ אִיעָ֣צְךָ֔ וִיהִ֥י אֱלֹהִ֖ים עִמָּ֑ךְ הֱיֵ֧ה אַתָּ֣ה לָעָ֗ם מ֚וּל הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים וְהֵבֵאתָ֥ אַתָּ֛ה אֶת־ הַדְּבָרִ֖ים אֶל־ הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃
²⁰ וְהִזְהַרְתָּ֣ה אֶתְהֶ֔ם אֶת־ הַחֻקִּ֖ים וְאֶת־ הַתּוֹרֹ֑ת וְהוֹדַעְתָּ֣ לָהֶ֗ם אֶת־ הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ יֵ֣לְכוּ בָ֔הּ וְאֶת־ הַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַעֲשֽׂוּן׃
²¹ וְאַתָּ֣ה תֶחֱזֶ֣ה מִכָּל־ הָ֠עָם אַנְשֵׁי־ חַ֜יִל יִרְאֵ֧י אֱלֹהִ֛ים אַנְשֵׁ֥י אֱמֶ֖ת שֹׂ֣נְאֵי בָ֑צַע וְשַׂמְתָּ֣ עֲלֵהֶ֗ם שָׂרֵ֤י אֲלָפִים֙ שָׂרֵ֣י מֵא֔וֹת שָׂרֵ֥י חֲמִשִּׁ֖ים וְשָׂרֵ֥י עֲשָׂרֹֽת׃
²² וְשָׁפְט֣וּ אֶת־ הָעָם֮ בְּכָל־ עֵת֒ וְהָיָ֞ה כָּל־ הַדָּבָ֤ר הַגָּדֹל֙ יָבִ֣יאוּ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְכָל־ הַדָּבָ֥ר הַקָּטֹ֖ן יִשְׁפְּטוּ־ הֵ֑ם וְהָקֵל֙ מֵֽעָלֶ֔יךָ וְנָשְׂא֖וּ אִתָּֽךְ׃
²³ אִ֣ם אֶת־ הַדָּבָ֤ר הַזֶּה֙ תַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה וְצִוְּךָ֣ אֱלֹהִ֔ים וְיָֽכָלְתָּ֖ עֲמֹ֑ד וְגַם֙ כָּל־ הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה עַל־ מְקֹמ֖וֹ יָבֹ֥א בְשָׁלֽוֹם׃
²⁴ וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע מֹשֶׁ֖ה לְק֣וֹל חֹתְנ֑וֹ וַיַּ֕עַשׂ כֹּ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָמָֽר׃
²⁵ וַיִּבְחַ֨ר מֹשֶׁ֤ה אַנְשֵׁי־ חַ֙יִל֙ מִכָּל־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיִּתֵּ֥ן אֹתָ֛ם רָאשִׁ֖ים עַל־ הָעָ֑ם שָׂרֵ֤י אֲלָפִים֙ שָׂרֵ֣י מֵא֔וֹת שָׂרֵ֥י חֲמִשִּׁ֖ים וְשָׂרֵ֥י עֲשָׂרֹֽת׃
²⁶ וְשָׁפְט֥וּ אֶת־ הָעָ֖ם בְּכָל־ עֵ֑ת אֶת־ הַדָּבָ֤ר הַקָּשֶׁה֙ יְבִיא֣וּן אֶל־ מֹשֶׁ֔ה וְכָל־ הַדָּבָ֥ר הַקָּטֹ֖ן יִשְׁפּוּט֥וּ הֵֽם׃
²⁷ וַיְשַׁלַּ֥ח מֹשֶׁ֖ה אֶת־ חֹתְנ֑וֹ וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ ל֖וֹ אֶל־ אַרְצֽוֹ׃