1  Now 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 YHWH had brought Israel out of Egypt.

1  And when Jethro, the priest of Midian, the kinsman of Moses, had heard all that God had done for Moses, and for his people Israel, and that the Lord had led Israel away from Egypt,

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

2  he brought Zipporah, the wife of Moses, whom he was to return to him,

2  Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he divorced her.

3  and her two sons; of whom the name of the one was Gershom; for he said: 'I have been a stranger in a strange land';

4  and the name of the other was Eliezer: 'for the God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.'

4  and the other in truth was Eliezer, (“For the God of my father,” he said, “is my helper, and has rescued 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 was encamped, at the mount of God;

5  And Jothor the father-in-law of Moses, and his sons and his wife, went forth to Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped on the mount of God.

5  And so Jethro, the kinsman of Moses, with his sons and his wife, came to Moses in the desert, where he was encamped next to the mountain of God.

6  and he said unto Moses: 'I thy father-in-law Jethro am coming unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.'

6  And he sent word to Moses, saying: “I, Jethro, your kinsman, have come to you, with your wife, and your two sons with her.”

6  And Moses was told, Behold, your father-in-law Jethro has come to you with your wife and your two sons accompanying him,

7  And Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and bowed down and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent.

7  And going out to meet his kinsman, he reverenced and kissed him. And they saluted each other with peaceful words. And when he had arrived at the tent,

8  And Moses told his father-in-law all that YHWH had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the YHWH delivered them.

8  And Moses related to his father-in-law all things that the Lord did to Pharao and all the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, and all the labour that had befallen them in the way, and that the Lord had rescued them out of the hand of Pharao, and out of the hand of the Egyptians.

8  Moses explained to his kinsman all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians on behalf of Israel, and all the hardships which had befallen them on the journey, and how the Lord had freed them.

9  And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which YHWH had done to Israel, in that He had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.

9  And Jothor was amazed at all the good things which the Lord did to them, forasmuch as he rescued them out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharao.

10  And Jethro said: 'Blessed be YHWH, 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.

10  And Jothor said, Blessed be the Lord, because he has rescued them out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharao.

10  And he said: “Blessed is the Lord, who has freed his people from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh; he has rescued his people from the hand of Egypt.

11  Now I know that YHWH is greater than all gods; yea, for that they dealt proudly against them.'

11  Now know I that the Lord is great above all gods, because of this, wherein they attacked them.

11  Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods; for despite the counsel which the Egyptians had devised against them, he triumphed over 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.

12  And Jothor the father-in-law of Moses took whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices for God, for Aaron and all the elders of Israel came to eat bread with the father-in-law of Moses before God.

12  And so Jethro, the kinsman of Moses, offered holocausts and sacrifices to God. And Aaron arrived with all the elders of Israel, in order to eat bread with him in the sight of God.

13  And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people; and the people stood about Moses from the morning unto the evening.

13  Then, the next day, Moses sat down in order to judge the people, and they stood beside Moses from morning, even until 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 about thee from morning unto even?'

14  And Jothor having seen all that Moses did to the people, says, What is this that thou doest to the people? wherefore sittest thou alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning till evening?

14  And when, of course, his kinsman saw all that he did among the people, he said: “What is this that you do among the people? Why do you sit alone, while all the people stand before you, from morning, even until evening?”

15  And Moses said unto his father-in-law: 'Because the people come unto me to inquire of God;

15  And Moses answered him: “The people come to me seeking the verdict of God.

16  when they have a matter, it cometh unto me; and I judge between a man and his neighbour, and I make them know the statutes of God, and His laws.'

16  For whenever there is a dispute among them, and they come to me, I give judgement upon each, and I teach them the ordinances of God and his law.

17  And Moses' father-in-law said unto him: 'The thing that thou doest is not good.

17  And the father-in-law of Moses said to him, Thou dost not this thing rightly,

17  But he said, “This is not good, what you are doing.

18  Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee; for the thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.

18  thou wilt wear away with intolerable weariness, both those and all this people which is with thee: this thing is hard, thou wilt not be able to endure it thyself alone.

18  You will be consumed by foolish efforts, both you and this people who are with you. The task is beyond your strength; you will not be able bear it alone.

19  Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God be with thee: be thou for the people before God, and bring thou the causes unto God.

19  But listen to my words and counsels, and then God will be with you. Be available to the people in that which pertains to God, so as to refer what they say to him,

20  And thou shalt teach them the statutes and the laws, and shalt show them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.

20  and to reveal to the people the ceremonies, and the rituals of worship, and the way by which they should progress, and the work that they should do.

20  And you shall warn them to keep the ordinances and laws that you may show them how to conduct themselves and the works that they must do.

21  Moreover thou shalt 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  And do thou look out for thyself out of all the people able men, fearing God, righteous men, hating pride, and thou shalt set over the people captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, and captains of fifties, and captains of tens.

21  Then provide, from all of the people, men capable and fearing God, in whom there is truth and who hate avarice, and appoint from them tribunes, and leaders of hundreds, and of fifties, and 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 themselves; so shall they make it easier for thee and bear the burden with thee.

22  And they shall judge the people at all times, and the too burdensome matter they shall bring to thee, but they shall judge the smaller cases; so they shall relieve thee and help thee.

22  who may judge the people at all times. Then, when anything greater will have occurred, they may refer it to you, and let them judge the lesser matters only. And so it may be lighter for you, the burden being divided among others.

23  If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people also shall go to their place in peace.'

23  If you will do this, you will fulfill the orders of God, and you will be able to uphold his precepts. And this entire people will return to their places in peace.”

23  If you shall do this thing, and God commands you so, then you shall be able to endure, and all this people shall also go each one to his own house in peace.

24  So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said.

24  Having heard this, Moses did everything that he had suggested to him.

24  So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said. And saying Moses to the people: I alone can't bear you. The LORD God made you many, behold, as the stars of the havens for multitude. LORD God of your fathers increased you a thousand times over, and he blessed you as he spoke. Thus how can I bear burdens of you and strifes of you? Select for yourself men wise and understanding and knowlegeable to tribes of you. And I shall place them in heads of you. And they are answering and they are saying: It is good to do what you have spoken.

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.

25  And Moses chose out able men out of all Israel, and he made them captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, and captains of fifties and captains of tens over the people.

25  And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. And officers to tribes of them. And he is commanding with the judges to say: hear between a man and his brother, and you judge righteously between man and between brother of him, and between the sojourner of him. Not you shall respect faces in sentence. Small and great you are hearing. Not you shall be afraid of the face of the man as justice is God's. And matter that is too hard for you you will bring to me and I will hear it. And he is commanding them all words that they should do.

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.

27  And he dismissed his kinsman, who, turning back, went to his own land.

19:1  In the third month after the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.

19:2  And when they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the wilderness of Sinai, they encamped in the wilderness; and there Israel encamped before the mount.

2  And they departed from Raphidin, and came into the wilderness of Sina, and there Israel encamped before the mountain.

2  Thus, setting out from Raphidim, and going directly to the desert of Sinai, they encamped in the same place, and there Israel pitched their tents away from the region of the mountain.

19:3  And Moses went up unto God, and YHWH called unto him out of the mountain, saying: 'Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel

3  And Moses went up to the mount of God, and God called him out of the mountain, saying, These things shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and thou shalt report them to the children of Israel.

3  Then Moses ascended to God. And the Lord called to him from the mountain, and he said: “This you shall say to the house of Jacob, and announce to the sons of Israel

19:4  Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto Myself.

4  ‘You have seen what I have done to the Egyptians, in what way I carried you upon the wings of eagles and how I have taken you for myself.

4  You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you as though you were on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.

19:5  Now therefore, if ye will hearken unto My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be Mine own treasure from among all peoples; for all the earth is Mine;

5  And now if ye will indeed hear my voice, and keep my covenant, ye shall be to me a peculiar people above all nations; for the whole earth is mine.

5  If, therefore, you will hear my voice, and you will keep my covenant, you will be to me a particular possession out of all people. For all the earth is mine.

19:6  and ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.'

6  And you will be to me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you will speak to the sons of Israel.”

19:7  And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which YHWH commanded him.

7  Moses went, and calling together those greater by birth among the people, he set forth all the words which the Lord had commanded.

19:8  And all the people answered together, and said: 'All that YHWH hath spoken we will do.' And Moses reported the words of the people unto the YHWH.

19:9  And YHWH said unto Moses: 'Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and may also believe thee for ever.' And Moses told the words of the people unto the YHWH.

9  And the Lord said to Moses, Lo! I come to thee in a pillar of a cloud, that the people may hear me speaking to thee, and may believe thee for ever: and Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord.

9  the Lord said to him: “Soon now, I will come to you in the mist of a cloud, so that the people may hear me speaking to you, and so that they may believe you continuously.” Therefore, Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord,

19:10  And YHWH said unto Moses: 'Go unto the people, and sanctify them to-day and to-morrow, and let them wash their garments,

10  And the Lord said to Moses, Go down and solemnly charge the people, and sanctify them to-day and to-morrow, and let them wash their garments.

10  who said to him: “Go to the people, and sanctify them today, and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments.

19:11  and be ready against the third day; for the third day YHWH will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.

11  And let them be ready against the third day, for on the third day the Lord will descend upon mount Sina before all the people.

19:12  And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying: Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it; whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death;

12  And you will establish limits for the people all around, and you will say to them: ‘Take care not to ascend to the mountain, and that you do not touch its parts. All who touch the mountain, shall die a death.’

12  And you shall publish a warning among the people, saying, Take heed to yourselves, neither go up into the mountain, nor draw near to the border of it; whoever draws near to the mountain shall be put to death

19:13  no hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live; when the ram's horn soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.'

13  A hand shall not touch it, for every one that touches shall be stoned with stones or shot through with a dart, whether beast or whether man, it shall not live: when the voices and trumpets and cloud depart from off the mountain, they shall come up on the mountain.

13  Hands shall not touch him, but he shall be crushed with stones, or he shall be pierced through with darts. Whether it be a beast or a man, he shall not live. For when the trumpet begins to sound, perhaps they might go up toward the mountain.”

19:14  And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their garments.

19:15  And he said unto the people: 'Be ready against the third day; come not near a woman.'

15  he said to them, “Be prepared on the third day, and do not draw near to your wives.”

15  And he said to the people, Be ready on the third day; do not touch your wives.

19:16  And it came to pass on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of a horn exceeding loud; and all the people that were in the camp trembled.

16  And now, the third day arrived and the morning dawned. And behold, thunders began to be heard, and also lightning flashed, and a very dense cloud covered the mountain, and the noise of the trumpet resounded vehemently. And the people who were in the camp were fearful.

19:17  And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.

17  And Moses led the people forth out of the camp to meet God, and they stood by under the camp.

17  And when Moses had led them out to meet God, from the place of the camp, they stood at the base of the mountain.

19:18  Now mount Sinai was altogether on smoke, because YHWH descended upon it in fire; and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.

18  Then all of Mount Sinai was smoking. For the Lord had descended over it with fire, and smoke ascended from it, as from a furnace. And the entire mountain was terrible.

19:19  And when the voice of the horn waxed louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice.

19  And the sound of the trumpet gradually increased to be louder, and extended to be longer. Moses was speaking, and God was answering him.

19:20  And YHWH came down upon mount Sinai, to the top of the mount; and the YHWH called Moses to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.

20  And the Lord came down upon mount Sina on the top of the mountain; and the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

20  And the Lord descended over Mount Sinai, to the very top of the mountain, and he called Moses to its summit. And when he had ascended there,

19:21  And YHWH said unto Moses: 'Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the YHWH to gaze, and many of them perish.

21  And God spoke to Moses, saying, Go down, and solemnly charge the people, lest at any time they draw nigh to God to gaze, and a multitude of them fall.

21  he said to him: “Descend, and call the people to witness, lest they might be willing to transgress the limits, so as to see the Lord, and a very great multitude of them might perish.

19:22  And let the priests also, that come near to YHWH, sanctify themselves, lest the YHWH break forth upon them.'

22  Likewise, the priests who approach toward the Lord, let them be sanctified, lest he strike them down.”

19:23  And Moses said unto YHWH: 'The people cannot come up to mount Sinai; for thou didst charge us, saying: Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.'

23  And Moses said to God, The people will not be able to approach to the mount of Sina, for thou hast solemnly charged us, saying, Set bounds to the mountain and sanctify it.

19:24  And YHWH said unto him: 'Go, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee; but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the YHWH, lest He break forth upon them.'

24  And the Lord said to him, Go, descend, and come up thou and Aaron with thee; but let not the priests and the people force their way to come up to God, lest the Lord destroy some of them.

19:25  So Moses went down unto the people, and told them.

25  And Moses descended to the people, and he explained everything to them.