18:1 梅瑟的岳父，米德杨的司祭耶特洛，听说天主为梅瑟和自己的百姓以色列所行的一切，听说上主将以色列人领出了埃及，
Now Moses' father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for his people Israel: how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt. 18:2 梅瑟的岳父耶特洛便带回梅瑟送回去的妻子漆颇辣和
So his father-in-law Jethro took along Zipporah, Moses' wife, whom Moses had sent back to him, 18:3 他两个儿子：──一个名叫革尔熊，因为梅瑟说：「我在外方作了旅客；」
and her two sons. One of these was called Gershom; for he said, "I am a stranger in a foreign land." 18:4 一个名叫厄里厄则尔，意谓：「我父亲的天主是我的救援，救我脱离了法朗的刀剑。」──
The other was called Eliezer; for he said, "My father’s God is my helper; he has rescued me from Pharaoh’s sword." 18:5 梅瑟的岳父耶特洛同梅瑟的儿子和妻子来到了梅瑟那里，来到旷野，近天主的山，梅瑟安营的地方，
Together with Moses' wife and sons, then, his father-in-law Jethro came to him in the desert where he was encamped near the mountain of God, 18:6 便叫人告诉梅瑟说：「看，你的岳父耶特洛来见你，你的妻子和两个儿子也一同来了。」
and he sent word to Moses, "I, Jethro, your father-in-law, am coming to you, along with your wife and her two sons." 18:7 梅瑟就出来迎接他的岳父，向他下拜，口亲他，彼此问安，随后进了营幕。
Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down before him, and kissed him. Having greeted each other, they went into the tent. 18:8 梅瑟给他岳父讲述了上主为以色列的原故，对法朗和埃及人所行的一切，以及路上遭遇的一切困难，上主怎样拯救了他们。
Moses then told his father-in-law of all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for the sake of Israel, and of all the hardships they had had to endure on their journey, and how the LORD had come to their rescue. 18:9 耶特洛听了上主赐给以色列的各种恩惠，从埃及人手中拯救了他们，很是高兴。
Jethro rejoiced over all the goodness that the LORD had shown Israel in rescuing them from the hands of the Egyptians. 18:10 耶特洛说：「上主应受赞颂，他从埃及人和法朗手中拯救了你们，由埃及人手中救出了这百姓。
"Blessed be the LORD," he said, "who has rescued his people from the hands of Pharaoh and the Egyptians. 18:11 现今我知道「雅威」是众神中最大的，因为他由那些傲慢对待以色列人的埃及人手中，救出这百姓。」
Now I know that the LORD is a deity great beyond any other; for he took occasion of their being dealt with insolently to deliver the people from the power of the Egyptians." 18:12 梅瑟的岳父耶特洛向天主献了全燔祭和牺牲，亚郎和以色列众长老都来到天主前，同梅瑟的岳父聚餐。
Then Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, brought a holocaust and other sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to participate with Moses' father-in-law in the meal before God. 18:13 次日，梅瑟坐着审判百姓的案件，百姓从早晨到晚上站在梅瑟前。
The next day Moses sat in judgment for the people, who waited about him from morning until evening. 18:14 梅瑟的岳父看见他对百姓所行的种种，就说：「你对百姓所作的是什么事﹖为什么你独自一人管理，叫众百姓从早晨到晚上站在你前﹖」
When his father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he inquired, "What sort of thing is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone while all the people have to stand about you from morning till evening?" 18:15 梅瑟回答他岳父说：「因为百姓到我跟前询问天主。
Moses answered his father-in-law, "The people come to me to consult God. 18:16 他们有诉讼的事，就来到我跟前，我便在两造之间施行审判，讲明天主的典章和法律。」
Whenever they have a disagreement, they come to me to have me settle the matter between them and make known to them God’s decisions and regulations." 18:17 梅瑟的岳父对他说：「你这样做不对。
"You are not acting wisely," his father-in-law replied. 18:18 这不但使你自己疲乏，而且也使你同你一起的百姓疲劳不堪，因为这事超过你的力量，你独自一人是不能胜任的。
"You will surely wear yourself out, and not only yourself but also these people with you. The task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone. 18:19 现在你听我的话，我给你出一个主意。愿天主与你同在!你在天主前代表这个百姓，将他们的案件呈到天主前；
Now, listen to me, and I will give you some advice, that God may be with you. Act as the people’s representative before God, bringing to him whatever they have to say. 18:20 也将典章和法律教训他们，告诉他们应走的正路，应行的事项。
Enlighten them in regard to the decisions and regulations, showing them how they are to live and what they are to do. 18:21 你要从百姓中挑选有才能，敬畏天主，忠实可靠，舍己无私的人，派他们作千夫长、百夫长，五十夫长、十夫长，
But you should also look among all the people for able and God-fearing men, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain, and set them as officers over groups of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 18:22 叫他们随时审断百姓的案件。若有任何重大案件，呈交你处理；其余一切小案件，可由他们自己处理；叫他们与你分担，你就轻松多了。
Let these men render decisions for the people in all ordinary cases. More important cases they should refer to you, but all the lesser cases they can settle themselves. Thus, your burden will be lightened, since they will bear it with you. 18:23 你若这样作，──天主也这样命你──你就抵受得住，众百姓也能平安，各归其所。」
If you do this, when God gives you orders you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied." 18:24 梅瑟听从了他岳父的话，也都照他说的行了。
Moses followed the advice of his father-in-law and did all that he had suggested. 18:25 梅瑟从全以色列人中选拔了有才能的人，立他们作百姓的头目，作千夫长、百夫长、五十夫长和十夫长，
He picked out able men from all Israel and put them in charge of the people as officers over groups of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 18:26 叫他们随时审断百姓的案件；重大的案件，呈交梅瑟处理；一切小案件，由他们自己处理。
They rendered decisions for the people in all ordinary cases. The more difficult cases they referred to Moses, but all the lesser cases they settled themselves. 18:27 以后梅瑟送他岳父回了本地。　
Then Moses bade farewell to his father-in-law, who went off to his own country.