Old Testament

New Testament

Exodus 18:12-20 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

12. Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses' father-in-law before God.

13. It came about the next day that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood about Moses from the morning until the evening.

14. Now when Moses' father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, "What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge and all the people stand about you from morning until evening?"

15. Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God.

16. When they have a dispute, it comes to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor and make known the statutes of God and His laws."

17. Moses' father-in-law said to him, "The thing that you are doing is not good.

18. You will surely wear out, both yourself and these people who are with you, for the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone.

19. Now listen to me: I will give you counsel, and God be with you. You be the people's representative before God, and you bring the disputes to God,

20. then teach them the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do.

Read complete chapter Exodus 18