11. May the Lord, the God of your ancestors, increase you a thousand times and bless you as he has promised!
12. But how can I bear your problems and your burdens and your disputes all by myself?
13. Choose some wise, understanding and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will set them over you.’
14. You answered me, ‘What you propose to do is good.’
15. So I took the leading men of your tribes, wise and respected men, and appointed them to have authority over you – as commanders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens and as tribal officials.
16. And I charged your judges at that time, ‘Hear the disputes between your people and judge fairly, whether the case is between two Israelites or between an Israelite and a foreigner residing among you.
17. Do not show partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of anyone, for judgment belongs to God. Bring me any case too hard for you, and I will hear it.’
18. And at that time I told you everything you were to do.