(1) Jethro priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard all that God had done for Moses and for Israel—God’s people: how the ETERNAL had brought Israel out from Egypt. (2) So Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after she had been sent home, (3) and her two sons—of whom one was named Gershom, that is to say, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land”; (4) and the other was named Eliezer, meaning, “The God of my father was my help, delivering me from the sword of Pharaoh.”

(5) Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought Moses’ sons and wife to him in the wilderness, where he was encamped at the mountain of God. (6) He sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you, with your wife and her two sons.” (7) Moses went out to meet his father-in-law; he bowed low and kissed him; each asked after the other’s welfare, and they went into the tent. (8) Moses then recounted to his father-in-law everything that GOD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardships that had befallen them on the way, and how GOD had delivered them.

(9) And Jethro rejoiced over all the kindness that GOD had shown Israel in delivering them from the Egyptians. (10) “Blessed be GOD,” Jethro said, “who delivered you from the Egyptians and from Pharaoh, and who delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. (11) Now I know that GOD is greater than all gods, yes, by the result of their very schemes against [the people].” (12) And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices for God; and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to partake of the meal before God with Moses’ father-in-law.

(13) Next day, Moses sat as magistrate among the people, while the people stood about Moses from morning until evening. (14) But when Moses’ father-in-law saw how much he had to do for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing to the people? Why do you act alone, while all the people stand about you from morning until evening?” (15) Moses replied to his father-in-law, “It is because the people come to me to inquire of God. (16) When they have a dispute, it comes before me, and I decide between one party and another, and I make known the laws and teachings of God.”

(17) But Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing you are doing is not right; (18) you will surely wear yourself out, and these people as well. 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 represent the people before God: you bring the disputes before God,

(20) and enjoin upon them the laws and the teachings, and make known to them the way they are to go and the practices they are to follow. (21) You shall also seek out, from among all the people, those who are capable and who fear God—trustworthy ones who spurn ill-gotten gain. Set these over them as chiefs of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, and (22) let them judge the people at all times. Have them bring every major dispute to you, but let them decide every minor dispute themselves. Make it easier for yourself by letting them share the burden with you. (23) If you do this—and God so commands you—you will be able to bear up; and all these people too will go home unwearied.”

(24) Moses heeded his father-in-law and did just as he had said. (25) Moses chose those who were capable out of all Israel, and appointed them heads over the people—chiefs of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens; (26) and they judged the people at all times: the difficult matters they would bring to Moses, and all the minor matters they would decide themselves. (27) Then Moses bade his father-in-law farewell, and he went his way to his own land.

(24) Moses heeded his father-in-law and did just as he had said. (25) Moses chose those who were capable out of all Israel, and appointed them heads over the people—chiefs of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens; (26) and they judged the people at all times: the difficult matters they would bring to Moses, and all the minor matters they would decide themselves. (27) Then Moses bade his father-in-law farewell, and he went his way to his own land.

(1) In the year that King Uzziah died, I beheld my Sovereign seated on a high and lofty throne; and the skirts of God’s robe filled the temple. (2) Seraphs stood in attendance, each with six wings—two covering the face, two covering the body, and two to fly with. (3)And one would call to the other,“Holy, holy, holy! GOD of Hosts—
Whose presence fills all the earth!”(4) The doorposts would shake at the sound of the one who called, and the House kept filling with smoke. (5) I cried,
“Woe is me; I am lost!For I am a man of impure lipsAnd I live among a peopleOf impure lips;Yet my own eyes have beheldThe Sovereign GOD of Hosts.” (6) Then one of the seraphs—who had taken a live coal from the altar with a pair of tongs—flew over to me, (7) touched it to my lips, and declared,
“Now that this has touched your lips,Your guilt shall departAnd your sin be purged away.”(8) Then I heard the voice of my Sovereign saying, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me.” (9) And [God] said, “Go, say to that people:
‘Hear, indeed, but do not understand;See, indeed, but do not grasp.’(10)Dull that people’s mind,Stop its ears,And seal its eyes—Lest, seeing with its eyesAnd hearing with its ears,It also grasp with its mind,And repent and save itself.” (11) I asked, “How long, my Sovereign?” And [God] replied:
“Till towns lie waste without inhabitantsAnd houses without people,And the ground lies waste and desolate—(12)For GOD will banish the population—
And deserted sites are manyIn the midst of the land.(13) “But while a tenth part yet remains in it, it shall repent. It shall be ravaged like the terebinth and the oak, of which stumps are left even when they are felled: its stump shall be a holy seed.” (1) In the reign of Ahaz son of Jotham son of Uzziah, king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram and King Pekah son of Remaliah of Israel marched upon Jerusalem to attack it; but they were not able to attack it. (2) Now, when it was reported to the House of David that Aram had allied itself with Ephraim, their hearts and the hearts of their people trembled as trees of the forest sway before a wind. (3) But GOD said to Isaiah, “Go out with your son Shear-jashub to meet Ahaz at the end of the conduit of the Upper Pool, by the road of the Fuller’s Field. (4) And say to him: Be firm and be calm. Do not be afraid and do not lose heart on account of those two smoking stubs of firebrands, on account of the raging of Rezin and his Arameans and the son of Remaliah. (5) Because the Arameans—with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah—have plotted against you, saying, (6) ‘We will march against Judah and invade and conquer it, and we will set up as king in it the son of Tabeel,’

(5)For a child has been born to us,A son has been given us.And authority has settled on his shoulders.He has been named“The Mighty God is planning grace;The Eternal Father, a peaceable ruler”— (6)In token of abundant authorityAnd of peace without limitUpon David’s throne and kingdom,That it may be firmly establishedIn justice and in equityNow and evermore.The zeal of GOD of Hosts
Shall bring this to pass.

(1) In the year that King Uzziah died, I beheld my Sovereign seated on a high and lofty throne; and the skirts of God’s robe filled the temple. (2) Seraphs stood in attendance, each with six wings—two covering the face, two covering the body, and two to fly with. (3)And one would call to the other,“Holy, holy, holy! GOD of Hosts—
Whose presence fills all the earth!”(4) The doorposts would shake at the sound of the one who called, and the House kept filling with smoke. (5) I cried,
“Woe is me; I am lost!For I am a man of impure lipsAnd I live among a peopleOf impure lips;Yet my own eyes have beheldThe Sovereign GOD of Hosts.” (6) Then one of the seraphs—who had taken a live coal from the altar with a pair of tongs—flew over to me, (7) touched it to my lips, and declared,
“Now that this has touched your lips,Your guilt shall departAnd your sin be purged away.”(8) Then I heard the voice of my Sovereign saying, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me.” (9) And [God] said, “Go, say to that people:
‘Hear, indeed, but do not understand;See, indeed, but do not grasp.’(10)Dull that people’s mind,Stop its ears,And seal its eyes—Lest, seeing with its eyesAnd hearing with its ears,It also grasp with its mind,And repent and save itself.” (11) I asked, “How long, my Sovereign?” And [God] replied:
“Till towns lie waste without inhabitantsAnd houses without people,And the ground lies waste and desolate—(12)For GOD will banish the population—
And deserted sites are manyIn the midst of the land.(13) “But while a tenth part yet remains in it, it shall repent. It shall be ravaged like the terebinth and the oak, of which stumps are left even when they are felled: its stump shall be a holy seed.”

(1) In the year that King Uzziah died, I beheld my Sovereign seated on a high and lofty throne; and the skirts of God’s robe filled the temple. (2) Seraphs stood in attendance, each with six wings—two covering the face, two covering the body, and two to fly with. (3)And one would call to the other,“Holy, holy, holy! GOD of Hosts—
Whose presence fills all the earth!”(4) The doorposts would shake at the sound of the one who called, and the House kept filling with smoke. (5) I cried,
“Woe is me; I am lost!For I am a man of impure lipsAnd I live among a peopleOf impure lips;Yet my own eyes have beheldThe Sovereign GOD of Hosts.” (6) Then one of the seraphs—who had taken a live coal from the altar with a pair of tongs—flew over to me, (7) touched it to my lips, and declared,
“Now that this has touched your lips,Your guilt shall departAnd your sin be purged away.”(8) Then I heard the voice of my Sovereign saying, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me.” (9) And [God] said, “Go, say to that people:
‘Hear, indeed, but do not understand;See, indeed, but do not grasp.’(10)Dull that people’s mind,Stop its ears,And seal its eyes—Lest, seeing with its eyesAnd hearing with its ears,It also grasp with its mind,And repent and save itself.” (11) I asked, “How long, my Sovereign?” And [God] replied:
“Till towns lie waste without inhabitantsAnd houses without people,And the ground lies waste and desolate—(12)For GOD will banish the population—
And deserted sites are manyIn the midst of the land.(13) “But while a tenth part yet remains in it, it shall repent. It shall be ravaged like the terebinth and the oak, of which stumps are left even when they are felled: its stump shall be a holy seed.”