1梅瑟的岳父，米德楊的司祭耶特洛，聽說天主為梅瑟和自己的百姓以色列所行的一切，聽說上主將以色列人領出了埃及， 1And when Jethro the priest of Madian, the kinsman of Moses, had heard all the things that God had done to Moses, and to Israel his people, and that the Lord had brought forth Israel out of Egypt,
2梅瑟的岳父耶特洛便帶回梅瑟送回去的妻子漆頗辣 2He took Sephora the wife of Moses whom he had sent back:
3和她的兩個兒子：──一個名叫革爾熊，因為梅瑟說：「我在外方作了旅客；」 3And her two sons, of whom one was called Gersam, his father saying: I have been a stranger in a foreign country.
4一個名叫厄里厄則爾，意謂：「我父親的天主是我的救援，救我脫離了法郎的刀劍。」── 4And the other Eliezer: For the God of my father, said he, is my helper, and hath delivered me from the sword of Pharao.
5梅瑟的岳父耶特洛同梅瑟的兒子和妻子來到了梅瑟那裡，來到曠野，靠近天主的山，梅瑟安營的地方， 5And Jethro the kinsman of Moses came with his sons and his wife, to Moses into the desert, where he was camped by the mountain of God.
6便叫人告訴梅瑟說：「看，你的岳父耶特洛來見你，你的妻子和兩個兒子也一同來了。」 6And he sent word to Moses, saying: I Jethro thy kinsman come to thee, and thy wife, and thy two sons with her.
7梅瑟就出來迎接他的岳父，向他下拜，口親他，彼此問安，隨後進了營幕。 7And he went out to meet his kinsman, and worshipped and kissed him: and they saluted one another with words of peace. And when he was come into the tent,
8梅瑟給他岳父講述了上主為以色列的原故，對法郎和埃及人所行的一切，以及路上遭遇的一切困難，上主怎樣拯救了他們。 8Moses told his kinsman all that the Lord had done to Pharao, and the Egyptians, in favour of Israel: and all the labour which had befallen them in the journey, and that the Lord had delivered them.
9耶特洛聽了上主賜給以色列的各種恩惠，從埃及人手中拯救了他們，很是高興。 9And Jethro rejoiced for all the good things that the Lord had done to Israel, because he had delivered them out of the hands of the Egyptians.
10耶特洛說：「上主應受讚頌，他從埃及人和法郎手中拯救了你們，由埃及人手中救出了這百姓。 10And he said: Blessed is the Lord, who hath delivered you out of the hand of Pharao, and out of the hand of the Egyptians, who hath delivered his people out of the hand of Egypt.
11現今我知道「雅威」是眾神中最大的，因為他由那些傲慢對待以色列人的埃及人手中，救出這百姓。」 11Now I know that the Lord is great above all gods: because they dealt proudly against them.
12梅瑟的岳父耶特洛向天主獻了全燔祭和犧牲，亞郎和以色列眾長老都來到天主前，同梅瑟的岳父聚餐。 12So Jethro the kinsman of Moses offered holocausts and sacrifices to God: and Aaron and all the ancients of Israel came, to eat bread with them before God.
13次日，梅瑟坐著審判百姓的案件，百姓從早晨到晚上站在梅瑟前。 13And the next day Moses sat, to judge the people, who stood by Moses from morning until night.
14梅瑟的岳父看見他對百姓所行的種種，就說：「你對百姓所作的是什麼事？為什麼你獨自一人管理，叫眾百姓從早晨到晚上站在你前？」 14And when his kinsman had seen all things that he did among the people, he said: What is it that thou dost among the people? Why sittest thou alone, and all the people wait from morning till night.
15梅瑟回答他岳父說：「因為百姓到我跟前詢問天主。 15And Moses answered him: The people come to me to seek the judgment of God.
16他們有訴訟的事，就來到我跟前，我便在兩造之間施行審判，講明天主的典章和法律。」 16And when any controversy falleth out among them, they come to me to judge between them, and to shew the precepts of God, and his laws.
17梅瑟的岳父對他說：「你這樣做不對。 17But he said: The thing thou dost is not good.
18這不但使你自己疲乏，而且也使你同你在一起的百姓疲勞不堪，因為這事超過你的力量，你獨自一人是不能勝任的。 18Thou are spent with foolish labour, both thou and this people that is with thee: the business is above thy strength, thou alone canst not bear it.
19現在你聽我的話，我給你出一個主意。願天主與你同在！你在天主前代表這個百姓，將他們的案件呈到天主前； 19But hear my words and counsels, and God shall be with thee. Be thou to the people in those things that pertain to God, to bring their words to him:
20也將典章和法律教訓他們，告訴他們應走的正路，應行的事項。 20And to shew the people the ceremonies and the manner of worshipping, and the way wherein they ought to walk, and the work that they ought to do.
21你要從百姓中挑選有才能，敬畏天主，忠實可靠，捨己無私的人，派他們作千夫長、百夫長、五十夫長、十夫長， 21And provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, in whom there is truth, and that hate avarice, and appoint of them rulers of thousands, and of hundreds, and of fifties, and of tens.
22叫他們隨時審斷百姓的案件。若有任何重大案件，呈交你處理；其餘一切小案件，可由他們自己處理；叫他們與你分擔，你就輕鬆多了。 22Who may judge the people at all times: and when any great matter soever shall fall out, let them refer it to thee, and let them judge the lesser matters only: that so it may be lighter for thee, the burden being shared out unto others.
23你若這樣作，──天主也這樣命你，──你就抵受得住，眾百姓也能平安，各歸其所。」 23If thou dost this, thou shalt fulfill the commandment of God, and shalt be able to bear his precepts: and all this people shall return to their places with peace.
24梅瑟聽從了他岳父的話，也都照他說的行了。 24And when Moses heard this, he did all things that he had suggested unto him.
25梅瑟從全以色列人中選拔了有才能的人，立他們作百姓的頭目，作千夫長、百夫長、五十夫長和十夫長， 25And choosing able men out of all Israel, he appointed them rulers of the people, rulers over thousands, and over hundreds, and over fifties, and over tens.
26叫他們隨時審斷百姓的案件；重大的案件，呈交梅瑟處理；一切小案件，由他們自己處理。 26And they judged the people at all times: and whatsoever was of greater difficulty they referred to him, and they judged the easier cases only.
27以後梅瑟送他岳父回了本地。 27And he let his kinsman depart: and he returned and went into his own country.
18:1-6
梅瑟的岳父，按2章18节和户10:29名叫勒乌耳，而3:1; 4:18则作耶特洛。可能耶特洛一名是勒乌耳的尊号；或者「父亲」在此即「祖父」，因希伯来文无区别；如此，勒乌耳即为耶特洛的父亲，而耶特洛则是漆颇辣的父亲。漆颇辣曾随梅瑟到了埃及(4:20-26)，大约以後又被送回父家。
18:8-12
米德杨人耶特洛是亚巴郎的後裔（创25:2），虽也信仰真天主，但因世代久远，对天主的观念已不正确，现在听到天主所行的诸多奇迹，获得了正确的信仰。11节原文不明，译文稍有修订。「到天主前」（12节）即谓「到祭坛前」。
18:13-15
施行审判是在祭坛前，判官是代替天主判决案件（咏82）。
18:16
「天主的典章和法律」（16节），大概是指祖先传下来的不成文的法律。
18:17-27
耶特洛原是米德杨的司祭，他对梅瑟所提供的意见，大概是米德杨已有的制度。所谓梅瑟法律，尤其民法和刑法，是由多方面而来的：祖先的家法家规，埃及、美索不达米亚各古国的法典，和各邻邦各民族的习俗等。