Exodus
Chapter18
1NowMoses'father-in-lawJethro,thepriestofMidian,heardofallthatGodhaddoneforMosesandforhispeopleIsrael:howtheLORDhadbroughtIsraeloutofEgypt.
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，
2Sohisfather-in-lawJethrotookalongZipporah,Moses'wife,whomMoseshadsentbacktohim,
梅瑟的岳父耶特洛便带回梅瑟送回去的妻子漆颇辣和
3andhertwosons.OneofthesewascalledGershom;forhesaid,＂Iamastrangerinaforeignland.＂
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；＂
4TheotherwascalledEliezer;forhesaid,＂Myfather'sGodismyhelper;hehasrescuedmefromPharaoh'ssword.＂
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。＂──
5TogetherwithMoses'wifeandsons,then,hisfather-in-lawJethrocametohiminthedesertwherehewasencampednearthemountainofGod,
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，
6andhesentwordtoMoses,＂I,Jethro,yourfather-in-law,amcomingtoyou,alongwithyourwifeandhertwosons.＂
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。＂
7Moseswentouttomeethisfather-in-law,boweddownbeforehim,andkissedhim.Havinggreetedeachother,theywentintothetent.
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。
8Mosesthentoldhisfather-in-lawofallthattheLORDhaddonetoPharaohandtheEgyptiansforthesakeofIsrael,andofallthehardshipstheyhadhadtoendureontheirjourney,andhowtheLORDhadcometotheirrescue.
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。
9JethrorejoicedoverallthegoodnessthattheLORDhadshownIsraelinrescuingthemfromthehandsoftheEgyptians.
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。
10＂BlessedbetheLORD,＂hesaid,＂whohasrescuedhispeoplefromthehandsofPharaohandtheEgyptians.
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。
11NowIknowthattheLORDisadeitygreatbeyondanyother;forhetookoccasionoftheirbeingdealtwithinsolentlytodeliverthepeoplefromthepoweroftheEgyptians.＂
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。＂
12ThenJethro,thefather-in-lawofMoses,broughtaholocaustandothersacrificestoGod,andAaroncamewithalltheeldersofIsraeltoparticipatewithMoses'father-in-lawinthemealbeforeGod.
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。
13ThenextdayMosessatinjudgmentforthepeople,whowaitedabouthimfrommorninguntilevening.
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。
14Whenhisfather-in-lawsawallthathewasdoingforthepeople,heinquired,＂Whatsortofthingisthisthatyouaredoingforthepeople?Whydoyousitalonewhileallthepeoplehavetostandaboutyoufrommorningtillevening?＂
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？＂
15Mosesansweredhisfather-in-law,＂ThepeoplecometometoconsultGod.
梅瑟回答他岳父说：＂因为百姓到我跟前询问天主。
16Whenevertheyhaveadisagreement,theycometometohavemesettlethematterbetweenthemandmakeknowntothemGod'sdecisionsandregulations.＂
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。＂
17＂Youarenotactingwisely,＂hisfather-in-lawreplied.
梅瑟的岳父对他说：＂你这样做不对。
18＂Youwillsurelywearyourselfout,andnotonlyyourselfbutalsothesepeoplewithyou.Thetaskistooheavyforyou;youcannotdoitalone.
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。
19Now,listentome,andIwillgiveyousomeadvice,thatGodmaybewithyou.Actasthepeople'srepresentativebeforeGod,bringingtohimwhatevertheyhavetosay.
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；
20Enlightentheminregardtothedecisionsandregulations,showingthemhowtheyaretoliveandwhattheyaretodo.
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。
21ButyoushouldalsolookamongallthepeopleforableandGod-fearingmen,trustworthymenwhohatedishonestgain,andsetthemasofficersovergroupsofthousands,ofhundreds,offifties,andoftens.
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，
22Letthesemenrenderdecisionsforthepeopleinallordinarycases.Moreimportantcasestheyshouldrefertoyou,butallthelessercasestheycansettlethemselves.Thus,yourburdenwillbelightened,sincetheywillbearitwithyou.
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。
23Ifyoudothis,whenGodgivesyouordersyouwillbeabletostandthestrain,andallthesepeoplewillgohomesatisfied.＂
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。＂
24Mosesfollowedtheadviceofhisfather-in-lawanddidallthathehadsuggested.
梅瑟听从了他岳父的话，也都照他说的行了。
25HepickedoutablemenfromallIsraelandputtheminchargeofthepeopleasofficersovergroupsofthousands,ofhundreds,offifties,andoftens.
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，
26Theyrendereddecisionsforthepeopleinallordinarycases.ThemoredifficultcasestheyreferredtoMoses,butallthelessercasestheysettledthemselves.
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。
27ThenMosesbadefarewelltohisfather-in-law,whowentofftohisowncountry.
以后梅瑟送他岳父回了本地。
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