Yithro (יִתְרוֹ)
Exodus 18:1 – 20:23
Second Aliyah
18:13
The next day, Moses sat to judge the people. They stood around Moses from morning to evening.
The next day, Moses sat to judge the people. They stood around Moses from morning to evening.
Vayehi mimachorat vayeshev Moshe lishpot et-ha’am vaya’amod ha’am al-Moshe min-haboker ad-ha’arev.
וַיְהִי, מִמָּחֳרָת, וַיֵּשֶׁב מֹשֶׁה, לִשְׁפֹּט אֶת-הָעָם; וַיַּעֲמֹד הָעָם עַל-מֹשֶׁה, מִן-הַבֹּקֶר עַד-הָעָרֶב.
18:14
When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that [Moses] was doing for the people, he said, ‘What are you doing to the people? Why are you sitting by yourself and letting all the people stand around you from morning until evening?’
When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that [Moses] was doing for the people, he said, ‘What are you doing to the people? Why are you sitting by yourself and letting all the people stand around you from morning until evening?’
Vayar choten Moshe et kol-asher-hu oseh la’am vayomer mah-hadavar hazeh asher atah oseh la’am madua atah yoshev levadecha vechol-ha’am nitsav aleycha min-boker ad-arev.
וַיַּרְא חֹתֵן מֹשֶׁה, אֵת כָּל-אֲשֶׁר-הוּא עֹשֶׂה לָעָם; וַיֹּאמֶר, מָה-הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה עֹשֶׂה לָעָם–מַדּוּעַ אַתָּה יוֹשֵׁב לְבַדֶּךָ, וְכָל-הָעָם נִצָּב עָלֶיךָ מִן-בֹּקֶר עַד-עָרֶב.
18:15
‘The people come to me to seek God,’ replied Moses to his father-in-law.
‘The people come to me to seek God,’ replied Moses to his father-in-law.
Vayomer Moshe lechotno ki-yavo elay ha’am lidrosh Elohim.
וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה, לְחֹתְנוֹ: כִּי-יָבֹא אֵלַי הָעָם, לִדְרֹשׁ אֱלֹהִים.
18:16
‘Whenever they have a problem, they come to me. I judge between man and his neighbor, and I teach God’s decrees and laws.’
‘Whenever they have a problem, they come to me. I judge between man and his neighbor, and I teach God’s decrees and laws.’
Ki-yihyeh lahem davar ba elay veshafateti beyn ish uveyn re’ehu vehodati et-chukey ha’Elohim ve’et-torotav.
כִּי-יִהְיֶה לָהֶם דָּבָר, בָּא אֵלַי, וְשָׁפַטְתִּי, בֵּין אִישׁ וּבֵין רֵעֵהוּ; וְהוֹדַעְתִּי אֶת-חֻקֵּי הָאֱלֹהִים, וְאֶת-תּוֹרֹתָיו.
18:17
Moses’ father-in-law said to him, ‘What you are doing is not good.
Moses’ father-in-law said to him, ‘What you are doing is not good.
Vayomer choten Moshe elav lo-tov hadavar asher atah oseh.
וַיֹּאמֶר חֹתֵן מֹשֶׁה, אֵלָיו: לֹא-טוֹב, הַדָּבָר, אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה, עֹשֶׂה.
18:18
You are going to wear yourself out, along with this nation that is with you. Your responsibility is too great. You cannot do it all alone.
You are going to wear yourself out, along with this nation that is with you. Your responsibility is too great. You cannot do it all alone.
Navol tibol gam-atah gam-ha’am hazeh asher imach ki-chaved mimcha hadavar lo-tuchal asohu levadecha.
נָבֹל תִּבֹּל–גַּם-אַתָּה, גַּם-הָעָם הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר עִמָּךְ: כִּי-כָבֵד מִמְּךָ הַדָּבָר, לֹא-תוּכַל עֲשֹׂהוּ לְבַדֶּךָ.
18:19
‘Now listen to me. I will give you advice, and God will be with you. You must be God’s representative for the people, and bring [their] concerns to God.
‘Now listen to me. I will give you advice, and God will be with you. You must be God’s representative for the people, and bring [their] concerns to God.
Atah shmah bekoli iyatsecha vyhi Elohim imach heyeh atah la’am mul ha’Elohim veheveta atah et-hadevarim el-ha’Elohim.
עַתָּה שְׁמַע בְּקֹלִי, אִיעָצְךָ, וִיהִי אֱלֹהִים, עִמָּךְ; הֱיֵה אַתָּה לָעָם, מוּל הָאֱלֹהִים, וְהֵבֵאתָ אַתָּה אֶת-הַדְּבָרִים, אֶל-הָאֱלֹהִים.
18:20
Clarify the decrees and laws for [the people]. Show them the path they must take, and the things they must do.
Clarify the decrees and laws for [the people]. Show them the path they must take, and the things they must do.
Vehizhartah ethem et-hachukim ve’et-hatorot vehodata lahem et-haderech yelchu vah ve’et-hama’aseh asher ya’asun.
וְהִזְהַרְתָּה אֶתְהֶם, אֶת-הַחֻקִּים וְאֶת-הַתּוֹרֹת; וְהוֹדַעְתָּ לָהֶם, אֶת-הַדֶּרֶךְ יֵלְכוּ בָהּ, וְאֶת-הַמַּעֲשֶׂה, אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשׂוּן.
18:21
‘But you must [also] seek out from among all the people capable, God-fearing men – men of truth, who hate injustice. You must then appoint them over [the people] as leaders of thousands, leaders of hundreds, leaders of fifties, and leaders of tens.
‘But you must [also] seek out from among all the people capable, God-fearing men – men of truth, who hate injustice. You must then appoint them over [the people] as leaders of thousands, leaders of hundreds, leaders of fifties, and leaders of tens.
Ve’atah techezeh mikol-ha’am anshey-chayil yir’ey Elohim anshey emet son’ey vatsa vesamta alehem sarey alafim sarey me’ot sarey chamishim vesarey asarot.
וְאַתָּה תֶחֱזֶה מִכָּל-הָעָם אַנְשֵׁי-חַיִל יִרְאֵי אֱלֹהִים, אַנְשֵׁי אֱמֶת–שֹׂנְאֵי בָצַע; וְשַׂמְתָּ עֲלֵהֶם, שָׂרֵי אֲלָפִים שָׂרֵי מֵאוֹת, שָׂרֵי חֲמִשִּׁים, וְשָׂרֵי עֲשָׂרֹת.
18:22
‘Let them administer justice for the people on a regular basis. Of course, they will have to bring every major case to you, but they can judge the minor cases by themselves. They will then share the burden, making things easier for you.
‘Let them administer justice for the people on a regular basis. Of course, they will have to bring every major case to you, but they can judge the minor cases by themselves. They will then share the burden, making things easier for you.
Veshaftu et-ha’am bechol-et vehayah kol-hadavar hagadol yavi’u eleycha vechol-hadavar hakaton yishpetu-hem vehakel me’aleycha venas’u itach.
וְשָׁפְטוּ אֶת-הָעָם, בְּכָל-עֵת, וְהָיָה כָּל-הַדָּבָר הַגָּדֹל יָבִיאוּ אֵלֶיךָ, וְכָל-הַדָּבָר הַקָּטֹן יִשְׁפְּטוּ-הֵם; וְהָקֵל, מֵעָלֶיךָ, וְנָשְׂאוּ, אִתָּךְ.
18:23
If you agree to this, and God concurs, you will be able to survive. This entire nation will then also be able to attain its goal of peace.’
If you agree to this, and God concurs, you will be able to survive. This entire nation will then also be able to attain its goal of peace.’
Im et-hadavar hazeh ta’aseh vetsivecha Elohim veyacholta amod vegam kol-ha’am hazeh al-mekomo yavo veshalom.
אִם אֶת-הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה, תַּעֲשֶׂה, וְצִוְּךָ אֱלֹהִים, וְיָכָלְתָּ עֲמֹד; וְגַם כָּל-הָעָם הַזֶּה, עַל-מְקֹמוֹ יָבֹא בְשָׁלוֹם.