Exodus 18:13–23

¹³And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening. ¹⁴And when Moses’ father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even? ¹⁵And Moses said unto his father in law, Because ^pthe people come unto me to inquire of God: ¹⁶When they have ^qa matter, they come unto me; and I judge between ^†one and another, and I do ^rmake them know the statutes of God, and his laws. ¹⁷And Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. ^18†Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; ^sthou art not able to perform it thyself alone. ¹⁹Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and ^tGod shall be with thee: Be thou ^ufor the people to God-ward, that thou mayest ^xbring the causes unto God: ²⁰And thou shalt ^yteach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them ^zthe way wherein they must walk, and ^athe work that they must do. ²¹Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people ^bable men, such as ^cfear God, ^dmen of truth, ^ehating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: ²²And let them judge the people ^fat all seasons: ^gand it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear ^hthe burden with thee. ²³If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be ⁱable to endure, and all this people shall also go to ^ktheir place in peace.