⁹“And I spoke to them at that time, saying,^w ‘I am not able to bear you alone. ¹⁰Yahweh your God has multiplied you, and look; you are today as the stars of the heaven in number.^x ¹¹Yahweh, the God of your ancestors,^y may he add to you as you are now a thousand times, and may he bless you just as he promised you.^z ¹²How can I bear you by myself,^a your burden and your load and your strife? ¹³Choose for yourselves wise and discerning and knowledgeable men^b for each of your tribes, and I will appoint them as your leaders.’

Read in Logos

Footnotes

wLiterally “to say”
xLiterally “with respect to multitude/abundance”
yOr “fathers”
zLiterally “spoke to you”
aLiterally “to me alone”
bLiterally “men wise and discerning and knowledgeable”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

“At that time I said to you, ‘I am not able to bear you by myself. The Lord your God has multiplied you, and behold, you are today as numerous as the stars of heaven. May the Lord, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times as many as you are and bless you, as he has promised you! How can I bear by myself the weight and burden of you and your strife? Choose for your tribes wise, understanding, and experienced men, and I will appoint them as your heads.’

NIVNew International Version (2011)

At that time I said to you, “You are too heavy a burden for me to carry alone. The Lord your God has increased your numbers so that today you are as numerous as the stars in the sky. May the Lord, the God of your ancestors, increase you a thousand times and bless you as he has promised! But how can I bear your problems and your burdens and your disputes all by myself? Choose some wise, understanding and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will set them over you.”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

“I said to you at that time: I can’t bear the responsibility for you on my own. The Lord your God has so multiplied you that today you are as numerous as the stars of the sky. May the Lord, the God of your ancestors, increase you a thousand times more, and bless you as he promised you. But how can I bear your troubles, burdens, and disputes by myself? Appoint for yourselves wise, understanding, and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will make them your leaders.

NLTNew Living Translation

Moses continued, “At that time I told you, ‘You are too great a burden for me to carry all by myself. The Lord your God has increased your population, making you as numerous as the stars! And may the Lord, the God of your ancestors, multiply you a thousand times more and bless you as he promised! But you are such a heavy load to carry! How can I deal with all your problems and bickering? Choose some well-respected men from each tribe who are known for their wisdom and understanding, and I will appoint them as your leaders.’

KJV 1900King James Version

And I spake unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone: The Lord your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude. (The Lord God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you!) How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance, and your burden, and your strife? Take you wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you.

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