King James Version

Exodus 18:17–21

01 / A FEW WORDSKJV · King James Version
And Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone. Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God: And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do. Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

Exodus 18:17–21 · KJV · King James Version

Read in context

Exodus 18:17–23

And Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone. Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God: And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do. Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: And let them judge the people at all seasons: and 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 the burden with thee. If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.

Translation: KJV (King James Version) · Dataset edition/version: eng-kjv-source-2026-08-19

Read the source

Passage and translation source

Selected passage
Exodus 18:17–21
Translation
King James Version (KJV)
Text language
English
Surrounding verses
Exodus 18:17–23
Dataset edition identifier
eng-kjv-source-2026-08-19

The quotation and surrounding verses come from the named edition, without theological commentary. This site offers selected passages, not a complete Bible.

Read the complete chapter and verify the source at eBible.org

Share copies the displayed text, reference, translation label, and this edition’s page link. Kept words retain the selected edition.

Translation, sources, and selection policy