This translation is from the New American Standard Bible. Other translations are available here. Information about the original Hebrew meaning of what seem to be the key words is provided immediately below the scriptural text. Collections of scriptures dealing with similar principles are hyperlinked at the end of this post.
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It came about the next day that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood about Moses from the morning until the evening. 14Now when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge and all the people stand about you from morning until evening?” 15Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. 16When they have a dispute, it comes to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor and make known the statutes of God and His laws.”
17Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good. 18You will surely wear out, both yourself and these people who are with you, for the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone. 19Now listen to me: I will give you counsel, and God be with you. You be the people’s representative before God, and you bring the disputes to God, 20then teach them the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do. 21Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. 22Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be that every major dispute they will bring to you, but every minor dispute they themselves will judge. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. 23If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people also will go to their place in peace.”
24So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. 26They judged the people at all times; the difficult dispute they would bring to Moses, but every minor dispute they themselves would judge.
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alone =בַּד = bad Blue Letter Bible by itself; apart; separation; alone, by itself, besides, a part, separation, being alone
able = חַיִל = chayil Blue Letter Bible strength, might, efficiency, wealth; able; virtuous(-ly); worthy(-ily); uprightness, integrity; fitness
fear = יָרֵא = yārē' Blue Letter Bible fearing, reverent, afraid; morally, reverent; reverencing; fearful; stand in awe of; derived from יָרֵא, which was understood to mean to stand in awe of, be awed; to fear, reverence, honour, respect; astonishment and awe
truth = אֱמֶת = 'ĕmeṯ Blue Letter Bible firmness, faithfulness, truth; sureness, reliability; stability, continuance; certainty, truth, trustworthiness; perpetuity; fidelity
hate = שָׂנֵא = śānē' Blue Letter Bible to hate, be hateful; enemy, foe; be odious.
dishonest gain = בֶּצַע = beṣaʿ Blue Letter Bible profit, unjust gain, gain (profit) acquired by violence; plunder; covetousness; dishonest gain, lucre; gain made by violence; rapine, bribes
listened = שָׁמַע = šāmaʿ Blue Letter Bible listen to, obey; perceive by ear; hear with attention or interest; give heed; consent, agree; yield to; obey, be obedient; hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.); hear and answer
did = עָשָׂה = ʿāśâ Blue Letter Bible to do, fashion, accomplish, make; work, make, produce; to deal (with); to act, act with effect, effect; to attend to, put in order; to observe, celebrate; advance; follow, fulfill; be industrious, labor; yield; produce by labor
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Wisdom Principles-We must strive for fair justice, to maintain the rule of law for all
Praying for Leaders: That They be Fair, Honest, and not Corrupt
Wisdom Principles-The Importance of Wise Counsel
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