Yitro, priest of Midian and father-in-law of Moshe, heard all that Elohim had done for Moshe and for Israel His people, that Hashem had brought Israel out of Egypt.

Yitro, Moshe’s father-in-law, took Tzipporah, Moshe’s wife, after she had been sent away,

and her two sons, of whom the name of the one was Gershom, for he said, “I was a stranger in a foreign land.”

And the name of the other was Eliezer, for “the Elohim of my father was my help and He delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.”

Yitro, Moshe’s father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moshe, to the wilderness where he was encamped, at the mountain of Elohim.

He said to Moshe, “I, your father-in-law Yitro, am coming to you, with your wife and her two sons with her.”

Moshe went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down and kissed him; they asked one another about their well-being, and they came into the tent.

Moshe told his father-in-law all that Hashem had done to Pharaoh and to Egypt for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had come upon them on the way, and how Hashem delivered them.

Yitro rejoiced over all the goodness that Hashem had done for Israel, whom He had delivered from the hand of Egypt.

Yitro said, “Blessed is Hashem, who delivered you from the hand of Egypt and from the hand of Pharaoh, who delivered the people from under the hand of Egypt.”

Now I know that Hashem is greater than all powers, for in the very matter in which they acted arrogantly, He was exalted over them.

Yitro, Moshe’s father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to Elohim; and Aaron and all the elders of Israel came to eat bread with Moshe’s father-in-law before Elohim.

On the next day, Moshe sat to judge the people, and the people stood before Moshe from morning until evening.

Moshe’s father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people and said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone while all the people stand over you from morning until evening?”

Moshe said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to seek Elohim.”

When they have a matter, it comes to me; I judge between a man and his fellow, and I make known the statutes of Elohim and His teachings.”

Moshe’s father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good.”

You will surely wear yourself out, both you and this people that is with you, for the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone.

Now listen to my voice; I will advise you, and may Elohim be with you. You shall represent the people before Elohim, and you shall bring the matters to Elohim.

You shall warn them about the statutes and the teachings, and make known to them the way they must walk and the deed they must do.

You shall select from all the people capable men who fear Elohim, men of truth who hate dishonest gain, and appoint them over the people as chiefs of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.

They shall judge the people at all times; every great matter they shall bring to you, and every small matter they shall judge themselves. Thus you will lighten the load from upon yourself, and they will bear it with you.

If you do this, and Elohim so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace.

Moshe listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said.

Moshe chose capable men from all Israel and appointed them as leaders over the people: chiefs of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.

They judged the people at all times; the difficult matters they brought to Moshe, and every minor matter they judged themselves.

Moshe sent his father-in-law away, and he went to his own land.

In the third month after the children of Israel went out of the land of Egypt, on that very day they came to the Wilderness of Sinai.

They journeyed from Rephidim, came to the Wilderness of Sinai, and encamped in the wilderness; Israel encamped there opposite the mountain.

Moshe went up to Elohim, and Hashem called to him from the mountain, saying: “Thus shall you say to the house of Jacob and tell the children of Israel:

You have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Me.

Now therefore, if you will indeed listen to My voice and keep My covenant, you shall be My treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is Mine.

You shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

Moshe came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that Hashem had commanded him.

All the people answered together and said, “All that Hashem has spoken we will do.” Moshe brought the words of the people back to Hashem.

Hashem said to Moshe, “Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and also believe in you forever.” Moshe told Hashem the words of the people.

Hashem said to Moshe, “Go to the people and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments.”

They shall be ready for the third day, for on the third day Hashem will descend in the sight of all the people upon Mount Sinai.

You shall set boundaries for the people all around, saying: ‘Beware of going up the mountain or touching its edge; whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.’

No hand shall touch him; he shall surely be stoned or shot through—whether beast or man, he shall not live. When the ram’s horn sounds long, they may go up the mountain.

Moshe went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified the people, and they washed their garments.

He said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not approach a woman.”

On the third day, when morning came, there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mountain, and the sound of the shofar exceedingly strong; all the people in the camp trembled.

Moshe brought the people out of the camp to meet Elohim, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.

Mount Sinai was entirely in smoke because Hashem had descended upon it in fire; its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled greatly.

The sound of the shofar grew louder and louder; Moshe spoke, and Elohim answered him with a voice.

Hashem descended upon Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; Hashem called Moshe to the top of the mountain, and Moshe went up.

Hashem said to Moshe, “Go down and warn the people, lest they break through toward Hashem to look, and many of them fall.”

Also let the priests who approach Hashem sanctify themselves, lest Hashem break out against them.”

Moshe said to Hashem, “The people cannot go up to Mount Sinai, for You warned us, saying: ‘Set bounds around the mountain and sanctify it.’”

Hashem said to him, “Go, descend, and then you shall go up—you and Aaron with you; but the priests and the people must not break through to go up to Hashem, lest He break out against them.”

So Moshe went down to the people and spoke to them.

Elohim spoke all these words, saying:

I am Hashem your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

You shall have no other powers before Me.

You shall not make for yourself a carved image, nor any likeness of what is in the heavens above, or on the earth below, or in the waters beneath the earth.

You shall not bow down to them nor serve them; for I, Hashem your Elohim, am a jealous Elohim, remembering the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me.

But showing kindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

You shall not take the Name of Hashem your Elohim in vain, for Hashem will not leave unpunished one who takes His Name in vain.

Remember the day of Shabbat, to sanctify it.

Six days you shall labor and do all your work,

but the seventh day is Shabbat to Hashem your Elohim; you shall not do any work—you, your son, your daughter, your servant, your maidservant, your livestock, or the sojourner within your gates.

For in six days Hashem made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and He rested on the seventh day; therefore Hashem blessed the day of Shabbat and sanctified it.

Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long upon the land that Hashem your Elohim is giving you.

You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your fellow.

You shall not covet your fellow’s house; you shall not covet your fellow’s wife, his servant, his maidservant, his ox, his donkey, or anything that belongs to your fellow.