Deuteronomy 1:8-17
New American Standard Bible
9And I spoke to you at that time, saying, ‘I am not able to endure you alone.
10The Lord your God has multiplied you, and behold, you are this day like the stars of heaven in number.
11May the Lord, the God of your fathers increase you a thousand times more than you are, and bless you, just as He has promised you!
12How can I alone endure the burden and weight of you and your strife?
13Obtain for yourselves men who are wise, discerning, and informed from your tribes, and I will appoint them as your heads.’
14And you answered me and said, ‘The thing which you have said to do is good.’
15So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and informed men, and appointed them as heads over you, commanders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, and officers for your tribes.
16Then I ordered your judges at that time, saying, ‘Hear the cases between your fellow countrymen and judge righteously between a person and his fellow countryman, or the stranger who is with him.
17You are not to show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small and the great alike. You are not to be afraid of any person, for the judgment is God’s. The case that is too difficult for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.’
King James Version
9And I spake unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone:
10The LORD your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude.
11(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!)
12How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance, and your burden, and your strife?
13Take you wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you.
14And ye answered me, and said, The thing which thou hast spoken is good for us to do.
15So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes.
16And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him.
17Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.
Christian Standard Bible
9"I said to you at that time: I can't bear the responsibility for you on my own.
10The Lord your God has so multiplied you that today you are as numerous as the stars of the sky.
11May the Lord, the God of your ancestors, increase you a thousand times more, and bless you as he promised you.
12But how can I bear your troubles, burdens, and disputes by myself?
13Appoint for yourselves wise, understanding, and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will make them your leaders.
15"So I took the leaders of your tribes, wise and respected men, and set them over you as leaders: commanders for thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, and officers for your tribes.
16I commanded your judges at that time: Hear the cases between your brothers, and judge rightly between a man and his brother or his resident alien.
17Do not show partiality when deciding a case; listen to small and great alike. Do not be intimidated by anyone, for judgment belongs to God. Bring me any case too difficult for you, and I will hear it.
New Living Translation
9Moses continued, 'At that time I told you, ‘You are too great a burden for me to carry all by myself.
10The Lord your God has increased your population, making you as numerous as the stars!
11And may the Lord, the God of your ancestors, multiply you a thousand times more and bless you as he promised!
12But you are such a heavy load to carry! How can I deal with all your problems and bickering?
13Choose some well-respected men from each tribe who are known for their wisdom and understanding, and I will appoint them as your leaders.’
14Then you responded, ‘Your plan is a good one.’
15So I took the wise and respected men you had selected from your tribes and appointed them to serve as judges and officials over you. Some were responsible for a thousand people, some for a hundred, some for fifty, and some for ten.
16At that time I instructed the judges, ‘You must hear the cases of your fellow Israelites and the foreigners living among you. Be perfectly fair in your decisions
17and impartial in your judgments. Hear the cases of those who are poor as well as those who are rich. Don’t be afraid of anyone’s anger, for the decision you make is God’s decision. Bring me any cases that are too difficult for you, and I will handle them.’
English Standard Version
9“At that time I said to you, ‘I am not able to bear you by myself.
10The LORD your God has multiplied you, and behold, you are today as numerous as the stars of heaven.
11May 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!
12How can I bear by myself the weight and burden of you and your strife?
13Choose for your tribes wise, understanding, and experienced men, and I will appoint them as your heads.’
14And you answered me, ‘The thing that you have spoken is good for us to do.’
15So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and experienced men, and set them as heads over you, commanders of thousands, commanders of hundreds, commanders of fifties, commanders of tens, and officers, throughout your tribes.
16And I charged your judges at that time, ‘Hear the cases between your brothers, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the alien who is with him.
17You shall not be partial in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not be intimidated by anyone, for the judgment is God’s. And the case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.’
New International Version
9At that time I said to you, 'You are too heavy a burden for me to carry alone.
10The LORD your God has increased your numbers so that today you are as numerous as the stars in the sky.
11May the LORD, the God of your ancestors, increase you a thousand times and bless you as he has promised!
12But how can I bear your problems and your burdens and your disputes all by myself?
13Choose some wise, understanding and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will set them over you.'
15So I took the leading men of your tribes, wise and respected men, and appointed them to have authority over you--as commanders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens and as tribal officials.
16And I charged your judges at that time, 'Hear the disputes between your people and judge fairly, whether the case is between two Israelites or between an Israelite and a foreigner residing among you.
17Do not show partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of anyone, for judgment belongs to God. Bring me any case too hard for you, and I will hear it.'
