Parsha Yitro

(18,1) Yisro heard—priest of Midian, Moshe’s father-in-law—about all that Elohim had done for Moshe and for His people Yisrael, that Adonoy brought Yisrael out of Egypt.

(18,2) Moshe’s father-in-law, Yisro took Moshe’s wife, Tzipporah, after he had sent her back [home],

(18,3) along with her two sons. The name of one was Gershom, because he [Moshe] had said, “I was a stranger in an alien land.”

(18,4) The name of the [other] one was Eliezer, because the God of my father was my help, and rescued me from the sword of Pharaoh.

(18,5) Moshe’s father-in-law, Yisro came, along with his [Moshe’s] sons, and wife, to Moshe, to the desert where he was camped near the mountain of God.

(18,6) He said to Moshe, “I, your father-in-law, Yisro, am coming to you along with your wife; her two sons are with her.”

(18,7) Moshe went out to greet his father-in-law. He prostrated himself and [then] kissed him. They asked after each other’s well being, and went into the tent.

(18,8) Moshe told his father-in-law all that Adonoy had done to Pharaoh and to Egypt for the sake of Yisrael; including all the hardship that had befallen them on the way, and [how] Adonoy had rescued them.

(18,9) Yisro rejoiced over all the good that Adonoy had done for Yisrael; that He had rescued them from the hand of Egypt.

(18,10) Yisro said, “Blessed is Adonoy Who rescued you from the hand of Egypt, and from the hand of Pharaoh; Who rescued the people from under the hand of Egypt.

(18,11) Now I know that Adonoy is greater than all the gods, because the very thing they plotted came upon them.”

(18,12) [Then] Yisro, Moshe’s father-in-law, brought a burnt-offering and [peace]-offerings to God. Aharon and all the elders of Yisrael came to eat bread with [Yisro,] Moshe’s father-in-law, before God.

(18,13) It was on the following day [that] Moshe sat to judge the people and the people stood around Moshe from morning until evening.

(18,14) When Moshe’s father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why are you sitting by yourself and [letting] the people stand around you from morning until evening?”

(18,15) Moshe said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to seek [instruction from] God.

(18,16) Whenever they have a problem, they come to me, and I judge between man and his neighbor. I impart to them God’s statutes and His laws.”

(18,17) Moshe’s father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good.

(18,18) You are going to wear yourself out, you too and this people that is with you. This [activity] is too heavy for you. You cannot do it alone.

(18,19) Now listen to my voice. I will give you advice and God be with you. You must be God’s representative for the people, and bring the[ir] problems to God.

(18,20) You shall enlighten them as to the statutes and laws, and impart to them the path in which they must walk, and the deeds they must do.

(18,21) You must seek out from among all the people capable, God-fearing men, men of truth, who despise gain. You must then appoint them over [the people] as officers of thousands, officers of hundreds, officers of fifties and officers of tens.

(18,22) Let them judge the people at all times. Every major problem they will bring to you, and every minor problem they shall judge by themselves. It will [thus] be easier for you since they will bear the burden with you.

(18,23) If you do this and God commands you [to do so], you will be able to survive, and also this entire people will come to their place in peace.”

(18,24) Moshe listened to the voice of his father-in-law and he did all that he said.

(18,25) Moshe chose capable men from among all Yisrael, and appointed them leaders over the people; officers of thousands, officers of hundreds, officers of fifties and officers of tens.

(18,26) They judged the people at all times. The difficult problems, they would bring to Moshe, and the simple problems they would judge by themselves.

(18,27) Moshe sent his father-in-law off, and he [Yisro] went on his way to his land.

(19,1) In the third month of the Bnei Yisrael’s departure from the land of Egypt, on that very day they came to the desert of Sinai.

(19,2) They had journeyed from Rephidim and had come to the desert of Sinai, and camped in the desert. Yisrael camped there opposite the mountain.

(19,3) Moshe went up to [the Presence of] God, and Adonoy called to him from the mountain, saying, “This is what you shall say to the House of Yaakov, and tell to the Bnei Yisrael.

(19,4) ‘You saw what I did to Egypt; and [how] I carried you on wings of eagles, and brought you to Me.

(19,5) And now if you listen diligently to My voice, and preserve My covenant; you shall be beloved before Me than My special treasure among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine.

(19,6) You will be to Me a kingdom of kohanim, and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the Bnei Yisrael.”

(19,7) Moshe came [back] and called for the elders of the people. He presented to them all these words which Adonoy had commanded him.

(19,8) All the people responded in unison, and said, “All that Adonoy has spoke, we will do.” Moshe brought the words of the people to Adonoy.

(19,9) Adonoy said to Moshe, “Behold, I will come to you in a thick cloud, so that the people will hear when I speak to you, and they will also believe in you forever.” Moshe told Adonoy the words of the people.

(19,10) Adonoy said to Moshe, “Go to the people, and sanctify [prepare] them today and tomorrow, and let them cleanse their clothing.

(19,11) Let them be ready for the third day, for on the third day, Adonoy will descend on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

(19,12) Set bounds for the people around [the mountain], saying [to them], ‘Be careful not to go up the mountain, or [even] to touch its edge. Whoever touches the mountain will be put to death.

(19,13) Do not touch him [with your] hand, for he will be stoned or cast down. Neither man or beast will be allowed to live. When the [ram’s] horn is sounded with a long blast, they will [then] be permitted to go up on the mountain.”

(19,14) Moshe went down from the mountain to the people. He sanctified the people, and they immersed [themselves and] their clothing.

(19,15) He said to the people, “Be ready by the end of three days. Do not come near a woman.

(19,16) It was on the third day, in the morning, that there was thunder and lightning. A heavy cloud was on the mountain, and there was a very loud sound of the shofar. All the people in the camp trembled.

(19,17) Moshe brought the people toward [the Divine Presence of] God, [leading them] out of the camp. They stood at the foot of the mountain.

(19,18) The entire Mount Sinai was enveloped with smoke, for Adonoy had descended upon it in fire. Its smoke rose like the smoke of a [lime] furnace and the entire mountain trembled violently.

(19,19) The sound of the shofar grew louder and louder. Moshe spoke and God responded to him with [His] voice.

(19,20) Adonoy descended on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain, and Adonoy called to Moshe to come up to the top of the mountain, and Moshe went up.

(19,21) Adonoy said to Moshe, “Go down and warn the people lest they break through [the boundary] toward [the Presence of] Adonoy in order to see; and many [of them] will die.

(19,22) Even the kohanim who [usually] come near to Adonoy’s Presence, must be sanctified, lest Adonoy send destruction among them.”

(19,23) Moshe said to Adonoy, “The people can not go up to Mount Sinai, for You have warned us saying, ‘Set a boundary around the mountain and sanctify it.’”

(19,24) Adonoy said to him, “Go down. You will then come up [again], along with Aharon. The kohanim and the people, [however,] must not break through to go up toward [the Presence of] Adonoy, lest He send destruction among them.”

(19,25) Moshe went down to the people, and he said [this] to them.

(20,1) Elohim spoke all these words, saying:

(20,2) I am Adonoy, your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of slaves.

(20,3) You must not have any other gods before My Presence.

(20,4) You must not make for yourself any carved image, or picture of anything that is in the heaven above, or on the earth below, or in the water below the earth.

(20,5) You must not prostrate yourself to them, and you must not worship them. For I, Adonoy your God, am a jealous Almighty. I am cognizant of the sins of fathers for [their] children, to the third and fourth [generations] of My enemies.

(20,6) But I do [acts of] loving kindness for thousands [of generations] to those who love Me and preserve My commandments.

(20,7) Do not take the Name of Adonoy, your God in vain. For Adonoy will not acquit the one who takes His Name in vain.

(20,8) Remember the Shabbos day to sanctify it.

(20,9) You may work six days, and do all your work.

(20,10) But the seventh day is Shabbos to Adonoy, your God. You must not do any manner of work—you, your son, your daughter, your slave, your maid, your animal, and the foreigner within your gates.

(20,11) For in six days Adonoy made the heaven and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and He rested on the seventh day. Therefore Adonoy blessed the Shabbos and made it holy.

(20,12) Honor your father and your mother so that your days may be lengthened upon the land that Adonoy, your God, is giving you.

(20,13) Do not commit murder. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal [by kidnapping human beings]. Do not testify as a false witness against your neighbor.

(20,14) Do not covet your neighbor’s house. Do not covet your neighbor’s wife, his slave, his maid, his ox, his donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.

(20,15) All the people saw the sounds, the flames, the sound of the shofar, and the mountain emitting smoke. The people saw [all this] and they trembled, and stood far off.

(20,16) They said to Moshe, “You speak to us and we will listen. Let Elohim not speak with us [anymore] lest we die.”

(20,17) Moshe said to the people, “Do not be afraid. It was to exalt you that Elohim came [in this manner], so that the fear of Him be on your faces that you not sin.”

(20,18) The people stood far off. Moshe drew near to the dense cloud where [the Divine Presence of] God was.

(20,19) Adonoy said to Moshe, “This is what you must say to the Bnei Yisrael. ‘You have seen that I have spoken to you from heaven.

(20,20) Do not make[an image of anything that is] with Me, gods of silver or gods of gold you must not make for yourselves.

(20,21) Make an earthen altar for Me and slaughter your burnt-offerings near it, your peace-offerings, your sheep and your cattle. In every place wherever I permit My Name to be mentioned, I will come to you and bless you.

(20,22) When you build a stone altar for Me, do not build it out of hewn stone, lest you lift your sword on it, you will [therewith] have profaned it.

(20,23) Do not go up to My altar with steps, so that your nakedness not be revealed on it.’”