Exodus 18:17
New International Version
Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good.

New Living Translation
“This is not good!” Moses’ father-in-law exclaimed.

English Standard Version
Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good.

Berean Standard Bible
But Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good.

King James Bible
And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.

New King James Version
So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good.

New American Standard Bible
Moses’ father-in-law then said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good.

NASB 1995
Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good.

NASB 1977
And Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good.

Legacy Standard Bible
And Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good.

Amplified Bible
Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good.

Christian Standard Bible
“What you’re doing is not good,” Moses’s father-in-law said to him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
What you’re doing is not good,” Moses’ father-in-law said to him. “

American Standard Version
And Moses' father-in-law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And his Father in Law said to Moshe, you are not doing well.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the father-in-law of Moses said to him, Thou dost not this thing rightly,

Contemporary English Version
Jethro replied: That isn't the best way to do it.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But he said: The thing thou dost is not good.

English Revised Version
And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Moses' father-in-law replied, "What you're doing is not good.

Good News Translation
Then Jethro said, "You are not doing this right.

International Standard Version
Moses' father-in-law told him, "What you are doing is not good.

JPS Tanakh 1917
And Moses' father-in-law said unto him: 'The thing that thou doest is not good.

Literal Standard Version
And the father-in-law of Moses says to him, “The thing which you are doing [is] not good;

Majority Standard Bible
But Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good.

New American Bible
“What you are doing is not wise,” Moses’ father-in-law replied.

NET Bible
Moses' father-in-law said to him, "What you are doing is not good!

New Revised Standard Version
Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good.

New Heart English Bible
Moses' father-in-law said to him, "The thing that you do is not good.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Moses's father-in-law said to him, The thing that thou doest is not good.

World English Bible
Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good.

Young's Literal Translation
And the father-in-law of Moses saith unto him, 'The thing which thou art doing is not good;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jethro Advises Moses
16“Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me to judge between one man and another, and I make known to them the statutes and laws of God.” 17But Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. 18Surely you and these people with you will wear yourselves out, because the task is too heavy for you. You cannot handle it alone.…

Cross References
Exodus 18:16
"Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me to judge between one man and another, and I make known to them the statutes and laws of God."

Exodus 18:18
Surely you and these people with you will wear yourselves out, because the task is too heavy for you. You cannot handle it alone.


Treasury of Scripture

And Moses' father in law said to him, The thing that you do is not good.

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Father-In-Law Good Law Moses Moses's
Exodus 18
1. Jethro brings his wife and two sons to Moses
7. Moses entertains him, and relates the goodness of the Lord
9. Jethro rejoices, blesses God, and offers sacrifice
13. He gives good counsel, which is accepted
27. Jethro departs














(17) The thing that thou doest is not good.--Weighty as the arguments were, they failed to convince Jethro. He brought forward counter-arguments. By continuing to act as hitherto, Moses would, in the first place, exhaust his own strength, and, secondly exhaust the patience of the people. His practice was un advisable, both on his own account and on theirs. To keep suitors waiting all day, and perhaps finally dismiss then without their turn having come, was not fair upon them.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But Moses’
מֹשֶׁ֖ה (mō·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver

father-in-law
חֹתֵ֥ן (ḥō·ṯên)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2859: To give, away in marriage, to contract affinity by marriage

said
וַיֹּ֛אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to him,
אֵלָ֑יו (’ê·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

“What
הַדָּבָ֔ר (had·dā·ḇār)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

you are
אַתָּ֖ה (’at·tāh)
Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

doing
עֹשֶֽׂה׃ (‘ō·śeh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

is not
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

good.
טוֹב֙ (ṭō·wḇ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good


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OT Law: Exodus 18:17 Moses' father-in-law said to him The thing (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 18:16
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