Charles Ellicott Commentary Exodus 18:19

"Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God be with thee: be thou for the people to God-ward, and bring thou the causes unto God:" — Exodus 18:19 (ASV)

God shall be with thee. —Rather, may God be with thee. May He give you wisdom to direct your course rightly.

Be thou for the people to God-ward. —Be the person, i.e., to bring before God whatever needs to be brought before Him. Continue both to act as a representative of the people toward God, and as a representative of God toward the people. Take all difficult cases to Him, and pronounce His decision on them to the people. Also, be the expounder of God’s laws and ordinances to the people; be their moral instructor, and the guide of their individual actions (Exodus 18:20).

All this is quite compatible with the change which I am about to recommend to you.