The Ten Commandments

(Exodus 20:1-17)

1Moses called all of Israel together and told them: “Listen, Israel! Today I’m going to announce God’s laws and regulations so that you will learn them and take care to obey them. 2When the LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb, 3it was not with our ancestors that the LORD made this covenant, but with us—we who are here today—all of us who are now living. 4The LORD spoke to you face to face on the mountain from the fire. 5I stood at that time as mediatora between the LORD and you to declare hisb message to you, because you were afraid of the fire and would not go up the mountain. He said:

אc

6“‘I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt—from the house of slavery.d

ב

7“‘You are to have no other gods besides me 8 “You are not to make for yourselves a carved image resembling any form in the heavens above, on earth below, or in the waters under the earth. 9You are not to bow down to them in worship or serve them, because I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the childrene for the iniquity of their parentsf to the third and fourth generationsg of those who hate me, 10but showing gracious love to the thousandthh generationi of those who love me and keep myj commandments.

ג

11“‘You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, because the LORD will not leave the one who misues his name unpunished.

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12“‘You are to keep the Sabbath day holy, just as the LORD your God commanded. 13Six days you are to labor and do all your work, 14but the seventh day is a Sabbath for the LORD your God. You are not to do any work—neither you, your children,k your male and female servants, your oxen and donkeys, nor any of your livestock—as well as any of the foreigners who live among you,l so that your male and female servants may rest as you do. 15You are to remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, but the LORD your God brought you out from there with great power and a show of force.m Therefore, the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.

ה

16“‘You are to honor your father and your mother, just as the LORD your God commanded you, so that your lifen will be long and things will go well for you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

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17“‘You are not to murder.

ז

18“‘You are not to commit adultery.

ח

19“‘You are not to steal.

ט

20“‘You are not to testify falsely against your neighbor.

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21“‘You are not to desireo your neighbor’s wife nor covet your neighbor’s house,p his fields, his male and female servants, his ox, his donkey, nor anything that concerns your neighbor.’”

Moses Recalls God’s Warnings

22“The LORD declared these commands in a loud voice to your entire assembly on the mountain from out of the fireq and dark clouds,r and nothing more was added. He inscribed them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me. 23When you heard the voice from the darkness while the mountain was blazing, all the leaders and elders of your tribes came to me and said: 24‘The LORD our God truly has displayed his glory and power, for we heard hims from out of the fire today. We have witnessed how God spoke to human beings, yet they lived. 25Now therefore, why should we die? This great fire will consume us. If we continue to listen to the voice of the LORD our God any longer, we’ll die. 26For what mortal mant has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the fire like we did, and lived? 27As for you, go near and listen to everything that the LORD our God will say to you, then repeat itu to us, and we’ll listen and obey.’

28“The LORD heard what you said. He told me: ‘I’ve heard what this people said. Everything they said was good. 29If only they would commitv to fear me and keep all my commands, then it will go well with them and their children forever. 30Go and tell them to return to their tents, 31but you stand here with me and I’ll speak to you all the commands, decrees, and laws that you must teach them to observe in the land that I’m giving you to possess. 32You must be careful to do what the LORD your God commanded you, turning neither to the left nor to the right. 33You are to walk in every pathway that the LORD your God commanded you, so that lifew may go well for you, and so that you will prolong your days in the land that you will possess.’”