The Ten Commandments

(Exodus 20.1-17)

1Moses called together the people of Israel and said:

Today I am telling you the laws and teachings that you must follow, so listen carefully. 2The LORD our God made an agreement with our nation at Mount Sinai.5.2 Mount Sinai: See the note at 1.1-5. 3That agreement wasn't only with5.3 wasn't only with: Hebrew “wasn't with”. our ancestors but with us, who are here today. 4The LORD himself spoke to you out of the fire, 5but you were afraid of the fire and refused to go up the mountain. So I spoke with the LORD for you, then I told you that he had said:

6I am the LORD your God, the one who brought you out of Egypt where you were slaves.

7Do not worship any god except me.

8Do not make idols that look like anything in the sky or on earth or in the ocean under the earth.5.8,9: Lv 26.1; Dt 4.15-18; 27.15. 9Don't bow down and worship idols. I am the LORD your God, and I demand all your love. If you reject me and worship idols, I will punish your families for three or four generations.5.9,10: Ex 34.6,7; Nu 14.18; Dt 7.9,10. 10But if you love me and obey my laws, I will be kind to your families for thousands of generations.

11Do not misuse my name.5.11 misuse my name: Probably includes breaking promises, telling lies after swearing to tell the truth, using the LORD's name as a curse word or a magic formula, and trying to control the LORD by using his name. I am the LORD your God, and I will punish anyone who misuses my name.5.11: Lv 19.12.

12Show respect for the Sabbath Day—it belongs to me.5.12: Ex 16.23-30; 31.12-14. 13You have six days when you can do your work,5.13,14: Ex 23.12; 31.15; 34.21; 35.2; Lv 23.3. 14but the seventh day of the week belongs to me, your God. No one is to work on that day—not you, your children, your oxen or donkeys or any other animal, not even those foreigners who live in your towns. And don't make your slaves do any work. 15This special day of rest will remind you that I reached out my mighty arm and rescued you from slavery in Egypt.

16Respect your father and mother, and you will live a long and successful life in the land I am giving you.5.16: a Dt 27.16; Mt 15.4; 19.19; Mk 7.10; 10.19; Lk 18.20; Eph 6.2; b Eph 6.3.

17Do not murder.5.17: Gn 9.6; Lv 24.17; Mt 5.21; 19.18; Mk 10.19; Lk 18.20; Ro 13.9; Jas 2.11.

18Be faithful in marriage.5.18: Lv 20.10; Mt 5.27; 19.18; Mk 10.19; Lk 18.20; Ro 13.9; Jas 2.11.

19Do not steal.5.19: Lv 19.11; Mt 19.18; Mk 10.19; Lk 18.20; Ro 13.9.

20Do not tell lies about others.5.20: Ex 23.1; Mt 19.18; Mk 10.19; Lk 18.20.

21Do not want to take anything that belongs to someone else. Don't want to take anyone's wife or husband, house, land, slaves, oxen, donkeys, or anything else.5.21: Ro 7.7; 13.9.

22When we were gathered on the mountain, the LORD spoke to us in a loud voice from the dark fiery cloud. The LORD gave us these commands, and only these. Then he wrote them on two flat stones and gave them to me.5.22-27: He 12.18,19.

The people were afraid

(Exodus 20.18-21)

Moses said to Israel:

23When fire blazed from the mountain, and you heard the voice coming from the darkness, your tribal leaders came to me 24and said:

Today the LORD our God has shown us how powerful and glorious he is. He spoke to us from the fire, and we learnt that people can live, even though God speaks to them. 25But we don't want to take a chance on being killed by that terrible fire, and if we keep on hearing the LORD's voice, we will die. 26Has anyone else ever heard the only true God speaking from fire, as we have? And even if they have, would they live to tell about it? 27Moses, go up close and listen to the LORD. Then come back and tell us, and we will do everything he says.

28The LORD heard you and said:

Moses, I heard what the people said to you, and I approve. 29I wish they would always worship me with fear and trembling and be this willing to obey me! Then they and their children would always enjoy a successful life.

30Now, tell them to return to their tents, 31but you come back here to me. After I tell you my laws and teachings, you will repeat them to the people, so they can obey these laws in the land I am giving them.

Moses said:

32Israel, you must carefully obey the LORD's commands. 33Follow them, because they make a path that will lead to a long successful life in the land the LORD your God is giving you.