Exodus 20

Ten Commandments for the Covenant Community

20Then God gave the people all these instructions

.H430H1696H1697H5592"I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery.H3068H430H3318H776H4714H1004H56503"You must not have any other god but me.H312H430H64404"You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea.H6213H6459H8544H834H8064H4605H776H4325H7765You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me.H7812H5647H3068H430H7067H410H6485H5771H1H1121H8029H7256H81306But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those

who love me and obey my commands.H6213H2617H505H157H8104H46877"You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.H5375H8034H3068H430H7723H3068H5352H5375H8034H77238"Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.H2142H7676H3117H69429You have six days each week for your ordinary work,H8337H3117H5647H6213H439910but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you.H7637H3117H7676H3068H430H6213H4399H1121H1323H5650H519H929H1616H817911For in six days the LORD made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.H8337H3117H3068H6213H8064H776H3220H5117H7637H3117H3068H1288H7676H3117H694212"Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God is giving you.H3513H1H517H3117H748H127H3068H430H541413"You must not murder.H752314"You must not commit adultery.H500315"You must not steal.H158916"You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.H6030H8267H5707H745317"You must not covet your neighbor's house. You must not covet your neighbor's wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor."H2530H7453H1004H2530H7453H802H5650H519H7794H2543H745318When the people heard the thunder and the loud blast of the ram's horn, and when they saw the flashes of lightning and the smoke billowing from the mountain, they stood at a distance, trembling with fear.H5971H7200H6963H3940H6963H7782H2022H6226H5971H7200H5128H5975H735019And they said to Moses, "You speak to us, and we will listen. But don't let God speak directly to us, or we will die!"H559H4872H1696H8085H430H1696H419120"Don't be afraid," Moses answered them, "for God has come in this way to test you, and so that your fear of him will keep you from sinning!"H4872H559H5971H3372H430H935H5668H5254H3374H6440H239821As the people stood in the distance, Moses approached the dark cloud where God was.H5971H5975H7350H4872H5066H6205H430

Proper Use of Altars

22And the LORD said to Moses, "Say this to the people of Israel: You saw for yourselves that I spoke to you from heaven.H3068H559H4872H559H1121H3478H7200H1696H806423Remember, you must not make any idols of silver or gold to rival me.H6213H430H3701H6213H430H209124"Build for me an altar made of earth, and offer your sacrifices to me—your burnt offerings and peace offerings, your sheep and goats, and your cattle. Build my altar wherever I cause my name to be remembered, and I will come to you and bless you.H4196H127H6213H2076H5930H8002H6629H1241H4725H2142H8034H935H128825If you use stones to build my altar, use only natural, uncut stones. Do not shape the stones with a tool, for that would make the altar unfit for holy use.H6213H4196H68H1129H1496H5130H2719H249026And do not approach my altar by going up steps. If you do, someone might look up under your clothing and see your nakedness.H5927H4609H4196H6172H1540