Gods Commands To The People


Moses led the Israelites forward from the Red Sea until they came to the

wilderness of Sinai, and there the Israelites camped before the

mountain.



Moses went up into the presence of God, and Jehovah called to him from

the mountain and said, "Tell the Israelites: 'You have seen what I did

to the Egyptians and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to

myself. Now therefore, if you will listen to my
voice and keep your

solemn agreement with me, you shall be my own treasure taken from among

all peoples, for all the earth is mine. You shall be a nation of

priests, a people devoted to my service.'"



So Moses called together the leaders of the people and told them all

these words, as Jehovah had commanded him. And all the people answered

together, "We will do all that Jehovah has commanded."



When Moses told Jehovah the answer of the people, Jehovah said to him,

"See, I come to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I

speak and may always believe in you." And Jehovah said to Moses, "Go to

the people and keep them pure to-day and to-morrow, and let them wash

their garments and be ready on the third day, for on the third day I

will come down on Mount Sinai within sight of all the people."



On the third day, when morning came, there were thunderings and

lightnings and a thick cloud rested upon the mountain, and a very loud

trumpet blast sounded, so that all the people who were in the camp

trembled. Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God; and

they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was entirely covered

with smoke, because Jehovah came down upon it in fire. And from it smoke

went up like the smoke of a furnace, and the entire mountain shook

violently.



Then God spoke all these words: "I am Jehovah your God who brought you

out of the land of Egypt, from a place where you were slaves.



"THOU SHALT HAVE NO OTHER GODS EXCEPT ME.



"THOU SHALT NOT MAKE FOR THYSELF A GRAVEN IMAGE, nor any image of

anything that is in the heavens above, on the earth beneath, or in the

waters that are under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down before them,

nor serve them, for I Jehovah thy God am a jealous God visiting the sins

of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation, but

showing acts of kindness to the thousandth generation of those who love

me and keep my commands.



"THOU SHALT NOT TAKE THE NAME OF JEHOVAH THY GOD IN VAIN, for Jehovah

will not leave him unpunished who takes his name in vain.



"REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY TO KEEP IT HOLY. Six days shalt thou labor and

do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of Jehovah thy God.

In it thou shalt not do any work, neither thou, nor thy son, nor thy

daughter, nor thy male servant, nor thy female servant, nor thy cattle,

nor the guest who is with thee, for in six days Jehovah made the heavens

and the earth, the sea and all that in them is, and rested on the

seventh day. Therefore Jehovah blessed the Sabbath day and made it

holy.



"HONOR THY FATHER AND THY MOTHER, that thou mayest live long on the land

which Jehovah thy God giveth thee.



"THOU SHALT NOT MURDER.



"THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY.



"THOU SHALT NOT STEAL.



"THOU SHALT NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS AGAINST THY NEIGHBOR.



"THOU SHALT NOT COVET THY NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE; thou shalt not covet thy

neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his

ox, nor his ass, nor anything that belongs to thy neighbor."



Then Jehovah said to Moses, "Write down these words, for in accord with

these words I have made a solemn agreement with you and with Israel."



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