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."