2.Mose 20 | New International Reader’s Version

God gives his people the Ten Commandments

1 Here are all the words God spoke. He said, 2 ‘I am the LORD your God. I brought you out of Egypt. That is the land where you were slaves. 3 ‘Do not put any other gods in place of me. 4 ‘Do not make for yourself statues of gods that look like anything in the sky. They may not look like anything on the earth or in the waters either. 5 Do not bow down to them or worship them. I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God. I cause the sins of the parents to affect their children. I will cause the sins of those who hate me to affect even their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 6 But for all time to come I show love to all those who love me and keep my commandments. 7 ‘Do not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will find guilty anyone who misuses his name. 8 ‘Remember to keep the Sabbath day holy. 9 Do all your work in six days. 10 But the seventh day is a sabbath to honour the LORD your God. Do not do any work on that day. The same command applies to your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and your animals. It also applies to any outsiders who live in your towns. 11 In six days the LORD made the heavens, the earth, the sea and everything in them. But he rested on the seventh day. So the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. 12 ‘Honour your father and mother. Then you will live a long time in the land the LORD your God is giving you. 13 ‘Do not murder. 14 ‘Do not commit adultery. 15 ‘Do not steal. 16 ‘Do not be a false witness against your neighbour. 17 ‘Do not want to have anything your neighbour owns. Do not want to have your neighbour’s house, wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey.’ 18 The people saw the thunder and lightning. They heard the trumpet. They saw the mountain covered with smoke. They trembled with fear and stayed a long way off. 19 They said to Moses, ‘Speak to us yourself. Then we’ll listen. But don’t let God speak to us. If he does, we’ll die.’ 20 Moses said to the people, ‘Don’t be afraid. God has come to test you. He wants you to have respect for him. That will keep you from sinning.’ 21 Moses approached the thick darkness where God was. But the people remained a long way off.

Worship the Lord

22 Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Here is what you must tell the people of Israel. Say to them, “You have seen for yourselves what I said to you from heaven. 23 Do not put any other gods in place of me. Do not make silver or gold statues of them for yourselves. 24 ‘ “Make an altar out of soil for me. Sacrifice your burnt offerings and friendship offerings on it. Sacrifice your sheep, goats and cattle on it. I will come to you and bless you everywhere I cause my name to be honoured. 25 If you make an altar out of stones to honour me, do not build it with blocks of stone. You will make it ‘unclean’ if you use a tool on it. 26 Do not walk up steps to my altar. If you do, someone might see your naked body under your robes.”