Exodus 20

1Then God spoke all these words:

2“I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of slaves.

3Do not have any other gods before me.

4Do not make yourself a carved idol or a form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath the earth.

5Do not bow down to them or serve them, because I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God. I hold children accountable for their fathers’ iniquity, to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,

6but I act in steadfast love toward thousands, toward those who love me and keep my commandments.

7Do not use the name of Yahweh your God for worthless purposes, for Yahweh will not hold innocent anyone who uses his name for worthless purposes.

8Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.

9For six days you are to work and carry out all your tasks,

10but the seventh day is a Sabbath for Yahweh your God. On it do no work at all—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female servant, your animals, or the foreigner staying within your gates.

11For in six days Yahweh made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all they contain, and on the seventh day he rested. For that reason Yahweh blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.

12Honor your father and your mother, so that you may have a long life in the land that Yahweh your God is giving you.

13Do not murder.

14Do not commit adultery.

15Do not steal.

16Do not testify falsely against your neighbor.

17Do not covet your neighbor’s house. Do not covet your neighbor’s wife, his male servant, his female servant, his ox, his donkey, or anything your neighbor owns.”

18All the people were watching the thunderclaps and the flashes, the blast of the ram’s horn, and the smoking mountain. At the sight the people shook, and they stood far away.

19They said to Moses, “Speak with us yourself, and we will listen; but do not let God speak with us, or we will die.”

20Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to put you to the test, and so that the fear of him will stay before you and you will not sin.”

21The people stood far away, but Moses went near the deep darkness where God was.

22Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites this: You yourselves saw that I spoke with you from the heavens.

23Do not make gods to set alongside me; do not make yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.

24Build me an altar of soil, and on it sacrifice your burnt offerings and your fellowship offerings, your flocks and your herds. Wherever I have my name remembered, I will come to you and bless you.

25If you make me an altar of stones, do not build it of hewn blocks, because by lifting your blade over it you will profane it.

26Do not climb up to my altar by steps, so that your nakedness will not be uncovered on it.