Property Rights

22 [a]If someone steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he shall pay five oxen for the ox and (A)four sheep for the sheep— [b]If the (B)thief is [c]caught while [d]breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there will be no guilt for bloodshed on his account. If the sun has risen on him, there will be guilt for bloodshed on his account—A thief shall certainly make restitution; if he owns nothing, then he shall be (C)sold for his theft. If what he stole is actually found alive in his [e]possession, whether an ox or a donkey or a sheep, (D)he shall pay double.

“If someone lets a field or vineyard be grazed bare and lets his animal loose so that it grazes in another person’s field, he shall make restitution from the best of his own field and the best of his own vineyard.

“If a fire breaks out and spreads to thorn bushes, and stacked grain or the standing grain or the field itself is consumed, the one who started the fire must make restitution.

(E)If someone gives his neighbor money or goods to keep for him and it is stolen from the [f]neighbor’s house, if the thief is [g]caught, then the thief shall pay double. If the thief is not [h]caught, then the owner of the house shall [i]appear before [j](F)the judges, to determine whether he [k]laid his hands on his neighbor’s property. For every [l]breach of trust, whether it is for ox, for donkey, for sheep, for clothing, or for any lost thing about which one says, ‘This is it,’ the [m]case of both parties shall come before [n](G)the judges; he whom [o]the judges condemn shall pay double to his neighbor.

10 “If someone gives his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep for him, and it dies or is injured or is driven away while no one is looking, 11 an (H)oath before the Lord shall be [p]taken by the two of them [q]that he has not [r]laid a hand on his neighbor’s property; and its owner shall accept it, and he shall not be compelled to make restitution. 12 But if it is actually stolen from him, he shall make restitution to its owner. 13 If it is all torn to pieces, have him bring it as evidence; he shall not be compelled to make restitution for what has been torn to pieces.

14 “And if someone [s]borrows an animal from his neighbor, and it is injured or dies while its owner is not with it, he shall make full restitution. 15 If its owner is with it, the borrower shall not be compelled to make restitution. If it is hired, it [t]came by its hire.

Various Laws

16 (I)If a man seduces a virgin who is not [u]betrothed and sleeps with her, he must pay a [v]dowry for her to be his wife. 17 If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he shall [w]pay money equal to the (J)dowry for virgins.

18 “You shall not allow a (K)sorceress to live.

19 (L)Whoever has sexual intercourse with an animal must be put to death.

20 (M)He who sacrifices to [x]any god, other than to the Lord alone, shall be [y]utterly destroyed.

21 (N)You shall not oppress a stranger nor torment him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. 22 (O)You shall not oppress any widow or orphan. 23 If you oppress him at all, and (P)if he does cry out to Me, (Q)I will assuredly hear his cry; 24 and My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword, (R)and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.

25 (S)If you lend money to My people, to the poor [z]among you, you are not to [aa]act as a creditor to him; you shall not [ab]charge him (T)interest. 26 If you ever seize your neighbor’s cloak (U)as a pledge, you are to return it to him before the sun sets, 27 for that is his only covering; it is his cloak for his [ac]body. What else is he to sleep in? And it will come about that (V)when he cries out to Me, I will listen to him, for (W)I am gracious.

28 “You shall not [ad](X)curse God, (Y)nor curse a ruler of your people.

29 (Z)You shall not hold back the offering from your entire harvest and your [ae]wine. (AA)The firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me. 30 (AB)You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep. It shall be with its mother for seven days; (AC)on the eighth day you shall give it to Me.

31 (AD)You shall be holy people to Me, therefore (AE)you shall not eat any flesh torn to pieces in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 22:1 Ch 21:37 in Heb
  2. Exodus 22:2 Ch 22:1 in Heb
  3. Exodus 22:2 Lit found
  4. Exodus 22:2 I.e., at night; cf. v 3
  5. Exodus 22:4 Lit hand
  6. Exodus 22:7 Lit man’s
  7. Exodus 22:7 Lit found
  8. Exodus 22:8 Lit found
  9. Exodus 22:8 Lit approach to
  10. Exodus 22:8 Or God
  11. Exodus 22:8 Lit stretched his hand
  12. Exodus 22:9 Or matter of wrongdoing
  13. Exodus 22:9 Lit matter
  14. Exodus 22:9 Or God
  15. Exodus 22:9 Or God
  16. Exodus 22:11 Lit between the two
  17. Exodus 22:11 Lit if
  18. Exodus 22:11 Lit reached out his hand
  19. Exodus 22:14 Lit asks
  20. Exodus 22:15 I.e., the fee covers the loss
  21. Exodus 22:16 A betrothed couple was considered legally married, but did not yet live together
  22. Exodus 22:16 I.e., bride-price
  23. Exodus 22:17 Lit weigh out silver
  24. Exodus 22:20 Lit the gods
  25. Exodus 22:20 Lit put under the ban
  26. Exodus 22:25 Lit with
  27. Exodus 22:25 Lit be
  28. Exodus 22:25 Lit lay upon
  29. Exodus 22:27 Lit skin
  30. Exodus 22:28 Or revile
  31. Exodus 22:29 Lit juice

Responsibility for Property

22 “If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he shall (A)restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep. If the thief is found (B)breaking in, and he is struck so that he dies, there shall be (C)no guilt for his bloodshed. If the sun has risen on him, there shall be guilt for his bloodshed. He should make full restitution; if he has nothing, then he shall be (D)sold[a] for his theft. If the theft is certainly (E)found alive in his hand, whether it is an ox or donkey or sheep, he shall (F)restore double.

“If a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed, and lets loose his animal, and it feeds in another man’s field, he shall make restitution from the best of his own field and the best of his own vineyard.

“If fire breaks out and catches in thorns, so that stacked grain, standing grain, or the field is consumed, he who kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.

“If a man (G)delivers to his neighbor money or articles to keep, and it is stolen out of the man’s house, (H)if the thief is found, he shall pay double. If the thief is not found, then the master of the house shall be brought to the (I)judges to see whether he has put his hand into his neighbor’s goods.

“For any kind of trespass, whether it concerns an ox, a donkey, a sheep, or clothing, or for any kind of lost thing which another claims to be his, the (J)cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whomever the judges condemn shall pay double to his neighbor. 10 If a man delivers to his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep, and it dies, is hurt, or driven away, no one seeing it, 11 then an (K)oath of the Lord shall be between them both, that he has not put his hand into his neighbor’s goods; and the owner of it shall accept that, and he shall not make it good. 12 But (L)if, in fact, it is stolen from him, he shall make restitution to the owner of it. 13 If it is (M)torn to pieces by a beast, then he shall bring it as evidence, and he shall not make good what was torn.

14 “And if a man borrows anything from his neighbor, and it becomes injured or dies, the owner of it not being with it, he shall surely make it good. 15 If its owner was with it, he shall not make it good; if it was hired, it came for its hire.

Moral and Ceremonial Principles

16 (N)“If a man entices a virgin who is not betrothed, and lies with her, he shall surely pay the bride-price for her to be his wife. 17 If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money according to the (O)bride-price of virgins.

18 (P)“You shall not permit a sorceress to live.

19 (Q)“Whoever lies with an animal shall surely be put to death.

20 (R)“He who sacrifices to any god, except to the Lord only, he shall be utterly destroyed.

21 (S)“You shall neither mistreat a [b]stranger nor oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

22 (T)“You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child. 23 If you afflict them in any way, and they (U)cry at all to Me, I will surely (V)hear their cry; 24 and My (W)wrath will become hot, and I will kill you with the sword; (X)your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.

25 (Y)“If you lend money to any of My people who are poor among you, you shall not be like a moneylender to him; you shall not charge him (Z)interest. 26 (AA)If you ever take your neighbor’s garment as a pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down. 27 For that is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin. What will he sleep in? And it will be that when he cries to Me, I will hear, for I am (AB)gracious.

28 (AC)“You shall not revile God, nor curse a (AD)ruler of your people.

29 “You shall not delay to offer (AE)the first of your ripe produce and your juices. (AF)The firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me. 30 (AG)Likewise you shall do with your oxen and your sheep. It shall be with its mother (AH)seven days; on the eighth day you shall give it to Me.

31 “And you shall be (AI)holy men to Me: (AJ)you shall not eat meat torn by beasts in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 22:3 Sold as a slave
  2. Exodus 22:21 sojourner

Various Laws

23 (A)You shall not give a false report; do not join your hand with a wicked person to be a (B)malicious witness. You shall not follow [a]the crowd in doing evil, nor shall you [b]testify in a dispute so as to join together with [c]a crowd in order to (C)pervert justice; (D)nor shall you [d]show favor to a poor person in his dispute.

(E)If you encounter your enemy’s ox or his donkey wandering away, you must return it to him. (F)If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying helpless under its load, you shall not leave it helpless for [e]its owner; you must arrange the load with him.

(G)You shall not pervert the justice due to your needy brother in his dispute. (H)Keep far from a false charge, and (I)do not kill the innocent or the righteous, for (J)I will not acquit the guilty.

(K)You shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and [f]subverts the cause of the just.

(L)You shall not oppress a stranger, since you yourselves know the [g]feelings of a stranger, for you also were strangers in the land of Egypt.

The Sabbath and the Land

10 “Now (M)you shall sow your land for six years and gather in its yield, 11 but in the seventh year you shall let it [h]rest and lie uncultivated, so that the needy of your people may eat; and whatever they leave the animal of the field may eat. You are to do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.

12 (N)For six days you are to do your work, but on the seventh day you shall cease from labor so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female slave, as well as the stranger residing with you, may refresh themselves. 13 Now (O)concerning everything which I have said to you, be careful; and (P)do not mention the name of other gods, nor let them be heard [i]from your mouth.

Three National Feasts

14 (Q)Three times a year you shall celebrate a feast to Me. 15 You shall keep (R)the Feast of Unleavened Bread; for seven days you are to eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the appointed time in the (S)month of Abib, for in [j]that month you came out of Egypt. And [k](T)no one is to appear before Me empty-handed. 16 Also you shall keep (U)the Feast of the Harvest of the first fruits of your labors from what you sow in the field; also the Feast of the Ingathering at the end of the year (V)when you gather in the fruit of your labors from the field. 17 (W)Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord [l]God.

18 (X)You shall not offer the blood of My sacrifice with leavened bread; (Y)nor is the fat of My [m]feast to remain overnight until morning.

19 “You shall bring (Z)the choice first fruits of your soil into the house of the Lord your God.

(AA)You are not to boil a young goat in the milk of its mother.

Conquest of the Land

20 “Behold, I am going to send (AB)an angel before you to guard you along the way and (AC)to bring you into the place which I have prepared. 21 Be attentive to him and obey his voice; (AD)do not be rebellious toward him, for he will not pardon your rebellion, since (AE)My name is in him. 22 But if you truly obey his voice and do all that I say, then (AF)I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries. 23 (AG)For My angel will go before you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and I will completely destroy them. 24 (AH)You shall not worship their gods, nor serve them, nor do according to their deeds; (AI)but you shall utterly overthrow them and break their (AJ)memorial stones in pieces. 25 (AK)And you shall serve the Lord your God, [n]and He will bless your bread and your water; and (AL)I will remove sickness from your midst. 26 There will be no one miscarrying or (AM)unable to have children in your land; (AN)I will fulfill the number of your days. 27 I will (AO)send My terror ahead of you, and (AP)throw into confusion all the people among whom you come, and I will (AQ)make all your enemies turn their backs to you. 28 And I will send (AR)hornets ahead of you so that they will (AS)drive out the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites from you. 29 (AT)I will not drive them out from you in a single year, so that the land will not become desolate and the animals of the field become too numerous for you. 30 I will drive them out from you (AU)little by little, until you become fruitful and take possession of the land. 31 (AV)I will set your boundary from the [o]Red Sea to the sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the Euphrates River; (AW)for I will hand over the inhabitants of the land to you, and you will (AX)drive them out from you. 32 (AY)You shall [p]make no covenant with them (AZ)or with their gods. 33 (BA)They shall not live in your land, otherwise they will make you sin against Me; for if you serve their gods, (BB)it is certain to be a snare to you.”

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 23:2 Lit many
  2. Exodus 23:2 Or answer
  3. Exodus 23:2 Lit many
  4. Exodus 23:3 Lit honor
  5. Exodus 23:5 Lit him
  6. Exodus 23:8 Or distorts the words
  7. Exodus 23:9 Lit soul
  8. Exodus 23:11 Lit drop
  9. Exodus 23:13 Lit on
  10. Exodus 23:15 Lit it
  11. Exodus 23:15 Lit they shall not
  12. Exodus 23:17 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
  13. Exodus 23:18 Or festival
  14. Exodus 23:25 Or that He may bless
  15. Exodus 23:31 Lit Sea of Reeds
  16. Exodus 23:32 Lit cut

Justice for All

23 “You (A)shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an (B)unrighteous witness. (C)You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; (D)nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice. You shall not show partiality to a (E)poor man in his dispute.

(F)“If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again. (G)If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying under its burden, and you would refrain from helping it, you shall surely help him with it.

(H)“You shall not pervert the judgment of your poor in his dispute. (I)Keep yourself far from a false matter; (J)do not kill the innocent and righteous. For (K)I will not justify the wicked. And (L)you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the discerning and perverts the words of the righteous.

“Also (M)you shall not oppress a [a]stranger, for you know the heart of a stranger, because you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

The Law of Sabbaths

10 (N)“Six years you shall sow your land and gather in its produce, 11 but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave, the beasts of the field may eat. In like manner you shall do with your vineyard and your [b]olive grove. 12 (O)Six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest, that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female servant and the stranger may be refreshed.

13 “And in all that I have said to you, (P)be circumspect and (Q)make no mention of the name of other gods, nor let it be heard from your mouth.

Three Annual Feasts(R)

14 (S)“Three times you shall keep a feast to Me in the year: 15 (T)You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread (you shall eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt; (U)none shall appear before Me empty); 16 (V)and the Feast of Harvest, the firstfruits of your labors which you have sown in the field; and (W)the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you have gathered in the fruit of your labors from the field.

17 (X)“Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the Lord [c]God.

18 (Y)“You shall not offer the blood of My sacrifice with leavened (Z)bread; nor shall the fat of My [d]sacrifice remain until morning. 19 (AA)The first of the firstfruits of your land you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God. (AB)You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.

The Angel and the Promises

20 (AC)“Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. 21 Beware of Him and obey His voice; (AD)do not provoke Him, for He will (AE)not pardon your transgressions; for (AF)My name is in Him. 22 But if you indeed obey His voice and do all that I speak, then (AG)I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries. 23 (AH)For My Angel will go before you and (AI)bring you in to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Canaanites and the Hivites and the Jebusites; and I will [e]cut them off. 24 You shall not (AJ)bow down to their gods, nor serve them, (AK)nor do according to their works; (AL)but you shall utterly overthrow them and completely break down their sacred pillars.

25 “So you shall (AM)serve the Lord your God, and (AN)He will bless your bread and your water. And (AO)I will take sickness away from the midst of you. 26 (AP)No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land; I will (AQ)fulfill the number of your days.

27 “I will send (AR)My fear before you, I will (AS)cause confusion among all the people to whom you come, and will make all your enemies turn their backs to you. 28 And (AT)I will send hornets before you, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite from before you. 29 (AU)I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. 30 Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased, and you inherit the land. 31 And (AV)I will set your [f]bounds from the Red Sea to the sea, Philistia, and from the desert to the [g]River. For I will (AW)deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out before you. 32 (AX)You shall make no [h]covenant with them, nor with their gods. 33 They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against Me. For if you serve their gods, (AY)it will surely be a snare to you.”

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 23:9 sojourner
  2. Exodus 23:11 olive yards
  3. Exodus 23:17 Heb. YHWH, usually translated Lord
  4. Exodus 23:18 feast
  5. Exodus 23:23 annihilate them
  6. Exodus 23:31 boundaries
  7. Exodus 23:31 Heb. Nahar, the Euphrates
  8. Exodus 23:32 treaty

People Affirm Their Covenant with God

24 Then He said to Moses, “(A)Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, (B)Nadab and Abihu, and (C)seventy of the elders of Israel, and you shall worship at a distance. Moses alone, however, shall approach the Lord, but they shall not approach, nor shall the people come up with him.”

Then Moses came and reported to the people all the words of the Lord and all the [a]ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice and said, “(D)All the words which the Lord has spoken we will do!” And (E)Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. Then he got up early in the morning, and built an (F)altar [b]at the foot of the mountain with twelve memorial stones for the twelve tribes of Israel. And he sent young men of the sons of Israel, (G)and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed bulls as peace offerings to the Lord. (H)Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and the other half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. Then he took (I)the Book of the Covenant and read it [c]as the people listened; and they said, “(J)All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!” So (K)Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, and said, “Behold (L)the blood of the covenant, which the Lord has [d]made with you [e]in accordance with all these words.”

Then Moses went up [f]with Aaron, (M)Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, 10 and (N)they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet [g](O)there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, [h]as clear as the sky itself. 11 Yet He did not reach out with His hand against the nobles of the sons of Israel; and (P)they saw God, and they ate and drank.

12 Now the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and [i]stay there, and (Q)I will give you the stone tablets [j]with the Law and the [k]commandments which I have written for their instruction.” 13 So Moses got up [l]along with (R)Joshua his [m]servant, and Moses went up to (S)the mountain of God. 14 But to the elders he said, “(T)Wait here for us until we return to you. And behold, (U)Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever [n]has a legal matter, have him approach them.” 15 Then Moses went up to the mountain, and (V)the cloud covered the mountain. 16 (W)The glory of the Lord [o]settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; and on the seventh day He (X)called to Moses from the midst of the cloud. 17 (Y)And to the eyes of the sons of Israel, the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a (Z)consuming fire on the mountain top. 18 Then Moses entered the midst of the cloud [p]as he went up to the mountain; and Moses was on the mountain for (AA)forty days and forty nights.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 24:3 Or judgments
  2. Exodus 24:4 Lit beneath
  3. Exodus 24:7 Lit in the ears of the people;
  4. Exodus 24:8 Lit cut
  5. Exodus 24:8 Lit on all
  6. Exodus 24:9 Lit and
  7. Exodus 24:10 Lit like a pavement
  8. Exodus 24:10 Lit and as
  9. Exodus 24:12 Lit be
  10. Exodus 24:12 Lit and
  11. Exodus 24:12 Lit commandment
  12. Exodus 24:13 Lit and
  13. Exodus 24:13 Or minister
  14. Exodus 24:14 Lit is a master of matters
  15. Exodus 24:16 Lit dwelt
  16. Exodus 24:18 Lit and

Israel Affirms the Covenant

24 Now He said to Moses, “Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, (A)Nadab and Abihu, (B)and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship from afar. And Moses alone shall come near the Lord, but they shall not come near; nor shall the people go up with him.”

So Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all the [a]judgments. And all the people answered with one voice and said, (C)“All the words which the Lord has said we will do.” And Moses (D)wrote all the words of the Lord. And he rose early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve (E)pillars according to the twelve tribes of Israel. Then he sent young men of the children of Israel, who offered (F)burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the Lord. And Moses (G)took half the blood and put it in basins, and half the blood he sprinkled on the altar. Then he (H)took the Book of the Covenant and read in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the Lord has said we will do, and be obedient.” And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, “This is (I)the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you according to all these words.”

On the Mountain with God

Then Moses went up, also Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, 10 and they (J)saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of (K)sapphire stone, and it was like the (L)very[b] heavens in its clarity. 11 But on the nobles of the children of Israel He (M)did not [c]lay His hand. So (N)they saw God, and they (O)ate and drank.

12 Then the Lord said to Moses, (P)“Come up to Me on the mountain and be there; and I will give you (Q)tablets of stone, and the law and commandments which I have written, that you may teach them.”

13 So Moses arose with (R)his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up to the mountain of God. 14 And he said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Indeed, Aaron and (S)Hur are with you. If any man has a difficulty, let him go to them.” 15 Then Moses went up into the mountain, and (T)a cloud covered the mountain.

16 Now (U)the glory of the Lord rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day He called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. 17 The sight of the glory of the Lord was like (V)a consuming fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel. 18 So Moses went into the midst of the cloud and went up into the mountain. And (W)Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 24:3 ordinances
  2. Exodus 24:10 Lit. substance of heaven
  3. Exodus 24:11 stretch out His

Children and Parents

(A)Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. (B)Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may turn out well for you, and that you may live long on the earth.

(C)Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but (D)bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Slaves and Masters

(E)Slaves, be obedient to those who are your [a]masters according to the flesh, with (F)fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, (G)as to Christ; (H)not [b]by way of [c]eye-service, as (I)people-pleasers, but as (J)slaves of Christ, (K)doing the will of God from the [d]heart. With goodwill [e]render service, (L)as to the Lord, and not to people, (M)knowing that (N)whatever good thing each one does, he will receive this back from the Lord, (O)whether slave or free.

And masters, do the same things to them, and (P)give up threatening, knowing that (Q)both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is (R)no partiality with Him.

The Armor of God

10 Finally, (S)be strong in the Lord and in (T)the strength of His might. 11 (U)Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the (V)schemes of the devil. 12 For our (W)struggle is not against [f](X)flesh and blood, but (Y)against the rulers, against the powers, against the (Z)world forces of this (AA)darkness, against the (AB)spiritual forces of wickedness in (AC)the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up (AD)the full armor of God, so that you will be able to (AE)resist on (AF)the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, (AG)having belted your waist with truth, and having (AH)put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having (AI)strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 [g]in addition to all, taking up the (AJ)shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the (AK)flaming arrows of (AL)the evil one. 17 And take (AM)the helmet of salvation and the (AN)sword of the Spirit, which is (AO)the word of God.

18 [h]With every (AP)prayer and request, [i](AQ)pray at all times (AR)in the Spirit, and with this in view, [j](AS)be alert with all (AT)perseverance and every (AU)request for all the [k]saints, 19 and (AV)pray in my behalf, that speech may be given to me (AW)in the opening of my mouth, to make known with (AX)boldness (AY)the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an (AZ)ambassador (BA)in [l]chains; that [m]in proclaiming it I may speak (BB)boldly, (BC)as I ought to speak.

21 (BD)Now, so that you also may know about my circumstances as to [n]what I am doing, (BE)Tychicus, (BF)the beloved brother and faithful [o]servant in the Lord, will make everything known to you. 22 [p](BG)I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know [q]about us, and that he may (BH)comfort your hearts.

23 (BI)Peace be to the brothers and sisters, and (BJ)love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ [r]with incorruptible love.

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 6:5 I.e., earthly masters, as in first-century Roman culture
  2. Ephesians 6:6 Lit according to
  3. Ephesians 6:6 I.e., only when the master is watching
  4. Ephesians 6:6 Lit soul
  5. Ephesians 6:7 Lit rendering
  6. Ephesians 6:12 Lit blood and flesh
  7. Ephesians 6:16 Lit in all
  8. Ephesians 6:18 Lit Through
  9. Ephesians 6:18 Lit praying
  10. Ephesians 6:18 Lit being
  11. Ephesians 6:18 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  12. Ephesians 6:20 Lit a chain
  13. Ephesians 6:20 Two early mss I may speak it boldly
  14. Ephesians 6:21 Or how
  15. Ephesians 6:21 Or minister
  16. Ephesians 6:22 Lit Whom I have sent to you
  17. Ephesians 6:22 Lit the things about us
  18. Ephesians 6:24 Lit in incorruption

Children and Parents(A)

Children, (B)obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. (C)“Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”

And (D)you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but (E)bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

Bondservants and Masters

(F)Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, (G)with fear and trembling, (H)in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; (I)not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, (J)knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that [a]your own (K)Master also is in heaven, and (L)there is no partiality with Him.

The Whole Armor of God

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 (M)Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the [b]wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against (N)principalities, against powers, against (O)the rulers of [c]the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 (P)Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand (Q)in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, (R)having girded your waist with truth, (S)having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 (T)and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking (U)the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And (V)take the helmet of salvation, and (W)the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 (X)praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, (Y)being watchful to this end with all perseverance and (Z)supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, (AA)that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which (AB)I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

A Gracious Greeting

21 But that you also may know my affairs and how I am doing, (AC)Tychicus, a beloved brother and (AD)faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you; 22 (AE)whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our affairs, and that he may (AF)comfort your hearts.

23 Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 6:9 NU He who is both their Master and yours is
  2. Ephesians 6:11 schemings
  3. Ephesians 6:12 NU this darkness,

Vengeance Invoked upon Adversaries.

For the music director. A Psalm of David.

109 (A)God of my praise,
(B)Do not be silent!
For they have opened a [a]wicked and (C)deceitful mouth against me;
They have spoken [b]against me with a (D)lying tongue.
They have also surrounded me with words of hatred,
And have fought against me (E)without cause.
In return (F)for my love they act as my accusers;
But (G)I am in prayer.
So they have [c](H)repaid me evil for good,
And (I)hatred for my love.

Appoint a wicked person over him,
And may an [d](J)accuser stand at his right hand.
When he is judged, may he (K)come out guilty,
And may his (L)prayer become sin.
May (M)his days be few;
May (N)another take his office.
May his (O)children be fatherless,
And his (P)wife a widow.
10 May his (Q)children wander about and beg;
And may they (R)seek sustenance [e]far from their ruined homes.
11 May (S)the creditor [f]seize everything that he has,
And may (T)strangers plunder the product of his labor.
12 May there be none to [g](U)extend kindness to him,
Nor (V)any to be gracious to his fatherless children.
13 May his (W)descendants be [h]eliminated;
May their (X)name be wiped out in a following generation.

14 May (Y)the guilt of his fathers be remembered [i]before the Lord,
And do not let the sin of his mother be (Z)wiped out.
15 May (AA)they be before the Lord continually,
So that He may (AB)eliminate their memory from the earth;
16 Because he did not remember to show mercy,
But persecuted the (AC)afflicted and needy person,
And the (AD)despondent in heart, to (AE)put them to death.
17 He also loved cursing, so (AF)it came to him;
And he did not delight in blessing, so it was far from him.
18 But he (AG)clothed himself with cursing as with his garment,
And it (AH)entered [j]his body like water,
And like oil into his bones.
19 May it be to him as (AI)a garment with which he covers himself,
And as a belt which he constantly (AJ)wears around himself.
20 May this be the (AK)reward of my accusers from the Lord,
And of those who (AL)speak evil against my soul.

21 But You, [k]God, the Lord, deal kindly with me (AM)for the sake of Your name;
Because (AN)Your mercy is good, rescue me;
22 For (AO)I am afflicted and needy,
And [l]my heart is (AP)wounded within me.
23 I am passing (AQ)like a shadow when it lengthens;
I am shaken off (AR)like the locust.
24 My (AS)knees [m]are weak from (AT)fasting,
And my flesh has grown lean, without fatness.
25 I also have become a (AU)disgrace to them;
When they see me, they (AV)shake their head.

26 (AW)Help me, Lord my God;
Save me according to Your mercy.
27 [n]And may they (AX)know that this is Your hand;
You, Lord, have done it.
28 (AY)They will curse, but You bless;
When they arise, they will be ashamed,
But Your (AZ)servant will be glad.
29 [o]May (BA)my accusers be clothed with dishonor,
And [p]may they (BB)cover themselves with their own shame as with a robe.

30 With my mouth I will give thanks abundantly to the Lord;
And (BC)I will praise Him in the midst of many.
31 For He stands (BD)at the right hand of the needy,
To save him from those who (BE)judge his soul.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 109:2 Lit wicked mouth and the deceitful
  2. Psalm 109:2 Lit with
  3. Psalm 109:5 Lit laid upon me
  4. Psalm 109:6 Or adversary, Satan
  5. Psalm 109:10 Or out of their desolate places
  6. Psalm 109:11 Lit ensnare, strike at
  7. Psalm 109:12 Lit continue
  8. Psalm 109:13 Lit for cutting off
  9. Psalm 109:14 Lit to
  10. Psalm 109:18 Lit his inward parts
  11. Psalm 109:21 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
  12. Psalm 109:22 Lit one has pierced my heart within me
  13. Psalm 109:24 Or totter
  14. Psalm 109:27 Or That they may know
  15. Psalm 109:29 Or My accusers will be
  16. Psalm 109:29 Or they will cover

Plea for Judgment of False Accusers

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

109 Do(A) not keep silent,
O God of my praise!
For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful
Have opened against me;
They have spoken against me with a (B)lying tongue.
They have also surrounded me with words of hatred,
And fought against me (C)without a cause.
In return for my love they are my accusers,
But I give myself to prayer.
Thus (D)they have rewarded me evil for good,
And hatred for my love.

Set a wicked man over him,
And let (E)an [a]accuser stand at his right hand.
When he is judged, let him be found guilty,
And (F)let his prayer become sin.
Let his days be (G)few,
And (H)let another take his office.
(I)Let his children be fatherless,
And his wife a widow.
10 Let his children [b]continually be vagabonds, and beg;
Let them [c]seek their bread also from their desolate places.
11 (J)Let the creditor seize all that he has,
And let strangers plunder his labor.
12 Let there be none to extend mercy to him,
Nor let there be any to favor his fatherless children.
13 (K)Let his [d]posterity be cut off,
And in the generation following let their (L)name be blotted out.

14 (M)Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord,
And let not the sin of his mother (N)be blotted out.
15 Let them be continually before the Lord,
That He may (O)cut off the memory of them from the earth;
16 Because he did not remember to show mercy,
But persecuted the poor and needy man,
That he might even slay the (P)broken in heart.
17 (Q)As he loved cursing, so let it come to him;
As he did not delight in blessing, so let it be far from him.
18 As he clothed himself with cursing as with his garment,
So let it (R)enter his body like water,
And like oil into his bones.
19 Let it be to him like the garment which covers him,
And for a belt with which he girds himself continually.
20 Let this be the Lord’s reward to my accusers,
And to those who speak evil against my person.

21 But You, O God the Lord,
Deal with me for Your name’s sake;
Because Your mercy is good, deliver me.
22 For I am poor and needy,
And my heart is wounded within me.
23 I am gone (S)like a shadow when it lengthens;
I am shaken off like a locust.
24 My (T)knees are weak through fasting,
And my flesh is feeble from lack of fatness.
25 I also have become (U)a reproach to them;
When they look at me, (V)they shake their heads.

26 Help me, O Lord my God!
Oh, save me according to Your mercy,
27 (W)That they may know that this is Your hand—
That You, Lord, have done it!
28 (X)Let them curse, but You bless;
When they arise, let them be ashamed,
But let (Y)Your servant rejoice.
29 (Z)Let my accusers be clothed with shame,
And let them cover themselves with their own disgrace as with a mantle.

30 I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth;
Yes, (AA)I will praise Him among the multitude.
31 For (AB)He shall stand at the right hand of the poor,
To save him from those [e]who condemn him.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 109:6 Heb. satan
  2. Psalm 109:10 wander continuously
  3. Psalm 109:10 So with MT, Tg.; LXX, Vg. be cast out
  4. Psalm 109:13 descendants be destroyed
  5. Psalm 109:31 Lit. judging his soul