19 “‘And you shall not steal.

20 “‘And you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

21 “‘And you shall not covet your neighbor's wife. And you shall not desire your neighbor's house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.’

22 “These words the Lord spoke to all your assembly (A)at the mountain out of the midst of the fire, the cloud, and the thick darkness, with a loud voice; and he added no more. And (B)he wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me. 23 And (C)as soon as you heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, you came near to me, all the heads of your tribes, and your elders. 24 And you said, ‘Behold, the Lord our God has shown us his glory and (D)greatness, and (E)we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire. This day we have seen God speak with man, and man (F)still live. 25 Now therefore why should we die? For this great fire will consume us. (G)If we hear the voice of the Lord our God any more, we shall die. 26 (H)For who is there of all flesh, that has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of fire as we have, and has still lived? 27 Go near and hear all that the Lord our God will say, and (I)speak to us all that the Lord our God will speak to you, and we will hear and do it.’

28 “And the Lord heard your words, when you spoke to me. And the Lord said to me, ‘I have heard the words of this people, which they have spoken to you. (J)They are right in all that they have spoken. 29 (K)Oh that they had such a heart as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, (L)that it might go well with them and with their descendants[a] forever! 30 Go and say to them, “Return to your tents.” 31 But you, stand here by me, and (M)I will tell you the whole commandment and the statutes and the rules that you shall teach them, that they may do them in the land that I am giving them to possess.’ 32 You shall be careful therefore to do as the Lord your God has commanded you. (N)You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. 33 (O)You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and (P)that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.

The Greatest Commandment

“Now this is (Q)the commandment—the statutes and the rules[b]—that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it, that (R)you may fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son's son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and (S)that your days may be long. Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, (T)as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.

Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 5:29 Or sons
  2. Deuteronomy 6:1 Or just decrees; also verse 20

19 “You shall not steal.(A)

20 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.(B)

21 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”(C)

22 These are the commandments the Lord proclaimed in a loud voice to your whole assembly there on the mountain from out of the fire, the cloud and the deep darkness;(D) and he added nothing more. Then he wrote them on two stone tablets(E) and gave them to me.

23 When you heard the voice out of the darkness, while the mountain was ablaze with fire, all the leaders of your tribes and your elders(F) came to me. 24 And you said, “The Lord our God has shown us(G) his glory and his majesty,(H) and we have heard his voice from the fire. Today we have seen that a person can live even if God speaks with them.(I) 25 But now, why should we die? This great fire will consume us, and we will die if we hear the voice of the Lord our God any longer.(J) 26 For what mortal has ever heard the voice of the living God speaking out of fire, as we have, and survived?(K) 27 Go near and listen to all that the Lord our God says.(L) Then tell us whatever the Lord our God tells you. We will listen and obey.”(M)

28 The Lord heard you when you spoke to me, and the Lord said to me, “I have heard what this people said to you. Everything they said was good.(N) 29 Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me(O) and keep all my commands(P) always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!(Q)

30 “Go, tell them to return to their tents. 31 But you stay here(R) with me so that I may give you all the commands, decrees and laws you are to teach them to follow in the land I am giving them to possess.”

32 So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you;(S) do not turn aside to the right or to the left.(T) 33 Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you,(U) so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days(V) in the land that you will possess.

Love the Lord Your God

These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear(W) the Lord your God as long as you live(X) by keeping all his decrees and commands(Y) that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.(Z) Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey(AA) so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly(AB) in a land flowing with milk and honey,(AC) just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised(AD) you.