Deuteronomy 5:22-33
New English Translation
The Narrative of the Sinai Revelation and Israel’s Response
22 The Lord said these things to your entire assembly at the mountain from the middle of the fire, the cloud, and the darkness with a loud voice, and that was all he said.[a] Then he inscribed the words[b] on two stone tablets and gave them to me. 23 Then, when you heard the voice from the midst of the darkness while the mountain was ablaze, all your tribal leaders and elders approached me. 24 You said, “The Lord our God has shown us his great glory,[c] and we have heard him speak from the middle of the fire. It is now clear to us[d] that God can speak to human beings and they can keep on living. 25 But now, why should we die, because this intense fire will consume us? If we keep hearing the voice of the Lord our God we will die! 26 Who is there from the entire human race[e] who has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the middle of the fire as we have, and has lived? 27 You go near so that you can hear everything the Lord our God is saying and then you can tell us whatever he[f] says to you; then we will pay attention and do it.” 28 When the Lord heard you speaking to me, he[g] said to me, “I have heard what these people have said to you—they have spoken well. 29 If only it would really be their desire to fear me and obey[h] all my commandments in the future, so that it may go well with them and their descendants forever. 30 Go and tell them, ‘Return to your tents!’ 31 But as for you, remain here with me so I can declare to you all the commandments,[i] statutes, and ordinances that you are to teach them, so that they can carry them out in the land I am about to give them.”[j] 32 Be careful, therefore, to do exactly what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn right or left! 33 Walk just as he[k] has commanded you so that you may live, that it may go well with you, and that you may live long[l] in the land you are going to possess.
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- Deuteronomy 5:22 tn Heb “and he added no more” (so KJV, NASB, NRSV); NLT “This was all he said at that time.”
- Deuteronomy 5:22 tn Heb “them”; the referent (the words spoken by the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Deuteronomy 5:24 tn Heb “his glory and his greatness.”
- Deuteronomy 5:24 tn Heb “this day we have seen.”
- Deuteronomy 5:26 tn Heb “who is there of all flesh.”
- Deuteronomy 5:27 tn Heb “the Lord our God.” See note on “He” in 5:3.
- Deuteronomy 5:28 tn Heb “the Lord.” See note on “He” in 5:3.
- Deuteronomy 5:29 tn Heb “keep” (so KJV, NAB, NIV, NRSV).
- Deuteronomy 5:31 tn Heb “commandment.” The MT actually has the singular (הַמִּצְוָה, hammitsvah), suggesting perhaps that the following terms (חֻקִּים [khuqqim] and מִשְׁפָּטִים [mishpatim]) are in epexegetical apposition to “commandment.” That is, the phrase could be translated “the entire command, namely, the statutes and ordinances.” This would essentially make מִצְוָה (mitsvah) synonymous with תּוֹרָה (torah), the usual term for the whole collection of law.
- Deuteronomy 5:31 tn Heb “to possess it” (so KJV, ASV); NLT “as their inheritance.”
- Deuteronomy 5:33 tn Heb “the Lord your God.” The pronoun has been used in the translation for stylistic reasons to avoid redundancy.
- Deuteronomy 5:33 tn Heb “may prolong your days”; NAB “may have long life”; TEV “will continue to live.”
Deuteronomy 5:22-33
Legacy Standard Bible
22 “These words Yahweh spoke to all your assembly at the mountain from the midst of the fire, of the cloud and of the dense gloom, with a great voice, and He added no more. (A)He wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me. 23 Now it happened that when you heard the voice from 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, Yahweh our God has shown us His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice from the midst of the fire; we have seen today that God speaks with man, yet he lives. 25 (B)So now then why should we die? For this great fire will consume us; if we hear the voice of Yahweh our God any longer, then we will die. 26 For (C)who is there of all flesh who has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived? 27 As for you, go near and hear all that Yahweh our God says; then speak to us all that Yahweh our God speaks to you, and we will hear and do it.’
28 “And Yahweh heard the voice of your words when you spoke to me, (D)and Yahweh said to me, ‘I have heard the voice of the words of this people which they have spoken to you. They have done well in all that they have spoken. 29 (E)Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me and (F)keep all My commandments all the days, that (G)it may be well with them and with their sons forever! 30 Go, say to them, “Return to your tents.” 31 (H)But as for you, stand here by Me, that I may speak to you all the commandments and the statutes and the judgments which you shall teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess.’ 32 So you shall be careful to do just as Yahweh your God has commanded you; (I)you shall not turn aside to the right or to the left. 33 (J)In all the way which Yahweh your God has commanded you, you shall walk, (K)that you may live and that it may be well with you and that you may prolong your days in the land which you will possess.
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